Unlock Cross-Platform Access to iCloud Photos: For iPhone, Laptop & Smartphones

What To Know

• iOS/Android: Turn on iCloud > tapPhotos >Library ; Go to iCloud website > tapPhotos .
• Mac:System Preferences >Apple ID >iCloud >Apps on this Mac using iCloud >Photos .
• Windows: InstalliCloud for Windows and set up iCloud Photos. OpenFile Explorer > selectiCloud Photos .

This article explains how to access your iCloud photo library on various devices, including iPhones and iPads, Macs, Windows PCs, and Android devices. Instructions apply to iOS 13 and up, iPadOS 13 and up, macOS Catalina (10.15) and later, Windows 10 or 11, and Android 10 and up.

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Access iCloud Photos From iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad

​Photos is an excellent app for viewing images or making video memories. It’s also a directory from which you can share photos in an email, text message, or on social media. Use the Photos app to send images to a nearby Apple device usingAirDrop or save images to other cloud-based services such as Dropbox and Google Drive.

Tap theShare icon >Save to Files to save the image to any service you set up in Files, such as iCloud Drive or Google Drive, or on your device.

Before using iCloud Photos on your iOS or iPadOS device, you must turn on the iCloud Photo Library: SelectSettings >Apple ID >iCloud >Photos . Then, complete the following steps to access your photos:

1. On your iOS device, tapPhotos .
2. SelectLibrary .
3. In the options bar, tapYears ,Months , orDays to view images by that period, or selectAll Photos .
   

In iPadOS, you can simultaneously view the Files and Photos apps inSplit View and drag images from one app to the other.

Access iCloud Photos on Mac

As with iOS and iPadOS, the Photos application in macOS is the quickest way to view photos in iCloud Photos. The images are in collections, and you canwatch the Memories created from the images and videos there.

You can drag images from the Photos app to any folder on your Mac. You can also drop photos into other applications, such as Microsoft Word or Apple Pages.

If you don’t see your iCloud Photos images in the Photos application on your Mac, you may need to turn on the feature. To do so, complete the following steps:

1. Select theApple icon, then selectSystem Preferences orSystem Settings .
   
2. SelectApple ID .
   
3. In the left pane, selectiCloud . Then, underApps on this Mac using iCloud /Apps Using iCloud , selectPhotos .
   
4. You may be prompted to sign in to your iCloud account. You may also be prompted to verify your iCloud settings.
5. Select thePhotos app and chooseLibrary or a specific album in the left pane to access your images.

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Access iCloud Photos From Windows

If you want to access iCloud Photos from a Windows-based device, you must firstdownload and install iCloud for Windows on the PC . Next, you’ll set up iCloud Photos on your Windows 10 or 11 device:

1. Open iCloud for Windows.
2. BesidePhotos , selectOptions .
3. SelectiCloud Photo Library and then chooseDone . Or move the toggle besideiCloud Photos .
4. SelectApply orDone .

To access your photos in iCloud Photos for Windows 10 and 11, openFile Explorer >iCloud Photos . In the details pane, Windows divides iCloud Photos into three categories:

In Windows 11, you can also openMicrosoft Photos and clickiCloud Photos .

• Downloads : These are the photos you took on your iPhone or iPad. These files should download automatically to your PC.
• Uploads : From here, you can upload photos to your Apple devices.
• Shared : This folder gives you access to any shared photo albums available in iCloud.

Access iCloud Photos From Android

Apple offers a browser-based version of certain iCloud apps for Android. It works similar to iOS or iPadOS, with fewer options. For example, you can share photos only by email or by copying a link.

The Photos, Notes, Find My iPhone, and Reminders apps are available from the Android mobile browser.

To access iCloud Photos on an Android device, open a browser, and go to icloud.com. Sign in to iCloud when prompted and then tapPhotos .

Access iCloud Photos From a Web Browser

If you don’t want to set up iCloud on your device or are using someone else’s device (including a Chromebook device), your iCloud Photos library is accessible from a web browser. To access your photos from a browser, complete the following steps:

1. In a web browser, go to theiCloud website .
2. Sign in to your iCloud account.
3. SelectPhotos .

From here, you can view your iCloud Photos and videos online. You can also upload photos by selecting theUpload icon, which looks like an up arrow pointing into the cloud.

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FAQ

• If I make a change to one iCloud photo on my device, does that same change appear on my other devices?
  When you change any photo in iCloud, such as cropping or using any other editing tools, the change automatically syncs to all of your iCloud-connected devices. Likewise, if you take a new photo or delete an old one, that action applies to all your iCloud-connected devices.
• How do I access iCloud Photos on my Apple TV?
  To view iCloud Photos on the Apple TV, go toSettings >Users and Accounts > enter_account name_ > turn oniCloud Photos . Then, on the Apple TV, open thePhotos app and selectLibrary .

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