iCloud, Apple’s current cloud service that allows iOS and Mac users to save and synchronise data, was launched in 2011 as the successor to MobileMe.
Apple provides 5GB of free iCloud storage with all accounts, with paid options starting at $0.99/month for 50GB.
Every Apple device includes iCloud.
That means all of your data — photos, files, notes, and more — is secure, up to date, and accessible from anywhere.
And it operates automatically, so all you have to do is continue doing what you enjoy.
Everyone starts with 5GB of free iCloud storage, and it’s simple to add more at any time.
Table of Contents
What is iCloud?
In 2011, iCloud solved a problem that we were experiencing.
Initially, Apple positioned the Mac as our digital hub.
To transfer data, our iPods (and later, iPhones) would sync via a cable.
It became a shambles as we added iPads.
Steve reduced the Mac to a device and made the “cloud” the focal point of our digital lives.
Users could use the service to sync all of their data over the air.
A Keynote document edited on your Mac, for example, would be automatically updated with the most recent changes on your iPad or iPhone.
iCloud also allowed you to back up your iOS device so that you could switch devices without having to do everything manually.
System requirements
The service is available on Macs running OS X 10.7 Lion and iOS devices running version 5.0. It requires an Apple ID.
Some features, such as photo sharing, have minimum system requirements of their own.
To sync with the iCloud, PCs must be running Windows 7 or later.
To use iCloud for Windows, PC users must also have an Apple device.
iCloud Features
An iCloud account comes with a free @icloud.com email address (previously @me.com).
Although this feature is optional, users can use the free email address as their iCloud Apple ID.
iCloud Find My iPhone
If an iPhone, Mac, or iPad is lost or stolen, the Find My iPhone feature allows users to geolocate, lock, and remotely wipe it.
This feature was made available to paying MobileMe users as part of the iOS 3 software update in 2009. The following year, it was made available for free with the iOS 4.2.1 software update.
With iOS 6, a new feature called Lost Mode was introduced, allowing users to mark their missing iPhones as lost.
iCloud Photo Stream
The Photo Stream service uploads and stores photos in a device’s camera roll for later access from another device. When a user takes a photo or video, it is automatically sent to all of their registered devices.
It also allows users to store their most recent 1,000 photos for free for 30 days, after which the files are automatically removed from other devices. The service is also compatible with Apple TV.
ICloud Photo Library
Any photo or video taken by the user is automatically uploaded to the iCloud by the Photo Library.
Users can access their files using an iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Apple TV, Mac or PC, or by visiting iCloud.com. This feature requires an internet connection and is available on iOS 8.1 or later.
Backup and restore
When the screen is locked and the device is connected to Wi-Fi and a power source, users can have their iPhones and iPads automatically backup to the iCloud mobile service every day.
Users can also manually backup their data and restore data from an iCloud backup.
Downloads
Users can save downloads, including purchases from the iTunes store, iBooks store, and App Store, in a digital locker and enable automatic synchronisation on other devices, or do so manually.
Saved settings
App Store purchases can save settings and data to iCloud so users don’t have to re-enter information on multiple devices.
iCloud Drive
Users can store all of their files in iCloud and access them from any iOS device, Mac, or PC using the file hosting service.
On a Mac, users can choose to automatically save any files saved in their Documents folder to iCloud Drive.
Files will appear automatically in the built-in iCloud Drive app on an iOS device.
iCloud Storage
Users receive 5 GB of free storage.
Paid storage plans are also available through the iCloud service. Customers can get 50 GB of storage space for $0.99 per month. 200 GB of storage costs $2.99 per month, while 2 TB costs $9.99 per month.
Sync
Synced documents were also managed on the Mac. There are options to sync more than just files and documents across your Apple devices, including iCloud Contacts, Calendars, Notes, and Reminders.
Syncing allows the same information to be replicated across all of a user’s devices.
Enabling iCloud synchronisation allows contacts, calendars, notes, and any reminders stored in their respective apps to be copied to iCloud and shared with other devices using the same Apple ID.
Changes to the items are also saved and synchronised to the iCloud version.
Family Sharing
Apple allows up to six people to be members of a “family.”
