iCloud is Apple's cloud platform that serves and secures all Apple devices. It can save and synchronize all your photos, contacts, files, reminders, and notes, and you can also use it to store device backups. You can access and manage your iCloud data on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Windows, and the web. Keep reading to learn how.
iCloud stores your content securely and keeps your apps up to date across all your devices. That means all your data is safe and accessible wherever you are where there's an active internet connection available.
iCloud Backups are another indispensable service from iCloud. With an iCloud Backup of your iPhone or iPad, you can restore it on a new device, or use it if you need to erase or restore a device.
iCloud comes with 5GB of free storage and you can add more storage at any time. The 50GB plan costs $0.99 per month, while the 200GB and 2TB plans cost $2.99 and $9.99 per month, respectively.
How to Access iCloud on iPhone and iPad
- Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap your name in the banner at the top.
- Tap iCloud.
- Use the toggles next to the apps and data for syncing or unsyncing them to iCloud.
- Scroll down and tap iCloud Backup to automatically make backups of your iOS device to the cloud.
- Keep scrolling down to manage any third-party apps you have installed that can sync with iCloud.
How to Access iCloud on Mac
- Click the Apple symbol in the top-left corner of your screen.
- Click System Preferences....
- Click iCloud.
- Use the checkboxes next to the apps and data for syncing or unsyncing them to iCloud.
There's no option to back up your entire Mac to iCloud, but you can do so locally by using an external drive and Time Machine.
How to Access iCloud in Windows
With iCloud for Windows, the photos, documents, and bookmarks on your PC are updated automatically on your Apple devices.
- Download iCloud for Windows.
- Restart Your Computer.
- Make sure iCloud for Windows is open. If it doesn't open automatically, go to Start, open Apps or Programs, and open iCloud for Windows.
- Enter your Apple ID to sign in to iCloud.
- Use the checkboxes to select the features and data that you want to keep up to date across your devices.
- Click Apply.
How to Access iCloud From a Web Browser
- Visit the iCloud.com website on your web browser of choice.
- Enter your Apple ID, password, and two-factor authentication code if the feature is enabled.
- Once logged in, you can use the iCloud web apps to access your data, documents, and photos. You can also use tools in Settings -> Advanced to recover files that have been deleted from iCloud, as well as recover Contacts, Calendars, and Reminders that have been lost.
Note that accessing iCloud via the web is also handy for immediately signing out of all browsers that are signed into iCloud should you suspect someone has gained unauthorized access to your account and for managing apps that let people look you up using your Apple ID. It also displays all devices you're signed into, offers up a look at available storage, and displays the members of your Family Sharing group.
Tag: iCloud
Related Forum: Apple Music, Apple Pay/Card, iCloud, Fitness+
Popular Stories
Revealed: iOS 18 Works With These iPhone Models
Monday June 10, 2024 3:57 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
iOS 18 will be compatible with the same iPhone models as iOS 17, according to a post on X today from a private account with a proven track record of sharing build numbers for upcoming iOS updates. iOS 18 will be compatible with the iPhone XR, and hence also the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max models with the same A12 Bionic chip, but older iPhone models will miss out. Here is the full...
Read Full Article • 82 comments
Apple Announces iOS 18 With New Customization Features, Redesigned Photos App, and More
Monday June 10, 2024 10:17 am PDT by Hartley Charlton
Apple today previewed iOS 18, the next major update to the operating system for the iPhone, with new customization features, a redesigned Photos app, and more. iOS 18 features new customization tools for the Home Screen. App icons now feature Dark Mode and users can tint them with a color to create a unique look. Apps can also now be placed anywhere on the Home Screen freely. The Control...
Read Full Article • 176 comments
WWDC 2024 Apple Event Live Keynote Coverage: iOS 18, Apple's AI Push, and More
Monday June 10, 2024 9:20 am PDT by Jordan Golson
Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) starts today with the traditional keynote kicking things off at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. MacRumors is on hand for the event and we'll be sharing details and our thoughts throughout the day. We're expecting to see a number of software-related announcements with a focus on Apple's efforts to infuse AI throughout its operating systems and apps....
Read Full Article • 1391 comments
Massive iPhone Upgrade Coming This Week But These Devices Will Miss Out
Sunday June 9, 2024 1:25 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple is planning a major AI overhaul in iOS 18, with a feature set it is referring to as "Apple Intelligence." However, these new features will not work on older iPhones, even if they do appear on the new operating system's device compatibility list. Apple's initial AI roadmap for iOS 18 is said to come in two parts: Basic AI features that will be processed on-device, and more advanced...
Read Full Article • 245 comments
Apple Provides Updated Look at Next-Generation CarPlay at WWDC 2024
Monday June 10, 2024 7:11 pm PDT by Joe Rossignol
Apple today shared a few WWDC 2024 coding sessions related to its upcoming next-generation CarPlay system ahead of its launch later this year. The sessions include lots of updated next-generation CarPlay images, with one revealing new Vehicle, Media, and Climate apps in action for the first time. MacRumors previously discovered evidence of these apps in the iOS 17.4 beta. Next-generation...
Read Full Article • 80 comments
iOS 18 Adds Pop-Out Bezel Animation When Pressing iPhone Buttons
Tuesday June 11, 2024 10:40 am PDT by Juli Clover
iOS 18 includes a small but interesting change for the buttons on the iPhone, adding more of a visual element when changing volume, activating the Action button, or locking the screen. When you press an iPhone button in iOS 18, the display bezel bulges outward slightly. This feature is available for the volume buttons, Action button and the power button, and it will also likely be used for...
Read Full Article • 97 comments
New: iPadOS 18 Drops Support for These iPad Models
Monday June 10, 2024 4:16 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
iPadOS 18 will drop support for iPad models equipped with the A10X Fusion chip, according to a post on X today from a private account with a proven track record of sharing build numbers for upcoming iOS and iPadOS updates. In other words, iPadOS 18 will drop support for the 10.5-inch iPad Pro and the second-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Support for the sixth-generation iPad, which uses the...
Read Full Article • 94 comments