iCloud storage allows you to store your photos, documents, and other important data in the cloud so you can access it from all your Apple devices. Here are some quick answers to common questions about accessing your iCloud storage:
How do I view my iCloud storage?
You can view your iCloud storage use and manage your plan in the Settings app on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Manage Storage. This will show you how much total storage you have, how much you are using across iCloud services like Photos and Backups, and give you options to upgrade your iCloud plan if needed.
How do I access my iCloud photos?
If you have iCloud Photos enabled, you can view your iCloud photo library in the Photos app on any device signed into your Apple ID. Your latest photos will be updated automatically across devices when connected to Wi-Fi. You can also go to iCloud.com and sign in to view your iCloud Photo Library online.
How do I access documents stored in iCloud?
Apps like Pages, Numbers, Keynote and Notes store documents and data in iCloud automatically. Open the app on any device to access the latest versions of your documents. You can also access your iCloud documents at iCloud.com. Click the iCloud Drive icon to view files stored by app.
How do I access my iCloud email?
Your @icloud.com email is hosted on Apple’s servers. You can access it in the Mail app on iOS devices, the Mail app on Macs, at iCloud.com, or with any email client or webmail service that supports IMAP email accounts.
How do I access my iCloud contacts?
Your iCloud contacts automatically sync between your iPhone, iPad and Mac. To view them, open the Contacts app on any device signed in to your Apple ID. You can also manage your contacts online at iCloud.com.
How do I access my iCloud calendar?
Your iCloud calendar events sync across your Apple devices and can be viewed in Calendar on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. You can also view and edit your calendar at iCloud.com. Any changes will sync to your other devices.
How do I access my iCloud bookmarks?
Your Safari bookmarks are stored in iCloud and synced across your devices. To access them, open the Safari app on your iPhone, iPad or Mac signed in to your Apple ID. You can also view and manage your iCloud bookmarks at iCloud.com.
How do I access my iCloud backups?
You can’t directly access the contents of your iOS device backups stored on iCloud. But you can restore from an iCloud backup to a new or erased device signed in with your Apple ID. On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups to see your list of backups.
How do I download files from iCloud to my Mac or PC?
On a Mac, you can access your iCloud Drive files directly in the Finder. On a Windows PC, install the iCloud app from the Microsoft Store to sync your iCloud Drive files. You can also use iCloud.com to download individual files from iCloud Drive or your iCloud photo library.
How do I access my iCloud Keychain passwords?
Your saved iCloud Keychain passwords can be viewed on any approved device signed into your Apple ID. On iPhone and iPad, go to Settings > Passwords to see your list of iCloud passwords. On Mac, open the Keychain Access utility. You cannot view iCloud Keychain passwords online.
How much free iCloud storage do I get?
All iCloud accounts start with 5GB of free storage. This is shared across all your iCloud services like Photos, Mail, Documents, Backups and more. You can upgrade to higher storage tiers for a monthly fee if needed. iCloud+ subscribers can also enable expanded features like Private Relay and Hide My Email.
How do I upgrade my iCloud storage plan?
You can upgrade your paid iCloud+ storage plan at any time:
- On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch – Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Change Storage Plan
- On your Mac – Go to System Preferences > Apple ID > iCloud > Manage > Change Storage Plan
- On iCloud.com – Click Manage in the Storage section
You can choose from 50GB ($0.99/month), 200GB ($2.99/month), or 2TB ($9.99/month). Family Sharing allows up to six family members to share a plan.
How do I enable iCloud Drive?
iCloud Drive is turned on automatically when you set up iCloud on your devices. To confirm it is enabled:
- On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Drive and toggle it on if needed.
- On Mac, go to System Preferences > Apple ID > iCloud and make sure iCloud Drive is checked.
Once enabled, you’ll see iCloud Drive as a file folder in the Finder on your Mac, and in the Files app on your iOS devices.
How do I upload files to iCloud Drive?
You can manually add files to iCloud Drive a few different ways:
- On your Mac, drag and drop files into the iCloud Drive folder in the Finder sidebar.
- On iPhone and iPad, use the Share menu from the Files app to move files to iCloud Drive.
- At iCloud.com, click iCloud Drive then Upload Files to select files from your computer.
Files added to iCloud Drive will sync across all your devices and be available offline.
How do I share files from iCloud Drive?
You have a few options for sharing iCloud Drive files:
- On iPhone or iPad, tap the Share button in Files for sharing options.
- On Mac, right-click a file and choose Share from the menu.
- At iCloud.com, click the file actions icon next to an item for the sharing menu.
You can create shareable links, send copies by email or Messages, and more. Access permissions are managed by the file owner.