When you add people to your family, a person must be designated as the family organiser, with additional accounts added.
This system allows everyone to share their purchases, including iTunes and App Store purchases, across all accounts.
Storage Plans
Depending on the plan combinations chosen, you can get up to 4TB of storage.
Apple has long provided users with 5GB of free storage, but that small amount has been heavily criticised.
Many people quickly exhaust the 5GB limit, and improving photo and video quality is the most significant contributor.
Why does iCloud matter?
Cloud computing has had a significant impact on corporate and personal technology strategies.
Cloud file storage and synchronisation services provide secure and dependable alternatives for data backup, personal information management (such as email operation and calendar sharing), and sharing and distributing files with authorised users.
Cloud subscriptions make it easier to manage licences for a wide range of applications, from creative suite tools to common office productivity applications.
Cloud services also make it easier for businesses to receive updates, install application patches, and deploy upgraded software editions.
Apple iCloud expands the benefits of the cloud by allowing users to track, retrieve, better secure, and erase data and information on lost equipment.
iCloud synchronises email, appointments, contacts, notes, and reminders across a user’s devices, making it easier to access, edit, and synchronise critical and frequently used data.
Attempting to manually backup, synchronise, track, and manage so many devices and datasets is impractical.
The iCloud web interface allows web access to iCloud-synchronized Mail, Notes, Reminders, Contacts, Calendar, and other services.
Windows users can also access iCloud-stored Pages documents, Keynote presentations, and Numbers spreadsheets, as well as track lost equipment.
When was iCloud released?
On June 6, 2011, Apple announced iCloud at the 2011 WWDC.
On October 12, 2011, iCloud went live. MobileMe, the predecessor service, debuted on January 5, 2000.
On July 17, 2002, Apple relaunched MobileMe as part of its.Mac branding initiative. Apple’s MobileMe service was discontinued on June 30, 2012.
iCloud + was announced at WWDC 2021 on June 7, 2021.
How can I get iCloud?
Apple’s iPhones, iPads, iPod touches, and Macs all include an iCloud setup assistant.
The assistant makes it easier to deploy a new device or a reimaged system (such as occurs when replacing a failed hard drive).
Apple also publishes and updates instructions for configuring iCloud on iOS devices, Macs, and Windows machines.
Each iCloud account comes with 5GB of free storage by default; additional storage is available. In the United States, 50GB of extra storage costs 99 cents per month, 200GB costs $2.99 per month, and 2TB costs $9.99 per month. The capacity of file storage and pricing options vary by country.
iCloud Photos backups
Owning a desktop Mac is the simplest way to keep an offline copy of your photo library.
That is the issue with iCloud Photos. I’d wager that the majority of users are iPhone users, with Mac desktops coming in last. The iPad and MacBook are in the middle.
My seven-year-old method is still the best strategy for desktop users today.
Either you have enough internal storage or you connect enough external storage to have every photo and video in your library downloaded locally if you have enough internal storage.
The most important step is to keep a regularly updated Time Machine backup on an external drive. It’s not the most appealing method, but it’s good backup hygiene for your memory collection.
One thing has changed since 2015: storage limits on new MacBooks have increased significantly. 1TB solid-state drives were extremely expensive back then (and remain so for MacBooks), but new machines include options for 2TB, 4TB, and even 8TB SSDs.
If you pay the price up front, you may be able to store your entire photo library locally while also regularly backing up to an external hard drive with Time Machine.
How to Share iCloud Folders on iPhone and iPad
1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Files app.
2. Navigate to the iCloud Drive folder you want to share, then long press on it.
3. Select Share from the dropdown menu.
4. Choose Add People from the Share Sheet actions.
5. Select the method you want to use to send your invitation. You can also control who can access the folder (Only people you invite / Anyone with the link) and their permissions (Can make changes / View only) by tapping Share Options.
6. Depending on how you shared the invitation, the appropriate app will open with a link to the folder, ready for you to share.
Related Articles: Icloud Activation Lock Removal Free- Icloud Unlock Tool
iCloud Troubleshooting
If you’re having trouble with iCloud, make sure it’s not being affected by downtime.
