iCloud is one of Apple’s most interesting products – what is iCloud, and what does iCloud do? How do I set up my iCloud account and use all its features? In this article, we’ll explain what you need to know about using iCloud and how to make the most of its many services and features.
What is iCloud?
iCloud is nothing more than a cloud storage service provided and developed by Apple Inc. and introduced on 12… October 2011. In 2018, the service had about 850 million users, up from 782 million in 2016.
What is cloud storage?
A file hosting service, a cloud storage service, an online file storage provider, or a cyberblocker is an internet hosting service specifically designed to host users’ files. Allows users to download files from the Internet after providing a username and password or other form of authentication. In short, this storage is based on a cloud server, not a local server. This means you don’t take up any storage space on a specific device, and you can access your information from any device connected to the internet.
What does iCloud do?
The Apple iCloud lets you store and sync photos, documents, movies, music and more. From re-downloading apps and games to watching TV shows and movies, you can find all your iCloud content on any Apple device with the same Apple ID.
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For example, the contacts: If you give permission, iCloud syncs the contacts across all your iOS and macOS devices. This means you only have to maintain one contact list, because any changes you make on iPhone are applied to the contacts on your Mac and other devices. It also works with your calendar, iCloud storage, notes, and iWork.
What is iCloud Drive?
iCloud Drive is a place to find documents that don’t belong anywhere else in the iCloud. This is the place for Word documents, PDFs, screenshots, and anything else not already synced with iCloud. It works like third-party storage services, such as Google Drive or Dropbox.
Find out all you need to know about iCloud on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
iCloud is it useful?
Here are a few reasons why iCloud can be useful!
- With iCloud, users can store data like documents, photos, and music on remote servers and download them to iOS, MacOS, or Windows devices. In addition, iCloud allows you to share and send data with other users and manage your Apple devices in case of loss or theft.
- iCloud also provides the ability to wirelessly back up data from iOS devices directly into iCloud, rather than using iTunes to manually back up to a Mac or Windows host computer. Users of the service can also instantly share photos, music and games by connecting their accounts wirelessly to AirDrop.
- iCloud replaced Apple’s MobileMe service as the data synchronization center for email, contacts, calendars, bookmarks, notes, reminders (task lists), iWork documents, photos, and other data.
How much does iCloud storage cost?
No matter how many iOS or macOS devices you have, Apple only offers iCloud users 5GB of free storage – a paltry amount when you consider what the competition has to offer.
There’s not much room. If you need more – and if you plan to back up multiple devices to the cloud or store larger collections of photos, videos or documents off- device – you’ll need to spend a little more.
Find out how much it costs to upgrade your iCloud storage space here:
Apple offers four storage options: 5GB (free); 50GB (99 cents per month); 200GB ($2.99 per month); and 2TB ($9.99 per month).
How much do you use for storage?
It’s easy to see how much iCloud storage space you’re using.
- In iOS: Press the top pane (Apple ID) of the preferences. Then press iCloud. You should see a graph showing the usage of iCloud storage. Press Manage Storage to go to a page with a list of each item that stores data in iCloud (you’ll also see how much data each item uses). You may also delete data stored for an application or service, but you may not do so until you have stored the information elsewhere.
- In the Macos: Go to System Preferences>iCloud and select Manage… in the lower right corner of the window.
In both cases, you can see how much storage you’re using, which items are in use (such as photos, documents, mail or backups) and where to turn on and off online storage for various Apple services and apps.
Updating your iCloud storage plan
Upgrading your iCloud subscription is easy. You can do this from an iPhone or iPad, a Mac or even a Windows PC.
on your iPhone and iPad
- Tap Settings, find your name, then tap iCloud, and finally tap Manage Storage or iCloud Storage. Tap Buy more storage devices or change the storage plan.
- Then choose one of the many plans that start at 50 GB (10 times your initial payment) for $0.99 per month. You can also get 200GB ($2.99 per month) or 2TB ($9.99 per month), which will also allow you to share this storage with your family.
On your Mac
- Tap System Preferences, and then tap iCloud.
- In the lower right corner, find Manage and click Change Storage Plan or Buy More Storage.
- The same list of plans as above will then be presented to you.
On your Windows computer
- Open iCloud for Windows and click Storage, and then click Change Storage Plan.
- Choose your preferred plan and get ready to pay.
Once you’ve decided which plan best suits your needs, click the Buy More Storage or Change Storage Plan button. Press Select Update and follow the instructions you are given. You will need to have your Apple ID and password handy, so make sure you have this information.
All Apple iCloud storage plans are billed monthly. You can switch back if you find that you no longer need the extra memory.
How do I configure iCloud?
Your iCloud account is based on your Apple ID. So if you don’t have an Apple ID yet, you’ll need to create one. You may also need to update your device’s operating system (some iCloud features are only available on the latest versions). The next step depends on the device you are using.
under iOS and iPad OS
- Make sure you have the latest version of iOS or iPadOS installed on your device. Go to Settings > General > Software Update. See if there’s an update.
- Go to Settings and sign in to the device with your Apple ID. When you log in, iCloud is automatically activated.
- For the services you want to use, go to Settings, press [Your Name] and select iCloud. Drag and drop applications – such as photos, contacts, calendars, and third-party applications – that you want to use in iCloud.
device
on Mac
- Make sure you are using the latest version of macOS. Choose Apple menu > About This Mac > Software updates. If you are using MacOS Mojave or earlier, choose Apple Menu > App Store. See if there’s an update.
