iCloud Drive is an Apple product and the constructed cloud storage remedy for all Apple devices; however, this does not preclude them from using other services. It’s also not to say that Windows machines shouldn’t use iCloud’s tools, which are designed for Apple devices and therefore are slightly less user-friendly for Windows users. Still, if you’re using it on to an iPhone and want to understand its operation on a Desktop pc, we’ve got you covered.
The cloud – based system that underpins all of Apple’s pass syncing, such as Photos, Notes, Reminders, as well as the Keychain password vault, is known as iCloud, but this explainer concentrates on iCloud Drive as a file storage medium.
How to Use iCould Drive on Windows or Mac
Anyone with an iCloud account (which is almost everyone who owns an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or other Apple device) would then receive 5GB of free storage, but because this is suitable for cloud backups, videos and photos, and just about anything else, it can quickly fill up.
There are three paid plans available, each with 50GB, 200GB, or 2TB of storage and a slew of other features for $0.99/£0.79, $2.99/£2.49, and $9.99/£6.99 per month. There are no yearly discounts, but you can save money by lumping storage with the other Apple services such as Apple Music audio broadcasting in one of three ‘Apple One’ plans. iCloud is intended to work deeply with whatever system you’re using, but it’s ultimately designed to be independent.
Many of the options will be managed in System Settings, where you can choose which files to sync and whether you want to download people (and use local space on your drive) or maintain them online-only until you require people (which requires constant Internet access). For using iCloud on Apple hardware, no additional software is required.
If you’re looking for files, they’ll all be in the iCloud segment of Finder. Remember that any adjustments you make here have been mirrored everywhere else, so deleting a file will remove it from iCloud as well as your computer. The same setup appears to apply to Windows machines, though you’ll have to obtain the application from of the Microsoft Store as well as it may not be as slick as it is on Macs.
It’s also worth noting that any files users create with Apple’s own software (such as Pages, Keynote, and Numbers) will not be able to be opened on a Windows device, yet you can even now access them online.
How to operate iCloud Drive on iOS and Android
Because Apple only panders to its own hardware, things become much clearer here. Android users are going to rely on internet explorer access, which isn’t ideal on a smartphone’s small screen. Whether you’re using an iPhone or an iPad, iCloud would be incorporated into a long collection of apps to maintain them synchronized, but items particularly stashed in iCloud Drive could be accessed from of the Files app.
The “Recents” view should display recently viewed content, while the “Shared” view will display content that you have either shared with others or that they have shared with you. When things become tough when you have to search through your entire disk for something, browse comes in handy.
Remember that, in addition to iCloud Drive, the Files app can serve as the home for any additional cloud drives that have set up on the device, like as OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox.
