This wikiHow teaches you how to add photos to iCloud from a Windows or MacOS computer. If you are using a Windows computer, you will need to install the iCloud app which can be downloaded from
Step
Method 1 of 2: On MacOS Computer
Step 1. Enable iCloud Photo Library
If you're already using the iCloud Photo Library feature, move on to the next step. If you haven't already, follow these steps to enable the Photo Library feature on a Mac:
- Open the app Photos (the icon can be found in the folder “ Applications ”).
- Click the menu " Photos ”.
- Click " Preferences… ”.
- Click the tab " iCloud ”.
- Check the box next to the text “iCloud Photo Library”.
- Close the window.
- Choose " Download Originals to this Mac " or " Optimize Mac Storage ”.
Step 2. Open the Photos app
This application icon is in the “ Applications You can drag any photo from your computer to this app to automatically add it to iCloud.
Step 3. Open a Finder window
You can open it by clicking on the bi-colored Mac logo that appears in the computer's” Dock.
Step 4. Double-click the folder containing the photos you want to upload
If the folder is in another folder (eg. Downloads " or " Desktop ”), select a folder from the left column of the window, then double-click the desired photo storage folder.
Step 5. Select the photos you want to upload
To select multiple photos at once, hold down Command while clicking each photo.
Step 6. Drag the selected photos into the Photos app window
The photos will now be uploaded to the iCloud account.
Method 2 of 2: On Windows Computer
Step 1. Install iCloud program for Windows computer
If you don't already have the iCloud app on your computer, you can download it from
To download and set up the Windows version of the iCloud program, read the article on how to use iCloud on Windows
Step 2. Press Win+E key
A File Explorer window will open afterwards.
Step 3. Click the iCloud Photos folder
This folder is in the left pane of the window.
Step 4. Double-click the Uploads folder
This folder is in the right pane. You will need to copy the photos you want to upload to that folder.
Step 5. Press Win+E
A new File Explorer window will open.
Step 6. Open the folder containing the photos
Use a new Explorer window to access the folder. Usually, you can find a collection of photos in the “ Photos " or " Pictures ”.
Step 7. Mark the photos you want to upload
To select multiple photos at once, hold down the Control key while clicking each file.
Step 8. Drag the selected photos to the “Uploads” folder in the first Explorer window
Once copied to the folder, the photos will immediately upload to iCloud.