- To set up iCloud, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then press Apple ID. If you are using Mojave MacOS or earlier, click iCloud. Enter your Apple ID. When you log in, iCloud is automatically activated.
- Then to choose the services you want, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then press Apple ID. If you are using Mojave MacOS or earlier, click iCloud. Select the applications – such as Notes, Photos, and iCloud Drive – you want to use with iCloud.
On PC or Windows
Download and install iCloud for Windows. With iCloud for Windows, you can access your files, photos, contacts, calendars, and more on your Apple devices and Windows PCs. Follow the instructions to configure iCloud on Windows;
- After you download iCloud for Windows, sign in with the Apple ID you use on your Apple devices.
- If you have enabled iCloud, select the desired services and click Apply. For example, if you enable iCloud Photos and iCloud Drive, iCloud for Windows creates new folders for these files in the File Explorer. The files you add to your iCloud folders now automatically appear on your Apple devices.
What is iCloud for or how do I use it?
The purpose of the iCloud is to securely store important data and information on Apple’s remote servers (as opposed to the iPhone or iPad). This way, all your information is stored in a secure location and synced across all your devices.
Everything iCloud can do to back up your iPhone, iPad, or Mac and sync it to its servers can be found here :
Contacts
If you give permission, iCloud syncs the contacts across all your iOS and macOS devices. This means you only have to maintain one contact list, because any changes you make on iPhone are applied to the contacts on your Mac and other devices.
Calendar
All calendar appointments created using your iCloud account are copied to the iCloud servers.
Remarks
All notes and attachments from the Apple Notes app on all your devices are synced and stored in iCloud. Access it from iCloud.com and your other iOS devices.
iWork requests
The three iOS and macOS applications that are part of Apple’s iWork suite (Pages, Numbers and Keynote) will be available in the web interface (respectively titled Pages for iCloud, Numbers for iCloud and Keynote for iCloud) and will also be available on the iCloud website under each user’s Apple iCloud ID login. They also sync with users of the iOS and macOS versions of the application, if they have them, always through the Apple ID iCloud.
This allows the user to edit and create documents online using any of the supported browsers; currently [when?] Safari, Chrome and Internet Explorer.
iCloud photos
If you have iCloud Photos enabled in the Settings > Photos menu, the service saves all your photos while retaining their original resolution and metadata. Users can access their iCloud photos on supported devices through the new Photos app, if available, or through the iCloud Photos web app on iCloud.com, which allows users to limit the amount of local storage each device must use to store photos.
Messages in iCloud
Messages to iCloud is a feature in iOS 11.4 and MacOS High Sierra 10.13.5 that stores all of users’ iMessages and SMS messages in the cloud. Messages are synchronized between Macs, iPhones, and iPads.
iCloud Disk
iCloud Drive is an iCloud file hosting service that syncs files across devices running iOS 8, OS X Yosemite (version 10.10), or Windows 7 or later, and accesses web applications through iCloud.com. Users can store and access any file (including photos, videos, documents, music and other application data) in iCloud Drive on any Mac, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch or Windows PC, with a single file not to exceed 50GB (previously 15GB). This allows users to start working on one device and continue on another.
Music
With the Apple Music library enabled, your local music collection will be synced and uploaded to the iCloud servers and available on all devices.
Match iTunes
iTunes Match launched on the 14th. Introduced in November 2011. Originally, it was only available to US users. For an annual fee, customers can scan songs from their iTunes music library, including songs from CDs or other sources, and compare them to songs on the iTunes Store so customers don’t have to repurchase them.
Demand data
With this feature enabled, Apple stores application-specific data. When you restore your iPhone or iPad from an iCloud backup, the app is restored with the app data.
Device Configuration and Settings
If you have enabled iCloud Backup (Settings > Profile > iCloud > iCloud Backup), all relevant data on your device, such as your phone number, is stored in iCloud Backup. B. Paired accounts, home screen configuration, device settings, iMessage and more, downloaded to the iCloud All this data can be reloaded when you restore your iPhone or iPad using iCloud.
This backup service is also used for your purchase history, Apple Watch backups, visual voicemail passwords, voice memos, bookmarks, health data, and more.
How do I share storage with iCloud?
Memory can fill up if there are more old backup files, when we all knew we didn’t need the oldest if we had the most recent backup! (For a moment.)
- To get rid of these files, open iCloud from Settings (iOS) or System Preferences (macOS).
- Then click or tap Manage Backups to see all the backups currently stored in your iCloud account.
- Delete the ones you don’t need anymore, and you instantly free up storage space.
It’s all in this article,
Also read :
frequently asked questions
What is Apple iCloud and how does it work?
When you set up iCloud, you automatically get 5 GB of free storage. You can use this storage to back up your devices and securely store and update all your photos, videos, documents and text messages wherever you are. … You can free up storage space when you purchase additional iCloud storage space or when you delete content.
Do I have to have an iCloud player on my phone?
Should I use iCloud Drive? You don’t have to use iCloud Drive, it’s an optional feature like all iCloud services. When the machine is switched off, all documents are stored locally on the machine.
Can I read text messages in iCloud?
You can view the text messages you’ve received or sent to someone on any iCloud synced device at any time. When syncing is enabled for each of your Apple devices, they all appear in messages, whether you’re using an iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, or Mac.
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