What is iCloud?
iCloud helps you keep your most important information — like your photos, files, backups and more — secure, up to date and available across all your devices. It’s built into every Apple device and everyone gets 5GB of storage to start. You can upgrade to iCloud for more storage and premium features, including iCloud Private Relay (beta), Hide My Email and HomeKit Secure Video support.
Note: iCloud Private Relay is currently in beta.
To get started, sign in to your Apple ID to set up iCloud on your Mac, iOS and iPadOS devices, Apple Watch, Apple TV and Windows computer.
To set up iCloud on your iOS or iPadOS device, Apple TV or Windows computer, see Set up iCloud on all your devices in the iCloud User Guide.
Here are some ways you can use iCloud.
iCloud feature | Description | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | All your photos and videos. Always available. iCloud Photos securely stores all your photos and videos and keeps them up to date on your Mac, your iOS devices, iPadOS devices, Apple TV and iCloud.com. Any edits you make in the Photos app are automatically updated everywhere. And with Shared Albums, it’s easy to share photos and videos with the people you choose and invite them to add photos, videos and comments to your shared albums. Learn more about Photos. | ||||||||||
| 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’re available everywhere. Learn more about iCloud Drive. | ||||||||||
 | Share music, books, apps, subscriptions and more with your family With Family Sharing, you and up to five other family members can share access to amazing Apple services like Apple Music, Apple TV , iCloud , Apple Fitness , Apple News and Apple Arcade. Your group can also share iTunes, Apple Books and App Store purchases, an iCloud storage plan and a family photo album. You can even help locate each other’s missing devices. When you subscribe to iCloud , you can also share all the iCloud features and included storage with your family. Learn more about Family Sharing. | ||||||||||
 | iCloud Private Relay (beta) Connect to virtually any network and browse with Safari in an even more secure and private way. Available with iCloud . Learn more about Private Relay. | ||||||||||
| Hide My Email Create unique, random email addresses that forward to your personal email account. Available with iCloud . Learn more about Hide My Email. | ||||||||||
 | Your favourite apps are even better with iCloud Keep your mail, calendars, notes, contacts, reminders, messages, news and stocks up to date, as well as your HomeKit accessories settings, using the apps on your Mac, iOS and iPadOS devices, and iCloud.com. Learn more about the apps included on your Mac. | ||||||||||
 | iCloud Tabs, bookmarks and reading list in Safari See the web pages you have open on your Mac, iOS devices and iPadOS devices (your iCloud Tabs). Read articles from your Reading List, even when you’re offline. Plus, use the same bookmarks on your Mac, iOS devices, iPadOS devices and Windows computer. Learn more about Safari. | ||||||||||
 | iCloud Keychain Keep your passwords, credit card information and more up to date, and have it entered automatically on your Mac, iOS and iPadOS devices. Learn more about iCloud Keychain. | ||||||||||
| iCloud storage Everyone gets 5GB of free iCloud storage to get started and it’s easy to upgrade at any time. Your apps and iTunes Store purchases don’t count towards your iCloud storage space, so you need it just for things like photos, videos, files and device backups. Learn more about iCloud storage. | ||||||||||
Note: iCloud requires an Internet connection; some iCloud features have minimum system requirements. See the Apple Support article System requirements for iCloud. iCloud may not be available in all areas: iCloud features may vary by area.