How much does iCloud cost?
Pricing is subject to change at any time (see Apple’s most recent pricing page), but the following are the current rates for a few countries.
United States 50GB: $0.99 200GB: $2.99 2TB: $9.99
Canada 50GB: $1.29 200GB: $3.99 2TB: $12.99
United Kingdom 50GB: £0.79 200GB: £2.49 2TB: £6.99
European Union 50GB: 0.99 € 200GB: 2.99 € 2TB: 9.99 €
iCloud Safety and Security
The privacy handshake image is used in pop-ups about privacy.
Mistrust of the cloud and everything it offers is widespread, as major corporations have repeatedly demonstrated that they cannot be trusted with our data.
The more convenient a service is the less secure data it can provide.
At least, this is a widely held belief, but Apple strives to be both suitable and safe.
All data stored on Apple servers is encrypted, and the majority of private data is protected further by end-to-end encryption.
This means that, even if your data is exposed, it is completely useless and unreadable in the absence of a key.
Apple keeps the key to encrypted data in a separate storage location and will only give it to those who authenticate as you using your user name, password, and two-factor authentication key.
Anyone, including Apple and authorities, cannot access the end-to-end encrypted data without your credentials.
This has resulted in major disagreements between the US government and Apple.
Two-Factor authentication
Following several high-profile password phishing incidents in 2014, Apple implemented two-factor authentication.
A password and a 6-digit code are used by the system to allow a user to sign into a trusted device or browser.
End-to-end encrypted data
The best way to remember what data on iCloud is end-to-end encrypted is to consider what information could cause the most harm in the hands of a bad actor. Private conversations, health, home access, and credit cards can all be used against you.
iMessage and FaceTime
Messaging and video calls are some of our most private and intimate moments. Apple had led the industry for years with the only widely used consumer-focused encrypted messaging platform. Other encrypted chat apps have become popular in non-US markets such as China and Europe.
Health and Home Data
The health app can save a variety of data, such as medical records and medication dosages. Because such sensitive information can be misused, it is heavily protected and subject to strict user control.
iCloud Keychain
Keychain is a password manager that is available on all of your Apple devices. Everything from WiFi passwords to credit card numbers is stored by this service.
Apple Maps
Apple Maps keeps track of your important locations for use with machine learning on the device, and this data is encrypted end-to-end. To take this a step further, Apple uses differential privacy when processing directions for Apple Maps, which does not record your requests or location.
Encrypted data
The encryption is the same, but the way the data is controlled differs.
When data is encrypted from beginning to end, only the user has the key to unlock and view the data.
In all other cases, the key is in the hands of both the user and Apple.
Photos
Photos are encrypted both on-device and in the cloud.
Your iCloud Photo Library, like iMessage, is end-to-end encrypted.
Taking a photo and saving it to the cloud is completely invisible to Apple.
There is, however, one exception.
Other data
Apple employs encryption in many of its apps and services, but not all of them are required for end-to-end encryption.
Everything that is synced between devices or an Apple server is encrypted, either on-device or in transit.
iCloud Login
Sign in to iCloud.com
1. Navigate to iCloud.com and sign in with your Apple ID.
You can sign in to iCloud.com if you’re already signed in to your device with your Apple ID and your device has Touch ID or Face ID.
2. If you’ve enabled two-factor authentication or two-step verification, follow the on-screen instructions to confirm your identity by entering a code sent to a trusted device.
If you’ve misplaced your trusted device, you can still use Find My iPhone by entering your Apple ID and clicking the Find iPhone button.
See How to sign in to Find My iPhone on iCloud.com.
Two-factor authentication for Apple ID and Two-step verification for Apple ID are covered in the Apple Support articles.
Create iCloud
- An iCloud account is required for storage on any Apple iPhone, iPad, MacBook, or Apple Watch. Select Next to begin creating an iCloud account.
- Navigate to the Home screen. Select Settings.
- Select Sign in to your iPhone.
- Choose Don’t have an Apple ID or have you forgotten it?
- Select Create Apple ID.
- Scroll upwards or downwards to enter a birth date. Select Next.
