How to access your iCloud photos on an iPhone, PC, or Mac: Header image

iCloud'due south photo storage feature is an easy and convenient style to keep your photograph library in sync across your devices — and not simply on your iPhone and iPad. You can too access your iCloud photos on your Mac or even your PC. Keep reading to see how to access your iCloud photos and plough on iCloud across all of your devices.

How to view iCloud photos on your iPhone

Setting upward your iPhone to sync your iCloud photos is a great way to make sure all the pictures you have are automatically backed up with the remainder of your iCloud photo library. But that's not the only way you lot can view your pictures and videos from iCloud. Beneath are instructions for syncing your pictures and viewing them in the Photos app, besides as how to browse through your iCloud photos if you lot don't want them saved on your phone.

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Choice 1. Access your iCloud photos in the Photos app

The most straightforward way to view your photos from iCloud on your iPhone is by turning on iCloud Photos in the Settings app and then that all of your pictures and videos sync with your device. Follow these steps to turn on iCloud Photos:

  1. Open up Settings.
  2. Tap [your proper name] > iCloud > Photos.
  3. Turn the slider for iCloud Photos on.

Once you have that turned on, you'll be able to view all of your pictures and videos in the Photos app.

Option two. View the photos in your browser

If you're using a shared iCloud business relationship — or want to view a dissimilar photo library — you lot tin view pictures from iCloud using your web browser. Follow the steps beneath to access your iCloud photos without all of them syncing to your device:

  1. Open up Safari and go to iCloud.com.
  2. Sign in to your iCloud account.
  3. Tap Photos.

Why don't I run into my iCloud photos on iPhone?

If you don't run into your iCloud photos on your iPhone, at that place are a few possible reasons. Here are some common problems and things you can practise to resolve them:

  • iCloud Photos is not allowed on cellular information. Syncing pictures and videos can apply upwardly a lot of data, and then in that location's a feature that volition restrict your phone to updating but when continued to a Wi-Fi network. To let or restrict updates using cellular data, become to Settings > Photos > Cellular Information.
  • You're signed in to a different iCloud account. If you have multiple Apple IDs, it could be that yous're logged in to two different accounts on your iPhone and on your computer. You can check which Apple tree ID you lot're signed in with on your iPhone by going to Settings > [your name].
  • iCloud Photos isn't turned on. It's possible to be logged in to iCloud without iCloud Photos being turned on. To cheque, yous tin can go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Photos.

How to access iCloud Photos on a Windows PC

One of the swell things about iCloud is that y'all tin admission your pictures on whatsoever device. Yes, even on a Windows calculator. While iCloud may non be equally seamless on a PC as information technology is on a Mac, Apple has gone to great lengths to brand it every bit convenient as possible.

Option 1. Use iCloud for Windows

If yous want to go along your photo library in sync with your iPhone and Windows computer, y'all'll have to download iCloud for Windows. Afterward yous take that downloaded and installed, you can turn on iCloud to start syncing:

  1. Open the iCloud for Windows app.
  2. Sign in with your Apple ID.
  3. Cheque the box next to Photos to turn it on.
  4. Click Apply.

Later you've turned on iCloud Photos, how you view your photos will depend on which operating organization you lot're using.

For Windows ten:

  1. In the notification area, click the upwardly arrow in the lesser-correct corner of your screen.
  2. Click the iCloud icon.
  3. Click Download Photos.

For Windows 8:

  1. Click Start.
    Note: On Windows eight.ane, yous'll besides need to click the down pointer in the lower-left corner.
  2. Open the iCloud Photos app.

Selection ii. Log in to iCloud in your browser

If you only want to view your pictures without iCloud syncing them to the computer you're using, you tin can access your iCloud photos through your web browser:

  1. Open your browser of option and go to iCloud.com.
  2. Sign in with your Apple ID.
  3. Click Photos.

How to access iCloud Photos on Mac

Thankfully, using iCloud with a Mac couldn't be any easier. Yous tin gear up it up so that your iCloud photos are syncing with the Photos app. Or if y'all don't desire your pictures to automatically save to the figurer you're using, you can simply view your photo library using Safari.

Option one. Meet your iCloud photos in the Photos app

If you lot desire to make sure that your most recent pictures and videos are ever on your Mac, yous'll want to turn on iCloud Photos in Organization Preferences. iCloud will make sure the Photos app on your Mac is automatically updated with your pictures from other devices, similar your iPhone or iPad. Follow these steps to start syncing your Mac with iCloud photos:

  1. Click the Apple tree icon at the top-left of your screen.
  2. Click Organisation Preferences > iCloud.
  3. Sign in with your Apple ID.
  4. Check the box adjacent to Photos to turn information technology on.
  5. Open the Photos app.
How to set up iCloud Photos on Mac

Pick 2. Access iCloud in your browser

If you lot're using a friend'southward calculator or a shared Mac, you probably won't want to sync your photo library with that figurer. But don't worry. You tin can still view your iCloud pictures past following these steps:

  1. Open Safari and go to iCloud.com.
  2. Log in with your Apple tree ID.
  3. Click Photos.
How to view your iCloud Photos on Mac

Why tin can't I come across my iCloud photos on a Mac?

If some of your iCloud photos aren't showing up on your Mac, here are a couple of common issues and what you can do to gear up them:

  • Your software needs to be updated. Either your MacOS or the Photos app could exist out of date, causing syncing problems. Check for updates by clicking the Apple icon > App Store > Updates.
  • You're signed in to a different iCloud account. Verify that you're logged in to the right iCloud business relationship by clicking the Apple tree icon > Organisation Preferences > iCloud.
  • iCloud is out of storage. If your iCloud account is out of costless space, it won't be able to update with your photos. Y'all tin can bank check how much storage yous have available past going to the Apple icon > System Preferences > iCloud. Or, if you lot're in Safari, become to iCloud.com > Account Settings > Storage.

iCloud Photos is a great way to support your photo library and make sure that your devices automatically contain your virtually recent pictures. It also keeps your videos and pics online, so whether y'all're using your personal computer or that of a friend, you lot'll always exist able to view your photos. And if at some point you need to download your photos from iCloud, it's like shooting fish in a barrel to do every bit well.

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