How iCloud Works

After years of honored service, your trusty cell phone has abandoned you and, after thinking about it for a long time, you have subsequently made up your mind to purchase your first iPhone. Unfortunately, however, you feel that you do not know the operating system of Apple devices yet. You would like to know more, especially regarding the operation of iCloud, a well-known backup service.

Do you need clarification and would like to know how iCloud works? No problem. Before getting to the heart of the subject, you must know that iCloud is nothing more than a service that allows you to create backup copies of your data and photos. iCloud, and its iCloud Drive storage service, is available free of charge for all users with a device running iOS and macOS and those with a Windows PC. 

Create An Apple ID

To use iCloud, it is necessary to create an Apple account to create an ID. To use your new iOS device, you should still have already created an account with an Apple ID. If this is not the case, I can show you how to proceed. To create an Apple ID. You will then have to fill in the registration form that you will see on the screen and, once you have filled in the mandatory text fields, press the Continue button. 

You will then need to confirm your identity by clicking on the link that will have been emailed to you. Suppose you want me to show you the procedure for creating an Apple ID step by step. Please also note that the procedure for creating an Apple ID can also be easily performed directly through your Apple device, as well as from a web browser.

Finally, I would like to point out that it is possible to register for Apple services and create your Apple ID through the iTunes software available for Mac and Windows. On Mac, iTunes is already present as it is pre-installed; on Windows, you will have to download it. To create an Apple ID from iTunes, press on the Account items,  Log, and create a new Apple ID. Once you have completed creating your Apple ID, you can start using iCloud.

How iCloud Works On iOS 

To use iCloud as the default backup system, you will need to have this item activated during the initial setup of your iOS device. If you have forgotten to do this, know that it can be remedied at any time, acting from the settings of your device. I’ll explain, in the following lines, how to proceed. If you have already activated your iOS device without activating the default iCloud backup, you will need to go to the settings panel.

At this point, if you have an Apple device with a recent version of the operating system (iOS 10 or iOS 11), tap your name to access the section relating to your account and Apple ID. On the next screen, then tap on the iCloud entry. You will then have to move all the levers that refer to the applications from OFF to ON. This way, the selected applications will access iCloud and synchronize all data online.

On the other hand, if you are using a device that has a version of iOS before 10.3, you will have to go to the Settings> iCloud items to access the activation panel that I have indicated. You can also use iCloud on your iOS device to learn more about the space occupied by the apps on iCloud, manage this space, and possibly increase the storage space. To access this screen, tap the Settings app (symbol of a gear). Then tap on your name and then on the iCloud entry. 

Then pressing on Manage space, you can view detailed information on the space occupied by the apps. This item is visible on devices before iOS 10.3 by tapping on Settings> iCloud> Archive. On this screen, you can view the complete list of apps that have access to the backup service and check the space occupied by tapping on the individual items. To free up space, tap on the items related to the apps with data to be deleted and then tap on the Delete documents and data item.

You can then click on the Change storage plan item to increase the storage space. iCloud pricing is as follows:

1. 50 GB  of space for  € 0.99 per month
2. 200 GB  of space for  € 2.99 per month
3. 2 TB  of space for  € 9.99 per month

To activate Apple One just go to Settings> [your name]> Subscriptions> Apple One on iOS or iPadOS.

How iCloud Works On Mac

As anticipated at the beginning of this guide, iCloud is available on multiple devices, allowing you to synchronize data, documents, backups, and photos, making them accessible on Windows PC and Mac. So let’s see together, through a step-by-step procedure, how to use iCloud on Mac. The first thing to do is to activate the service on Mac. 

To do this:

1. Click on the magnifying glass icon located at the top right to activate the Spotlight Search feature.
2. Type system preferences in the text field that you will see on the screen.
3. Double-click on the search result (symbol of gear ) and then click on the iCloud item that you will see in the window that opens.

You will then access the iCloud screen on Mac and check which items you want to be synchronized. To do this, just put the checkmark next to the items on the iCloud screen ( Contacts, Favorites, Photos, Calendar, for example). If you want to know more about the synchronized data and the remaining space on iCloud, click on the Manage item, which you can find located at the bottom right.

To confirm the synchronization of your iCloud data with the respective macOS applications, close the iCloud window. If, on the other hand, you want to view all the data stored on iCloud Drive, start the Finder at this point and click on the iCloud Drive item that you find in the left sidebar. 

How iCloud Works On Windows

You can also use iCloud on Windows, synchronizing your data online to have access even on a PC with the Microsoft operating system. To do this and see in detail how iCloud works on Windows, you will need to download and install the desktop client on your computer. Then go to the official iCloud website and press the Download button. Once you have finished downloading the executable file, double-click on it to install it, then follow the configuration and installation wizard procedure to complete the software installation on the PC.

You will also need to log in by entering the Apple ID login information you created earlier. Put the checkmark on the items you see on the screen ( iCloud Drive, Photos, Bookmarks ) to synchronize them and have access to the data through your PC. If you want access to some customizations for iCloud, click on the Options items corresponding to the words Photos and Bookmarks. To access your emails, contacts, reminders, and calendar, I refer you to the explanation below, where I will tell you in detail about how to use iCloud via browser.

How iCloud Works Via Browser

iCloud is also accessible via the browser, allowing you to view all synchronized content at any time. To see the use and operation of iCloud, open the browser you use to surf the internet and visit the official website iCloud (type in the address bar and press send from the keyboard).www.icloud.com

You will then have to log in to the iCloud service using the data relating to your Apple ID and then press the button with the arrow symbol to access the service. If you are blocked from accessing due to two-factor authentication, enter the code provided to you by your iOS device. The iCloud home screen comprises several tools that will allow you to access all synced items online. 

I’ll tell you about it below in detail.

1. Mail: through this button, you can access your iCloud email account;
2. Contacts: this item allows you to access a screen where you can view the complete list of your contacts;
3. Calendar:  you can have access to your calendar and see all your appointments through a convenient Web interface;
4. Photos: allows you to view and manage via the Web all the photos in the memory of your device;
5. iCloud Drive: allows you to view and manage via the Web all the documents that occupy the memory of your device;
6. Notes: This button allows you to access and manage all the notes you have written on your iOS device;
7. Reminders: this is the right section to view and manage your reminders via the Web;
8. Pages, Numbers, Keynote: these items allow you to use the Web versions of applications designed for productivity on Apple devices;
9. Find Friends: allows you to access the Web version of the service designed to locate other friends with an Apple device;
10. Find iPhone: allows you to access the Web version of the service designed to find your lost devices;
11. Settings: Access this screen if you need to manage your Apple ID settings or increase iCloud storage.

If you are logged in to iCloud via the Web on a PC that is not your own, remember to log out of your account once you have finished using the service. To do this, click on your username and then Log out an item.

Also Read: IOS 15 ALLOWS YOU TO ENLARGE THE SCREEN OF YOUR IPHONE