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How to Access iCloud Photos On PC Tutorial

Saving data to the cloud is an easy way to make sure you always have a backup of your important files. These services make it possible to back up nearly anything you may have created on your computer or mobile device. With a cloud service you can then access the information from anywhere in the world as long as you have an Internet connection. This makes it similar to logging onto an email account. Apple has its very own cloud based service known as iCloud. But, do you know how to access iCloud photos on PC? Chances are, if you have used an Apple device in the past, whether it is an iMac or an iPhone, you have used iCloud (even if you’re not aware of it). By saving and uploading data to this cloud service you can then access the data and can do so even without an Apple device. This way, if you’re on a PC, you can log onto your iCloud account and access your created iCloud photos. So if you’re away from your iOS or MacOS device, here is what you need to know for how to access iCloud photos on PC.  

 

What is iCloud?

iCloud is Apple’s cloud service. When creating an account, whether it is on a mobile platform or desktop computer, you automatically sign up for iCloud (as long as you complete the registration process). It is a good idea to register your Apple device directly with Apple, as this will make it easier to track down lost information and backup data if you ever lose your equipment or your device is broken.  When you take a picture on your mobile device, such as an iPhone or iPad, the picture automatically uploads and saves to the iCloud service. With it saved, you can easily access the files later on. This is one reason when you purchase a new iPhone you can easily download the files from previous models you owned onto your current device. 

Now, if you are away from your Apple device but still want to view pictures you have taken, you need to know how to access iCloud photos on PC. To do this you do need to make sure you have been uploading your photographs to iCloud. As long as your iPhone has been snapping and saving the pictures to your cloud service you will be able to access the files without any issue at all.

How to Access iCloud Photos on PC By Downloading iCloud

When on a Windows computer there are two options for how to access iCloud photos on PC. The first is to download the iCloud.com software directly to your computer. The second is to remain connected to the iCloud service on your PC and download the individual photographs you might want. It is up to you to decide what works best for you.

If you believe you’ll be accessing your iCloud account frequently from a PC, you’ll be better off downloading the iCloud service to the PC. If you think this will be a one time occurrence (or at the very least an infrequent service), then you should go with just using the Internet based service.

Downloading the Software

iCloud is designed for use on Mac devices. However, it is possible to learn how to access iCloud photos on PC by downloading the software to your Windows device. To do this go to the following URL: support.apple.com/en-us/HT204283

This will bring up a download and installation wizard for your Windows computer. Follow the prompts presented to you by the Web page and allow the software to install onto your PC. From there open the downloaded file and let the software install onto your computer. You may need to approve the installation, as it comes from a third party website which is not the official software and application download service. Once the software is installed onto your computer, you’re ready to go.

Opening iCloud on a Windows Computer

With the software installed you’ll need to open the software. Wait for it to load onto your computer, then choose “Apple Menu” followed by “System Preference,” and then choose “iCloud.”

When the new pop-up window loads, enter in your Apple ID account information. The software will send the request back to Apple. When it’s confirmed, you will see your iCloud information load on the left of the screen. This includes your iCloud Drive, Photos, Mail, Contacts, Tasks, and Calendars (as well as an assortment of other information).

To access your photos, you’ll want to choose “Photos.” This will allow you to view the iCloud photos on your Windows computer system. With the software installed and your PC connected to iCloud, you can download the files whenever you like. This will make it easy to access the files and use the images on a Windows device.

Transferring Your Files To Another Cloud Service

If you’re considering the move away from iPhone, you’ll need to shift your files away from iCloud. This, thankfully, is relatively easy to do, and once you have done it, it will make uploading the information onto your new mobile device easy (allowing you to avoid manually uploading information to your new device).

First, you’ll want to head over to EaseUS.com and choose the MobiMover Free software and download it to your computer.

Once you have downloaded the software to your computer, open it up. With it open, connect your iPhone to your Windows computer using a USB cable. The USB cable that came with your iPhone for charging will work just fine.

When the iPhone detects the connected computer, it will display a new pop-up menu. Choose “Trust,” to allow the iPhone to fully connect with your Windows computer. The MobiMover Free software will detect the iPhone. When this happens click “Next.”

A new display window will load. It will include all the different files you can move from your iPhone to the Windows computer. It will automatically select everything. If, however, there are files you don’t want to move over or if there are only specific files you are interested in moving check off the boxes you’re interested in.

Click “Transfer” and let the files transfer over from your iPhone to your Windows computer. A progress bar will display the file transfer rate on the bottom of the screen. Depending on the amount of information you have stored on your iPhone, this might take a bit of time. When the transfer is complete, make sure to select the iPhone listing on the left side of the program window and choose to “Eject” it. This makes sure the two are no longer synced when you unplug your phone from the computer. This will complete the file transfer process.  

How to Access iCloud Photos on PC By Using iCloud

If you don’t want to download your photos to a Windows computer but instead want to access the information and see what is stored on your iCloud account, you can avoid downloading the software directly to your computer. This is easy if you don’t directly need the original file. Should you decide you do want to fully access your iCloud photos and would like to download the files to your Windows computer, you’ll need to revert to the previous step and download the software to your PC.

Accessing iCloud

To access iCloud photos on your PC you’ll need to open up your internet browser and navigate over to www.icloud.com.

Once you have reached the iCloud website, enter your Apple ID user name and password. Once you have enter this information, iCloud will take you to the main interface.

Once you have reached the main interface, you can choose “Photos” from the side menu. From there, select “All Photos.” This will bring up a thumbnail of all the photos you have stored on iCloud. You can click the thumbnails for sample previews of the images. However, you will not be able to fully access the full file. If you want the full file, you must download the software onto your computer.

Conclusion

The ability to known how to access iCloud photos on PC offers you several benefits. First, you may want to have the files on a Windows computer for a project or to easily share them with other individuals away from your phone. Another reason is that you might consider a move away from the iPhone but still want some information you have stored on the device, including your pictures.

By learning how to access iCloud photos on PC, you’ll be able to download the content away from your iCloud account and then store the images on a Windows computer. You will even be able to upload the files to your Android phone later if you ever want to switch mobile platforms. Whatever the reason is behind wanting to know how to access iCloud photos on PC, you can always access your Apple generated files without the need to have an Apple device on hand. Best of all, you don’t need to pay for any crossover software to access the files.


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