- You can access iCloud on any computer or phone by going to icloud.com.
- On an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, your Apple ID menu lets you manage iCloud and choose what data it saves.
- To access iCloud on a new device, you might need to enter a two-factor authentication code.
If you're like most users, you've probably got more data stored in iCloud than you realize. Photos, contact information, notes — even your Health app information is stored in the cloud by default.
But it isn't always obvious how to access iCloud, or how to manage what data it stores. Luckily, it's easy to do both.
How to access iCloud through the website
As long as you have a computer or phone that's connected to the internet, you can access iCloud.
1. Head to icloud.com and enter the email address linked to your Apple ID account.
2. Click the arrow icon, and then enter your password.
3. If you have two-factor authentication set up on your Apple ID account, a code will be sent to all your devices. Enter this code on the iCloud website to gain access.
You'll be shown a list of icons and options — more icons will be available on the desktop version of the site than the smartphone version. Click any of these icons to see the data stored in your iCloud account. From there you can delete, move, or download nearly anything you've saved.
How to access iCloud on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac
Alternatively, you can go through the Apple ID menu. This menu is at the top of the Settings app on every device.
- On an iPhone or iPad, open Settings and then tap your name at the top of all the options.
- On a Mac, click the Apple logo in the top-left corner and select System Preferences, and then Apple ID.
Once you've reached this page, tap or click the iCloud option.
You'll be shown how much storage space you have in iCloud, and what kind of data it's currently holding. Selecting the Manage option shows you exactly how much data each app takes, and lets you upgrade your iCloud storage plan.
You'll also find an Apps Using iCloud section. Here, select which apps are allowed to save data to iCloud, and which ones have to keep their data stored only on your device. Turning off an option will erase its data from iCloud immediately.
William Antonelli
Tech Reporter for Insider Reviews
William Antonelli (he/she/they) is a writer, editor, and organizer based in New York City. As a founding member of the Reference team, he helped grow Tech Reference (now part of Insider Reviews) from humble beginnings into a juggernaut that attracts over 20 million visits a month. Outside of Insider, his writing has appeared in publications like Polygon, The Outline, Kotaku, and more. He's also a go-to source for tech analysis on channels like Newsy, Cheddar, and NewsNation. You can find him on Twitter @DubsRewatcher, or reach him by email at [email protected].
