Using iCloud For Beginners

August 29, 2018 Off By David
Object Storage
If you own an Apple product, you may want to start making use of one of its greatest features, iCloud. If you want to set up an iCloud account and understand all of its features, read on to make the most of your phone, tablet, or MacBook.  
 
What is iCloud? 
iCloud is an Apple based service which covers a variety of cloud-based products and services, including contact, emails, and calendar syncing, location device settings, and music storage. The iCloud in general is used, like other cloud based services, to store and keep your information and memories safe. This means if something happens to your device and you have been backing up your data to the cloud, you can re-access and re-install all of your data back onto your device, or onto a new one. This is great for many reasons, including providing you with the ability to make more use of your devices storage, as iCloud storage is separate to how much your device can store. You can also access all your data, photos, and music from any other internet-connected phone, laptop or tablet. All you need to know is your Apple ID and password. 
 

What Can iCloud Help Me With? 
So, iCloud lets you store information and access it from anywhere. It also saves backups to ensure you never lose your information just because you have lost or damaged your device, or had it stolen. One way in which iCloud can help is with your contacts. If you are constantly updating contacts due to personal or work reasons, and you have multiple devices, the iCloud could be of real benefit. If you change any details or add a new contact, the iCloud will automatically make these changes on all devices. The calendar has the same features which is great for those changing business meetings or your children’s out of school activities. If you often use notes, these can be synced to and from devices, meaning you can easily type up on your MacBook and then your notes can be ready on your iPhone within minutes.  
 
Setting Up iCloud 
To have an iCloud account, you need an Apple ID. You should have been given this when you first got your apple device and set it up. If you cannot remember your login, there are ways to reset your password. iCloud is used with some of the latest versions of the iOS and therefore you may need to update all your Apple devices in order to begin using it.  
 
To set up iCloud on your iPhone or iPad you can addit as you are setting up your new device. If you don’t think you did this, go to settings and iCloud, and then all you need to do is sign in with your Apple ID. On a MacBook, open System Preferences and click iCloud. Again, sign in, and then unlike an iPhone or an iPad, you can choose which services you want to use. Some services you need to pay for, which you can find out more here. iCloud up to 5GB is completely free, so unless you want to use it for many devices and apps, you will not have to pay a charge. You cannot be charged without accepting a change to your iCloud, so if you are setting up an iPhone or iPad, do not worry, you will automatically be placed on the free iCloud service.  
 
You can even use iCloud on your Apple TV, either when setting it up or by selecting Settings, Accounts and iCloud. On your devices you can also choose what apps to use iCloud on. This is great for choosing what you want your iCloud storage to contain, as some apps may not need to be backed up. Some of the apps include Safari, Game Center, and Health. If there is an app on the list that you do not use, unselecting it will free up more data to be used for the apps that really matter. You can also manage your storage at any time on your devices by selecting iCloud and then Manage Storage. Once you have kept your storage information safe, make your device safe too with a MacBook air case. 
 
How to Use iCloud 
You do not need to be a tech genius to use iCloud, and this is the beauty of it. Once you have set up and chosen a payment plan if you want more data to be saved, iCloud pretty much runs itself. iCloud is set to back up automatically and therefore runs in the background, often unnoticed. One reason that iCloud may not work is if you have not connected to the internet and you have been using your cellular network. Usually, iCloud runs on Wi-Fi otherwise it would take up too much of your data allowance. If you have any issues using iCloud or want to find out more information, there are tips on the Apple website or you can visit an Apple store.  
 
iCloud can be very handy for businesses as you can share data between devices with ease. When you are out and about, any work that you do can be accessed from home on your MacBook later on that day. You can even see what your iCloud is using most of its storage on, whether this is Backups, Photos, or Apps. This is usually displayed at the top of the screen on a bar chart when you open your iCloud settings. This is handy to see when you are getting close to filling your allowed storage, as there may be some information you do not need that is taking up extra gigabytes.  
iCloud is a safe and easy way to store data and update devices between locations. It is free, and for those who will just be using it for personal use, you may never need to pay for extra iCloud storage. With its many uses and easy setup, iCloud is a quick and easy way to store device information securely.