How do I recover deleted files from iCloud Drive?
Go to iCloud.com and sign in. Click on iCloud Drive then Recently Deleted Files. Any files deleted within the last 30 days will appear here. Click Restore next to an item to bring it back to iCloud Drive.
How do I manage app data stored in iCloud?
Many apps take advantage of iCloud to store your data like documents, configurations, and more. To see and manage what apps are using your iCloud storage:
- On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Manage Storage
- On Mac, go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Apple ID > iCloud > Manage
Then click on any app name to view and delete data being stored in iCloud for that app if needed.
How do I turn off iCloud for specific apps?
You can choose to disable iCloud syncing for certain apps if you don’t want that app’s data stored in iCloud. To do this:
- On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > [app name] > toggle off iCloud Drive or iCloud sync
- On Mac, go to System Preferences > Apple ID > iCloud, click Options next to each app and uncheck iCloud syncing
Turning off iCloud for an app will limit syncing its data across devices but can help reduce your overall iCloud storage if needed.
How do I stop Photos from using iCloud storage?
If your iCloud Photos library is too large, you can choose to only keep some photos and videos in iCloud. To manage your settings:
- On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Photos and choose Optimize iPhone/iPad Storage
- On Mac, go to System Preferences > Apple ID > iCloud > Photos and select Optimize Mac Storage
This will keep full-resolution versions only in iCloud, with device-optimized versions on your devices. You can also turn off iCloud Photos entirely if you only want local storage.
How do I download my entire iCloud Photo library?
If you want a full local copy of your iCloud Photo Library, here are the steps to download:
- On Mac, open Photos, go to Preferences > iCloud and select Download Originals to this Mac
- On Windows PC, install the iCloud for Windows app then right-click iCloud Photos and choose Download Originals
- At iCloud.com, go to Photos, select all, Options > Download
Downloaded originals will be full resolution. Allow time to completely download a large library.
How do I backup or extract data from my iCloud backup?
You cannot directly access the backup files stored in your iCloud account. But you have a couple options to retrieve that data:
- Restore to a device – Erase or set up a new iOS or Mac device and restore from your iCloud backup during setup
- Use third-party software – Some tools like iMazing can extract specific data like messages or photos from an iCloud backup
Alternately, you can disable iCloud backups and use iTunes or Finder to back up locally instead for full access.
How do I download my iCloud reminders?
Your iCloud reminders sync automatically across your Apple devices. To access them on other platforms:
- Mac: Export your reminder lists to a file using the Export option in Reminders
- Windows: Use the iCloud for Windows app to see your iCloud reminders
- Web: Some but not all reminders may be available at iCloud.com
Third party apps also exist to sync iCloud reminders with other platforms.
How do I change my iCloud security and privacy settings?
You have a few options to enhance security and privacy for your iCloud account:
- Two-factor authentication – Enforce sign in with both your password and a trusted device or authentication code
- App-specific passwords – Generate secure one-time use passwords for non-Apple apps to access your account
- Account recovery – Add trusted phone numbers and email addresses in case you ever lose account access
- Private Relay – Route your browsing through anonymous IPs for privacy protection (iCloud+ feature)
Manage these and other security options at appleid.apple.com/account/manage.
How can I tell if someone is using my iCloud storage?
Signs that someone else may be accessing your iCloud account include:
- Unknown devices or login locations in account activity logs
- Files appearing in your iCloud Drive that you didn’t put there
- iCloud data usage spiking unexpectedly
- Getting locked out because “someone” changed your password
Check your account activity history at appleid.apple.com for any suspicious access. Change your password immediately if your account may be compromised.
What should I do if I’m locked out of my iCloud account?
If you entered your password incorrectly too many times, you may be temporarily locked out of iCloud. You can unlock your account a few ways:
- Use your phone number or recovery email to reset your password
- Generate an account recovery key at iforgot.apple.com
- Contact Apple Support to review account activity and restore access
Be sure to add trusted phone numbers and emails to your account so you have recovery options if locked out again in the future.
How do I permanently delete my iCloud account?
To entirely delete your iCloud account and all data associated with it:
- Sign out of iCloud on all devices
- Go to privacy.apple.com and enter your Apple ID
- Click Delete Your Account and follow the steps
Your account will be deactivated for 7 days before permanent deletion, in case you change your mind.
Conclusion
iCloud provides convenient syncing and storage of your important data across Apple devices. With a basic understanding of how to access and manage your iCloud content, you can ensure your photos, documents, email, and more are available at your fingertips on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and at iCloud.com. Carefully managing your storage plan, security settings, backups and sync options will help you get the most out of Apple’s cloud services.