Before you begin
Update your device to the latest iOS, iPadOS, or macOS, and sign in to iCloud with the same Apple ID on all of your devices.
If you have a device that can't update to the latest iOS or macOS, make sure that it meets the minimum system requirements to use iCloud Drive.
How to set up iCloud Drive on your iPhone or iPad
- Go to Settings > [your name].
- Tap iCloud.
- Turn on iCloud Drive.
You can find your iCloud Drive files in the Files app.
How to set up iCloud Drive on your Mac
- Go to Apple menu > System Settings or Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Apple ID.
- Select iCloud.
- Sign in with your Apple ID, if you need to.
- Turn on iCloud Drive.
To add the files from your Mac Desktop and your Documents folder to iCloud Drive, turn on Desktop and Documents.
- You can then find your Desktop and Documents folder in the iCloud section of the Finder sidebar.
- If you add a second Mac Desktop, you can find the files in your Desktop and Documents folders in iCloud Drive, in a folder with the same name as your second Mac. The files from your second Mac won't automatically merge with the files on your first Mac.
If you already use a feature from another cloud provider that syncs or manages your Desktop and Documents folders, you need to turn it off to use Desktop and Documents. Desktop and Documents requires macOS Sierra or later.
How to set up iCloud Drive on iCloud.com
- Sign in to iCloud.com.
- Select iCloud Drive or Pages, Numbers, or Keynote.
- Click Upgrade to iCloud Drive, if you're asked to upgrade.
How to set up iCloud Drive on your Windows PC
- Set up iCloud Drive on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
- On a PC with Windows 11 or later, download and install iCloud for Windows from the Microsoft Store.
- To open iCloud for Windows, go to Start, open Apps or Programs, and open iCloud for Windows.
- Sign in with your Apple ID.
- Select iCloud Drive, then click Apply.
What's next
After you set up iCloud Drive, any documents that you already store in iCloud are automatically moved to iCloud Drive. On your iPhone or iPad, you can find iCloud Drive in the Files app. On your Mac, go to the Finder. On your PC, go to iCloud Drive in File Explorer. On iCloud.com, sign in, then click iCloud Drive.