Set up iCloud Drive

Files and folders that you store in iCloud Drive stay up to date across all of your devices. Learn how to get started with iCloud Drive on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, PC, or iCloud.com.

Before you begin

Update your device to the latest iOS, iPadOS, or macOS, and sign in to iCloud with the same Apple Account on all of your devices.

If you have a device that can't update to the latest iOS, iPadOS, 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

  1. Open the Settings app, then tap your name.

  2. Tap iCloud.

  3. Under Saved to iCloud or Apps Using iCloud, tap Sync this [device] to turn on iCloud Drive.

    iPhone screen showing the toggle to turn on iCloud Drive.

Find your iCloud Drive files in the Files app

How to set up iCloud Drive on your Mac

  1. Go to Apple menu  > System Settings, then click your name.

  2. Click iCloud.

    Mac screen showing the main iCloud page for Apple Account

  3. If prompted, sign in with your Apple Account.

  4. Under Saved to iCloud, click Drive, then turn on iCloud Drive.

    Mac screen showing the toggle to turn on iCloud Drive.

To add the files from your Mac Desktop and Documents folder to iCloud Drive, turn on Desktop and Documents.

  • If you enable Desktop and Documents folders in iCloud Drive on a second Mac, you can find the files and folders in a folder with the same machine name as your second Mac.

  • 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 the Desktop & Documents feature.

How to set up iCloud Drive on your Windows PC

  1. Set up iCloud Drive on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

  2. On a PC with Windows 11 or later, download and install iCloud for Windows from the Microsoft Store.

  3. To open iCloud for Windows, go to Start, open Apps or Programs, and open iCloud for Windows.

  4. Sign in with your Apple Account.

  5. To the right of iCloud Drive, click the arrow buttonNo alt supplied for Image, then turn on iCloud Drive.

  6. Click Done.

How to access iCloud Drive on iCloud.com

  1. Go to iCloud.com and sign in to your Apple Account.

  2. Click Drive (or iCloud Drive).

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.

Learn more about using iCloud Drive

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