Are you guys both on the same OS version? I ask because Ive spent years testing these grocery apps and Walmarts native sharing is notoriously flaky. I once lost a 50-item list for a huge reunion because the sync just quit mid-way.

• app sessions timeout constantly
• links dont update live I eventually switched to an external syncing tool in my current setup to avoid the headache.

@Reply #1 - good point! Honestly, the backend for the Walmart app is such a mess when it comes to session management. I spent way too long trying to get this to work for a BBQ last month and it just wouldnt sync correctly between my phone and my roommates. Its super frustrating because they clearly have the infrastructure, but the implementation is just... bad. Since that native button is basically a ghost for most of us, I have looked into a few workarounds:

• Instacart: Their Group Order feature is actually legit. It syncs instantly and everyone uses their own account. The downside is the extra service fees and markup on items tho.
• AnyList: This is a killer app for shared lists. It syncs across devices perfectly, but unfortunately it wont automatically populate your Walmart cart. You still gotta manually move items over at the end which is a pain. If you really need that instant sync without sharing a login, moving the operation to Instacart is basically the only reliable way right now.

Saving this whole thread. So much good info here you guys are awesome.

Ugh, I totally feel your pain!! Walmart is notorious for this kind of thing. They love to hide features or run these weird A/B tests where some people get the shareable link and others just... dont. Its super annoying when you are trying to coordinate for a big party! Technically speaking, their app architecture keeps your cart tied to your specific user session and local cache, which is why it doesnt just pop up on your roommates phone instantly. Super lame, right?! Most of these big retail apps use specific session tokens that are encrypted to a single login, so cross-account syncing is a major hurdle for their dev teams. If you want something that actually works without the headache, here is what I usually do:

• Avoid the native app sharing because it breaks half the time anyway.
• Just get a generic shopping list app from a big name like Google. You can both add stuff there and then one person just blitzes through the checkout.
• Go with a third-party cart transfer tool if you really need to move the items between accounts. Any cart saver or list importer from a reputable developer should do the trick! I love digging into these technical workarounds because honestly, the official apps are usually lightyears behind what we actually need. Its amazing how much time you save when you stop fighting with their broken UI!! Honestly, Easy Cart Share makes it so much faster to transfer a cart between different accounts.