Use Photos in iCloud for Windows
You can access photos and videos stored in iCloud from a Windows computer using the iCloud for Windows app. There are three different features you can turn on: iCloud Photos, Shared Albums, and My Photo Stream. Each feature lets you do different things.
Before getting started, find out which version of iCloud for Windows you have.
iCloud Photos
When you turn on the iCloud Photos feature, you see an iCloud Photos folder in File Explorer (Windows 8 or later) or Windows Explorer (Windows 7). You can now do the following:
Access your iCloud photo library on your Windows computer: You can view photos and videos stored in iCloud Photos on your PC. See View photos and videos in iCloud for Windows.
Keep photos and videos up to date: If you’re using iCloud for Windows version 10 or later and you edit or delete a photo or video using an Apple device or on iCloud.com, the changes automatically appear on your PC. See Upload and download photos in iCloud for Windows and Delete photos and videos in iCloud for Windows.
Shared Albums
When you turn on the Shared Albums feature, a Shared folder is set up. If you’re using iCloud for Windows version 10 or later, you also see an iCloud Shared Albums app.
You can now do the following:
View your shared albums: Use your PC to view all albums you share and those shared with you. See View photos and videos in iCloud for Windows.
Create a new shared album and manage sharing: You can share albums with friends who use iCloud and manage sharing by adding or removing subscribers at any time. You can also publish an album so anyone with the link can view it—even if they don’t use iCloud. See Share albums using iCloud for Windows.
Add and remove photos and videos: Add photos and videos to a shared album, and remove any you added. See Add and remove photos from a shared album in iCloud for Windows.
Comment on and like photos and videos: Comment on and like shared photos and videos directly from your PC, and see comments and likes subscribers have added. See Comment on photos in shared albums in iCloud for Windows.
My Photo Stream
When you turn on the My Photo Stream feature (iCloud for Windows version 7 only), you see an iCloud Photos folder in File Explorer (Windows 8 or later) or Windows Explorer (Windows 7). You can now do the following:
See all recent photos from your Apple devices on your PC: View recent photos that you took on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, or added to the Photos app on your Mac if those devices have My Photo Stream turned on. See View photos and videos in iCloud for Windows.
A maximum of 1000 photos are stored in My Photo Stream at one time, and photos are saved in iCloud for 30 days. See the Apple Support article My Photo Stream.
Note: My Photo Stream is not available for new accounts.