Learn how Apple's cloud apps and cloud ecosystem work.
Apple's cloud apps and cloud storage ecosystem is called iCloud, and it includes these apps:
iCloud also supports Apple's productivity apps, such as Pages, Numbers, Keynote and more. These apps aren't free, but come included with the purchase of an Apple device.
Apple's cloud apps work on mobile devices and computers, and in this course, you'll learn how to access them using a computer and a web browser.
Getting ready to use iCloud on your computer via a browser has a few steps. You'll need:
iCloud.com is designed to be your portal to all the Apple iCloud apps. When you visit iCloud.com, sign in by entering your Apple ID email address and password. Then click the icon of the app you want to use.
Being able to access Apple apps at icloud.com is useful if you don't have access to your Apple device, or if you use, say, an Apple mobile device and a Windows computer.
To save or edit files using cloud apps, you need some cloud storage. Your free Apple iCloud account comes with 5GB of cloud storage.
When you access Notes, Calendar and Reminders on your mobile and make a change, iCloud makes sure this change will also appear (or sync) on your computer.
You need an Apple device to be able to set up iCloud for access with a web browser. To do this, you'll use the Apple ID that you created when you set up your Apple device.
Next, enter icloud.com in your web browser's address bar, then type your Apple ID email address and password to open the website. Follow the steps and, when you see the iCloud apps icons appear, you've signed in successfully.
Once you've finished using iCloud, click your name in the top right of the page, then click sign out to sign out securely.
Your iCloud account includes a free email address and mailbox, which you access with the Mail app. On iCloud.com, click on the Mail icon to get started.
Mail is not the only app that syncs to the cloud and your devices. Others include:
When you purchase an Apple device, you set up an Apple ID, which comes with a free iCloud account and 5GB of storage. This is enough for files, documents, and a few hundred photos.
To get more storage, you can upgrade your iCloud account to an iCloud+ account. There are different storage options to choose from, and the amount is billed monthly. You can share your storage with up to five family members.
iCloud+ plans can only be purchased using an Apple device, and you can cancel at any time. You won't receive a refund, but a cancelled plan will keep working until the end of the month. Make sure to read the fine print and consider if the subscription is right for you.
Your iCloud account makes sure all your files are kept up to date and synced between your Apple devices and the cloud. Things you can sync with iCloud include:
These require cloud storage space. To manage your iCloud storage, visit www.icloud.com/settings. You might need to provide your Apple ID and password to sign in.
The settings page shows how much storage you have left and also how it is being used between different things, such as Photos and Videos, or Backup of your iPhone or iPad.