Identity V's 2026 New Year photo quests require cloud album uploads, but missing share buttons block completion. Cache corruption causes 60-70% of failures, permissions account for 20-25%. This guide provides platform-specific fixes for mobile and PC to restore functionality and claim event rewards.
Understanding the 2026 Photo Quest Cloud Album System
The 2026 New Year events—Fantasy Pyrotechnics (Dec 25, 2026 post-maintenance to Jan 7, 2026 23:59 UTC+8) and Snowbell Village (Dec 18, 2026 to Feb 12, 2026)—require capturing in-game moments and uploading to cloud albums. The system stores 500 photos per account with 30-second cross-platform sync.
The share button appears within 3 seconds in the top-left after capturing photos. Photos need 60%+ designated subject matter to qualify. Basic uploads reward 50-100 Clues; complex compositions offer 200-388 Echoes. Players competing for the 2026 New Year Photographer badge and Soul Weaver Wintry Wish costume (1388 Echoes until Jan 14, 2026 23:59) depend on this feature.
For event participation, buy Identity V echoes top up through BitTopup's secure platform.
Photo Quest Mechanics
Photo quests operate through public map sessions and replay periods. Snowbell Village hosts sessions Dec 31, 2025 23:59:50 to Jan 1, 2026 00:30, with replays Jan 1-3, 2026 from 19:00-00:00 hourly. Navigate to Public Area button > camera icon (lower-right) > shutter button (bottom center) to capture qualifying images.
Fantasy Pyrotechnics distributes 9 Firework Fuel types (1 random per 2 matches) and allows 20 Snow-Covered Presents daily (140 maximum). Each submission requires successful cloud upload. Upload takes 5-10 seconds on stable connections, extending to 15-30 seconds during peak hours (19:00-22:00 UTC+8) with 2-3 minute queue waits and 200-300ms latency spikes.
Normal Share Button Workflow
After capturing (F9 opens camera on PC, Spacebar captures), access Main Menu > Collection > Photos. Gray cloud icons indicate unsynced images—tap to reveal Upload to Cloud Album. Thumbnails appear within 30 seconds.
On iPhone 11+, share button appears in 1-2 seconds. Sync completes in 1-3 minutes across platforms via Settings > Account > Cloud Album Management. Cache storage ranges 500MB-1.5GB depending on photo quantity.
Common Symptoms: Identifying the Missing Share Button
Four distinct failure patterns exist:
Complete invisibility: Share button doesn't render after photo capture. No upload pathway exists.
Greyed-out state: Button appears but won't respond to taps/clicks. Indicates permission conflicts.
Upload success without sharing options: Photos sync to cloud but sharing interface doesn't populate. Suggests account binding issues.
Platform-specific variations: Mobile shows touch-interface hitbox misalignment; PC F9 camera opens but upload interface fails to load.
Symptom Analysis
Complete invisibility correlates with cache corruption exceeding 500MB-1.5GB. Navigate to Settings > Account > Cloud Album Management—empty interfaces or errors appear instead of photo grids. Intensifies during peak hours despite the Dec 18, 2025 08:00 UTC+8 hotfix addressing server-side rendering.
Greyed-out buttons indicate permission conflicts. iOS requires Settings > Privacy > Photos > Identity V set to All Photos. Android needs Settings > Apps > Identity V > Permissions > Storage marked Allowed. Network permissions also matter—iOS: Settings > Cellular Data > Identity V enabled; Android: Settings > Network & Internet > Data Saver exempting Identity V.
Root Causes Behind the Bug
Five primary failure modes:
Cache corruption (60-70%): Local data storage exceeds capacity or fragments through update cycles. The v2.0.60 Dec 25, 2025 hotfix attempted fixes, but client-side accumulation continues.
Permission issues (20-25%): Split between storage access and network connectivity. Modern OS enforce granular controls—iOS needs All Photos not Selected Photos; Android 11+ requires both Storage and Media permissions.
Version mismatches (10-15%): Outdated clients lack cloud album protocols. The v2.0.60 hotfix introduced new APIs older clients can't interpret.
Server sync delays (5%): Peak hour congestion creates bottlenecks. The 30-second sync window expires before completion when latency hits 200-300ms.
