What is iCloud?
iCloud stores your content securely and keeps your apps up to date across all your devices. That means all your information — photos, files, notes and more — is safe and available wherever you are.
If you do not have an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch or Mac, you can get iCloud web-only access to use Contacts, iCloud Drive and Notes from a web browser on your tablet (or Contacts, iCloud Drive, Keynote, Notes, Numbers and Pages from a web browser on your computer). See the Apple Support article Web-only access to iCloud.
Web-only users get 1 GB of free storage. To increase your storage or get access to more iCloud features, see Get more iCloud features.
Here are some ways you can use iCloud. To learn more about iCloud features, see apple.com/icloud.
Icon | Description |
|---|---|
 | Keep your photos up to date iCloud Photos automatically and securely stores all your photos and videos, and keeps them up to date on all your devices and on iCloud.com. Your original, full-resolution photos are uploaded to iCloud, while lightweight versions are kept on your device. And with Shared Albums, it is easy to share photos and videos with only the people you choose, and invite them to add comments and share photos and videos with you. |
 | Keep all your files securely stored in iCloud Drive Securely store and organise your files in iCloud Drive. Access them across all your devices and on iCloud.com, and share them with a private link. You can also add your Mac Desktop and Documents folders to iCloud Drive so they are available everywhere. |
 | Keep Mail, Contacts, Calendar, Notes and Reminders up to date Keep apps like Mail, Contacts, Calendar, Notes and Reminders up to date across all your devices with iCloud. When you make a change on one device, your information is updated everywhere. You can also use web versions of Mail, Contacts, Calendar, Notes and Reminders on iCloud.com. |
 | Collaborate with Pages, Numbers and Keynote Create a document, presentation or spreadsheet, and access it on all your devices with iCloud. You can even edit it on the web with iCloud.com. Share a file with your friends and colleagues — collaborators can see any edits as they are made. |
 | Access your messages across all your devices Turn on iCloud Messages to store messages from your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Mac in iCloud. Your messages are kept up to date on all your devices. You can start a conversation on one device and finish it on another. |
 | Use iCloud Tabs, bookmarks and Reading List in Safari See the websites you have open on your iOS devices, iPadOS devices, and Mac (your iCloud Tabs). Read articles from your Reading List even when you are offline. Plus, use the same bookmarks on your iOS devices, iPadOS devices, Mac and Windows computer. |
 | Back up and restore iCloud can automatically back up your iOS and iPadOS devices over Wi-Fi when your device is turned on, locked and connected to a power source. You can use your iCloud backup to restore your iOS or iPadOS device or seamlessly set up a new one. |
 | Locate your devices or your friends Use Find My on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch or Mac to locate a lost device, lock and track it, or remotely erase it. You can also share your location with friends and family and see their locations on a map. On iCloud.com, use Find My iPhone to locate devices and Find My Friends to locate people. |
 | Use iCloud Keychain Keep your passwords, credit card information and more up to date, and they will be filled in automatically on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch or Mac. |
 | Get as much storage as you need When you set up iCloud on an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch or Mac, you get 5 GB of free storage for your mail, documents, photos, and iOS and iPadOS device backups. It is easy to upgrade at any time. Your purchased music, apps, TV shows and books do not count towards your available storage. |
 | Share music, books, apps and more with your family Family Sharing lets up to six family members share their iTunes Store, App Store and Apple Books purchases without sharing accounts. Pay for family purchases with the same credit card and approve children’s spending straight from a parent’s device. Plus, share iCloud storage, photos, calendars, reminders, locations and more. |
Note: Some iCloud features have minimum system requirements. iCloud may not be available in all areas and iCloud features may vary by area. See the Apple Support article System requirements for iCloud.