This wikiHow teaches you how to view, store, and access files and data in iCloud, Apple's built-in internet-based storage space application and solution. Anyone with an Apple ID automatically gets 5 GB of free storage space in iCloud.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Accessing iCloud Over the Web
Step 1. Visit the iCloud website
You can access the site from any browser, including computers running Windows operating systems or Chromebooks.
Step 2. Enter the Apple ID and password
Step 3. Click the button
It's to the right of the password field.
If you have two-factor authentication turned on, click or tap “ Allow ” on the other connected device and enter the six-digit verification code received in the field in the browser window.
Step 4. Access the saved data
The iCloud web app allows you to access or use data stored or synced with iCloud.
- Only data and files that have been synced or stored in iCloud are available.
- iPhone, iPad, or desktop backup files stored in iCloud are inaccessible. The backup file is only used to restore settings and data to the device.
Step 5. Click Photos
After that, you can view, download, or delete photos that were shared to the devices connected to the iCloud account.
- Click " Albums ” to view photos. It's in the upper-left corner of the window.
- Click " All Photos " This folder is one of the albums displayed on the screen (usually in the upper left corner). Once the device is synced with iCloud, the photos from the device will appear in this folder.
- To download a photo, click the desired photo, then click the download button. This button is a cloud icon with an arrow pointing down at the top of the window.
- Select the location to save the photo in the dialog box that appears.
Step 6. Click iCloud Drive
After that, the iCloud Drive interface will open. You can use it to upload and download documents and files.
Click and drag the document you want to save to the Drive page. After that, the document will be available on devices that are already synced with an iCloud account, including iPhone and iPad
Step 7. Click Contacts
This option loads the contacts synced from the device. Additions or changes made through the iCloud app will be applied to all connected devices.
Step 8. Click Calendar
Events and appointments added to the Calendar app on the synced device are displayed here. If you add or edit events via the iCloud app, those changes will be applied to all connected devices.
Step 9. Click Find My iPhone
If you enable the “Find My…” feature on an Apple device, the device's location will be tracked via the iCloud app. These services and apps can be used to search for iPhones, iPads, Macs, and even AirPods.
Method 2 of 3: Syncing iPhone or iPad with iCloud
Step 1. Open the settings menu (“Settings”)
This menu is indicated by a gear icon (⚙️) and is generally displayed on the home screen.
Step 2. Touch your Apple ID
This ID is displayed as a segment at the top of the menu and contains the name and photo (if already uploaded).
- If you are not logged in to ID, touch the link “ Sign in to (Your Device) ”, enter the Apple ID and password, then touch “ Sign In ”.
- If you are running a device with an older version of iOS, you may not need to follow this step.
Step 3. Touch iCloud
This option is in the second menu segment.
Step 4. Select the type of data you want to save to iCloud
To select data, slide the switch next to an app in the " Apps Using iCloud " section to the "On" (green) or "Off" (white) position.
Swipe to see a complete list of apps that can access iCloud
Step 5. Touch Photos
It's at the top of the "Apps Using iCloud" section.
- Activate " iCloud Photo Library ” to upload and save content from “Camera Roll” folder to iCloud automatically. When enabled, all photos and videos from the library can be accessed from both mobile and desktop platforms linked to an iCloud account.
- Activate " My Photo Stream ” to automatically upload new photos to iCloud whenever the device is connected to a WiFi network.
- Activate " iCloud Photo Sharing ” if you want to create a photo album that other friends can access via the web or their Apple devices.
Step 6. Touch iCloud
It's in the top-left corner of the screen.
Step 7. Swipe the screen and touch Keychain
It's at the bottom of the "Apps Using iCloud" section.
Step 8. Slide the "iCloud Keychain" switch to the on or "On" position (right direction)
The switch color will change to green. After that, your saved passwords and payment information will be available on any device connected to the same Apple ID.
Apple does not have access to this encrypted information
Step 9. Touch iCloud
It's in the top-left corner of the screen.
Step 10. Swipe the screen and touch Find My iPhone
It's at the bottom of the "Apps Using iCloud" section.
Step 11. Slide the "Find My iPhone" button to the on or "On" position (right direction)
With this option, you can find your device by logging into your iCloud account on your computer or mobile device and clicking the “ Find My iPhone ”.
Activate " Send Last Location ” so that the device can send its location information to Apple's servers when the device's battery is very low.
Step 12. Touch iCloud
It's in the top-left corner of the screen.
Step 13. Swipe the screen and tap iCloud Backup
It's at the bottom of the "Apps Using iCloud" section.
Step 14. Slide the "iCloud Backup" switch to the on or "On" position (right direction)
Enable this feature to automatically save all files, settings, app data, photos, and music to iCloud whenever the device is plugged into a power source, locked, and connected to a WiFi network. The iCloud Backup feature allows you to restore backup data from iCloud in case you change or erase your device at any time.
Step 15. Slide the "iCloud Drive" switch to the on or "On" position (right direction)
With this option, apps can access and store data in iCloud Drive.
- Any application shown under the list " iCloud Drive ” can access the storage space as long as the button next to it is in the active position or “On” (green).
- Now, you can access iCloud through an app that's enabled (the slider is "On"), such as iCloud Drive, Photos, Calendars, or Pages.
Method 3 of 3: Syncing Mac Computer with iCloud
Step 1. Click the Apple menu
This menu is indicated by the icon in the upper-left corner of the screen.
Step 2. Click System Preferences
It's in the second drop-down menu segment.
Step 3. Click iCloud
It's on the left side of the window.
If you're not automatically signed in to your account, type in your Apple ID and password
Step 4. Check the box next to "iCloud Drive"
It's in the top right-hand pane of the page. Now, you can access and edit files and documents from iCloud.
- Select “iCloud Drive” in the “Save” dialog box or drag files to the “ iCloud Drive ” in the left pane of the Finder window.
- Select apps that can access iCloud Drive by clicking the “ Options ” next to "iCloud Drive" in the dialog box.
Step 5. Select the type of data you want to sync with iCloud
Check the boxes under " iCloud Drive " to select a data type. For example, check the " Photos " box if you want to back up and access content from the Photos app in iCloud. Now, the selected data will be saved and available in iCloud.
- You may need to scroll through the screen to see all the options.
- Now, whenever you use a synced app, like Photos, Calendars, or Pages on a Mac, you can access and sync in the settings menu (“Settings”).
- If you take a photo with the " Live " option enabled, you can play a live version of the corresponding photo by clicking the play triangle icon or " Play " in the upper right corner of the screen once the photo is opened.
Warning
- Some of the file types that can be stored in iCloud Drive may not be compatible or can't be viewed on an iOS device.
- If your iPhone, iPad, or Mac computer isn't running the latest version of iOS, you may be having issues with iCloud functionality.