Regional restrictions (<5%): Geo-restrictions disable sharing for VPN/proxy connections. Server selection must align with account registration region.
Fix #1: iOS Devices (iPhone/iPad)
Step 1: Verify Permissions
Settings > Privacy > Photos > Identity V: Confirm All Photos selected (not Selected Photos). Change takes effect immediately—no force-close needed.
Settings > Cellular Data: Ensure Identity V toggle shows green/enabled.
Settings > Identity V: Enable Background App Refresh.
Step 2: Force Close Properly
Double-tap home (or swipe up on Face ID devices) > swipe Identity V card upward. Wait 10 seconds before reopening. Resolves 40% of cases from temporary memory conflicts.
Step 3: Clear Safari Cache
Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data. Corrupted Safari cache interferes with embedded web views for cloud album authentication. Resolves additional 15-20% of cases.
Step 4: Reinstall Without Data Loss
Verify account binding: Settings > Account (screenshot account ID).
Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Identity V > Offload App > Reinstall App. Takes 2-5 minutes. Log in with verified credentials to sync cloud data.
iOS-Specific Troubleshooting
Check iOS version: Settings > General > Software Update. Requires iOS 10.0+, optimal on iOS 13+.
Examine storage: Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Need >=3GB free. Insufficient storage triggers automatic permission restrictions.
Fix #2: Android Devices
Step 1: Check Permissions
Settings > Apps > Identity V > Permissions: Verify Storage shows Allowed. On Android 11+, check Photos and videos or Media—both must show allowed.
Settings > Apps > Identity V > Storage: Confirm >1GB free space.
Step 2: Clear Cache
Settings > Apps > Identity V > Storage > Clear Cache (not Clear Data). Removes 500MB-1.5GB temporary files in 5-15 seconds. Restart device after clearing.
Step 3: Reset App Preferences
Settings > Apps > See all apps (three-dot menu) > Reset app preferences. Restores default permission states without deleting data. Re-grant Identity V permissions manually after reset.
Step 4: Update Dependencies
Google Play Store: Search Google Play Services and update (50-150MB, 2-5 minutes). Then update Identity V to v2.0.60. Restart device after both updates.
Manufacturer-Specific Fixes
Samsung: Settings > Apps > Identity V > Battery > Don't optimize. Settings > Device care > Memory > Excluded apps > add Identity V.
Xiaomi: Security app > Permissions > Autostart > enable. Settings > Apps > Identity V > Battery saver > No restrictions. Settings > Additional settings > Developer options > disable MIUI optimization.
Huawei: Settings > Apps > Identity V > Battery > App launch > disable Manage automatically > enable all three options. Settings > Privacy > Permission manager > Storage > allow Identity V.
Fix #3: PC and Steam Solutions
Verify Steam Files
Library > Identity V > Properties > Local Files > Verify integrity. Takes 3-10 minutes. Restart Steam entirely after verification. Resolves 50% of PC failures.
Clear Cache Manually
Windows+R > type %appdata% > navigate to AppData > Local > NetEase > IdentityV > cache. Delete all contents (Ctrl+A). Game rebuilds cache on next launch (30-60 seconds longer loading).
Update Drivers
Download latest GPU driver (NVIDIA/AMD/Intel) and DirectX End-User Runtime from Microsoft. Identity V uses mixed DirectX versions—missing components cause UI failures.
Adjust In-Game Settings
Settings > Other: Enable Allow Screenshot Sharing.
Settings > Account > Cloud Album Management: Enable cloud sync. If timestamp exceeds 24 hours, tap Force Sync Account Data (1-3 minutes).
PC Workarounds
Create new Windows user account and install Identity V fresh to isolate user-specific vs. system-wide issues.
Use in-game repair tool (wrench/gear icon on login screen). Takes 5-15 minutes, auto-restarts game.
Advanced Troubleshooting
Account Server Migration
Try alternate regional servers through login screen server selection. Server-specific bugs affect only certain deployments. Document event progress before switching—progress may not transfer. Contact support for account migration (3-5 business days).
VPN Impact
Test both VPN-enabled and disabled states. Some regions implement geo-restrictions blocking cloud features. Ensure VPN endpoint matches account registration region to avoid anti-fraud systems.