- Enter your first name under First Name. Enter your last name under Last name.
- Select Next.
- In this case, select an option. Create a free iCloud email account.
- Enter a new email address under Email. Turn off Apple News and Announcements if desired.
- Select Next.
- Verify the email address. Select Continue.
- Enter a password under Password (at least 8 characters). Re-enter the password under Verify.
- Select Next.
- Select an option under Question. Fill in the blanks with your response.
- Select Next.
- Select an option under Question. Fill in the blanks with your response.
- Select Next.
- Select an option under Question. Fill in the blanks with your response.
- Select Next.
- Read the terms and conditions before clicking Agree.
- Select Agree.
- Select one of the options, in this case Don’t Merge.
- The iCloud account has been created and is now operational.
How to create an iCloud email account on an iPhone,iPad,iPod or Mac
Follow these steps to set up an iCloud email account on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod:
1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap your name at the top.
3. Tap iCloud.
4. When the pop-up appears, toggle Mail on and press ‘Create.’
5. Select the desired iCloud email address.
6. Tap on ‘Next’
7. Make sure you’re satisfied with it because you won’t be able to change it later.
8. Click the ‘Done’ button.
To create an iCloud account on your Mac, follow these steps:
1. Select the Apple menu in the upper left corner.
2. Select System Preferences.
3. If you’re using macOS Catalina 10.15 or later, go to Apple ID and then iCloud.
4. If you’re using macOS 10.14 or earlier, simply click iCloud.
5. Check the box next to Mail.
6. Enter your iCloud email address.
7. Tap ‘OK’
8. When you’re satisfied with the email account you’ve chosen, click ‘Create.’
iCloud Download
How do I get my iCloud to download?
On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch, do the following:
1. Open the Settings app on your device.
2. At the top of the Settings menu, tap your name. Tap your name at the top of your device’s Settings menu. …
3. Choose “iCloud.” On your Apple ID page, tap “iCloud.”
4. Select “Photos.”
5. Click “Download and Save Originals.”
View iCloud contacts
On iCloud.com, you can view contacts stored in iCloud. You can also change how contacts are shown and formatted.
View a contact’s information
1. Select a contact from the list in Contacts on iCloud.com.
If you want to filter your contacts by a specific group, select the group from the left-hand sidebar.
Make sure the All Contacts group is selected if you want to choose from all of your contacts.
2. The contact card’s fields are clickable. Perform any of the following:
- Call the contact by clicking on a phone number.
- Click an email address to send an email to the contact.
- Click an address to view the contact’s location on a map.
Depending on how your device is configured, clicking a field may launch a new window, tab, or app.
FAQs
Is iCloud Mail and Gmail the same?
@gmail.com and @icloud.com are unrelated because they are provided by separate companies.
How do I check my iCloud Mail?
You can use a web browser on a phone, tablet, or computer to access your iCloud Mail. Sign in to icloud.com/mail with your Apple ID.
How can I see my iCloud photos?
How to access iCloud Photos
1. Launch the Photos app.
2. To view your photos, go to the Library tab.
3. To see My Albums, Shared Albums, People & Places, Media Types, and Utilities, go to the Albums tab.
You can also find out more about the content you share with others.
Is the iCloud app free?
When you sign up for iCloud, users receive 5GB of free storage.
You can upgrade to iCloud+ if you need more iCloud storage or just want access to premium features.
What happens after iCloud is full?
If you run out of iCloud storage, your device will stop backing up to iCloud, new photos and videos will not be uploaded to iCloud Photos, and iCloud Drive, other iCloud apps, and messages will not sync across your devices.
You will also be unable to send or receive emails using your iCloud email address.
Do I have to pay every month for iCloud storage?
Upgrade to iCloud+ using your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, or PC. After you upgrade, you will be billed on a monthly basis.
Conclusion
The iCloud Drive file-syncing and storage service is worthwhile, especially if you’re committed to Apple’s ecosystem, but it falls short of Google and Microsoft’s offerings.
iCloud provides an excellent balance of convenience and security, and Apple users will appreciate the file-syncing and storage features. However, there are better cloud storage options, such as Google Drive, for others.