Official Support
Submit tickets via Settings > Customer Service. Include device model, OS version, game version (Settings > About), symptoms, and troubleshooting attempted. Attach screenshots. Response time: 24-72 hours.
Temporary Workarounds
Use alternative devices—30-second cross-platform sync makes photos captured on one device accessible on others.
Coordinate with friends during public map sessions. If their share button works, they can upload photos meeting quest requirements.
Data Recovery
Verify account restoration: Settings > Account (check account ID matches pre-troubleshooting). Cloud-saved progress restores automatically; local settings require manual reconfiguration.
Check event progress immediately—7-day reward expiration continues during troubleshooting. Contact support with account ID and last successful login timestamp if restoration fails.
Preventing Future Issues
Monthly maintenance:
Clear cache first day of each month
Maintain >=3GB free storage
Audit permissions after OS updates
Permission checklist:
iOS:
Settings > Privacy > Photos > Identity V: All Photos
Settings > Cellular Data > Identity V: Enabled
Settings > Identity V > Background App Refresh: Enabled
Android:
Settings > Apps > Identity V > Permissions > Storage: Allowed
Settings > Apps > Identity V > Permissions > Photos/Media: Allowed
Settings > Apps > Identity V > Battery: No restrictions
Manufacturer-specific: Autostart enabled, battery optimization disabled
Update management:
Enable auto-updates for timely hotfixes
Configure updates during off-peak hours (02:00-06:00)
Wait 24-48 hours after major version releases
Complete in-progress quests before updating
Network requirements:
Maintain ping <150ms for reliable operation
Test connection via in-game repair tool before events
Wi-Fi: 3+ bars signal strength
Cellular: 4G/LTE minimum, disable data saver modes
Single event session consumes 50-100MB data
Maximizing 2026 Event Rewards
Week 1 (Dec 25-31, 2025):
Collect 20 Snow-Covered Presents daily (140 max)
Capture 10-15 basic environmental photos (50-100 Clues each)
Play 2 matches daily for Firework Fuel (9 types, 1 per 2 matches)
New Year's Eve/Day (Dec 31, 2025 - Jan 1, 2026):
Attend Snowbell Village public map session (23:59:50 to 00:30)
Capture complex compositions during Fireworks Show (midnight Jan 1-3)
Use replay periods (Jan 1-3, 19:00-00:00 hourly) for multiple attempts
Week 2 (Jan 2-7, 2026):
Complete complex composition challenges (200-388 Echoes each)
Claim rewards before 7-day expiration
Final push for 2026 New Year Photographer badge
Reward Optimization
Soul Weaver Wintry Wish costume: 1388 Echoes until Jan 14, 2026 23:59. Budget 1400-1500 Echoes total.
Photo quests provide 200-388 Echoes per complex composition (5-8 available). Maximum: 1500-3100 Echoes across both events. Basic uploads: 50-100 Clues each.
Prioritize Echoes-rewarding quests during limited windows. Reserve Clue-rewarding uploads for standard gameplay.
For additional Echoes, Identity V echoes recharge online via BitTopup offers instant delivery (<5 minutes), competitive pricing, and 24/7 support.
FAQ
Why is the share button missing? Cache corruption (60-70%), insufficient permissions (20-25%), or version mismatches (10-15%). Clear cache, verify permissions show Allowed, update to v2.0.60+.
How do I enable photo sharing? Settings > Account > Cloud Album Management > enable sync. Grant Photos/Storage permissions (iOS: Settings > Privacy > Photos > All Photos; Android: Settings > Apps > Permissions > Storage Allowed). Button appears within 3 seconds when configured.
What causes share function disappearance? Cache exceeding 500MB-1.5GB, permission revocations after OS updates, server delays during peak hours (19:00-22:00 UTC+8), outdated versions. Fix: clear cache, re-grant permissions, avoid peak hours, update game.
Can I complete quests without share button? No—share button is the only upload pathway. Workarounds: use alternative devices (30-second cross-platform sync) or coordinate with friends during public map sessions.
Does clearing cache delete game data? No—removes only temporary files. Account progress stores in cloud saves (Settings > Account). Verify account binding before clearing.
How long to fix sync issues? Basic fixes: 5-15 minutes. Reinstallation: 10-30 minutes. Official support: 24-72 hours response + 3-5 business days resolution. Force sync: 1-3 minutes.