Access iCloud Photos from Your Windows PC Using the Website or App

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Easily set up iCloud on your Windows PC to see iCloud Photos

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This wikiHow guide will show you how to access iCloud photos from your PC. Your iCloud account allows you to keep all of your Apple devices synced and connected, but you can also use it to access your iCloud content from your Windows PC. By using the iCloud website or the iCloud for Windows utility, you can access your iCloud Photos and other iCloud data from any computer.

Things You Should Know

  • Log into the iCloud website. Click the "Photos" option to see your iCloud photos.
  • Download photos by clicking the "download" button. They will typically save to your computer's download folder.
  • Download and install the iCloud for Windows desktop app from the Microsoft Store to sync photos to your Windows computer.
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Using the iCloud Website

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  1. Log into https://www.icloud.com/ using your Apple ID. You can access your iCloud Photo Library from any computer by using the iCloud website. Make sure to log in with the same Apple ID that you use for your iCloud Photo Library.
  2. This will load your iCloud Photo Library. It may take a while to load the first time.
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  3. You'll be able to find photos from all of your iCloud-enabled devices once the Photos section loads. Photos that you have just taken with a device may not appear until that device uploads the photos, which usually happens within a few minutes.
    • The Albums section allows you to see your various iCloud photo albums.
  4. This will open it and allow you to view it in its actual size.
    • Use the photo gallery list at the bottom of the screen to move between different photos.
  5. You'll see this in the upper-right corner when you have a photo open. Deleting the photo will delete it from all of your synced devices.
  6. This will allow you to download or delete multiple photos at once.
  7. This is the cloud icon with a downward-facing arrow. They will be downloaded to your browser's default download folder, usually "Downloads."
  8. This is the trashcan icon in the top right of the screen. All of the photos you've selected will be deleted from all of your synced devices.
  9. This is the multiple-rectangles icon with a plus button in the top right of the screen. You can select from any of your existing albums or create a new one in the pop-up menu that appears.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Using iCloud for Windows

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  1. This method allows you to access iCloud on your device by installing iCloud for Windows. Your iCloud photos will be synced with a special folder on your computer. This will allow you to easily access your photos like you would any file on your computer. [1]
  3. This will replace the Get button when iCloud is done installing.
  4. This should be the Apple ID you use for iCloud Photos.
  5. This will tell iCloud to sync your iCloud Photo Library with your Windows computer. iCloud will create a special folder for your iCloud Photos that you'll be able to easily access in Windows Explorer. [2]
    • You can check the boxes for other iCloud content that you want to sync with your Windows computer as well.
  6. iCloud will create the iCloud Photos folder on your computer and begin downloading your iCloud Photo Library to it. This may take a while for larger libraries. [3]
  7. The location varies depending on your version of Windows:
    • Windows 11: Open the Microsoft Photos app and click iCloud Photos in the left menu.
    • Windows 10: Open File explorer with ⊞ Win + E and click iCloud Photo in the left menu.
    • Windows 8: Open the Start menu and click iCloud Photos .
  8. Any photos that you add to your iCloud Photos folder on your Windows PC will be uploaded to your iCloud Photo Library and will be accessible from any of your iCloud-connected devices. To add photos:
    • Open File Explorer and click iCloud Photos in the left navigation menu.
    • Open another FIle Explorer window and go to the photos you want to add to iCloud.
    • Select the photos and drag them to the iCloud Photos folder.
    • You're done! It may take a few minutes for new photos to appear on other devices.
  9. Any photos deleted from the "iCloud Photos" folder will be permanently removed from your iCloud Photo Library on all of your devices. To delete photos:
    • Open File Explorer and click iCloud Photos in the left navigation menu.
    • Locate the photos you want to delete.
    • Select the photos and right-click one of the selected photos.
    • Click Delete in the right-click menu to delete the selected photos.
  10. You can download a local copy of a photo to edit it. To download a photo:
    • Open File Explorer and click iCloud Photos in the left navigation menu.
    • Locate the photo you want to download.
    • Double-click the photo's thumbnail to download it to your computer.
    • Now you can open the photo in a photo editing software like Microsoft Paint or Photoshop to edit the image. When you save the edited image in the iCloud Photos folder, it will update the image on all of your iCloud devices.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    Photos from an iphone I had in 2012 were backed up to itunes account or icloud, not certain, i no longer have the iphone handset and the AppleId has changed since then. Is there a way to retrieve phot
    Kyle Smith
    wikiHow Technology Writer
    Kyle Smith is a wikiHow Technology Writer, learning and sharing information about the latest technology. He has presented his research at multiple engineering conferences and is the writer and editor of hundreds of online electronics repair guides. Kyle received a BS in Industrial Engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
    Kyle Smith
    wikiHow Technology Writer
    Expert Answer
    You may be able to recover the photos by recovering your Apple ID account. Go to Apple's official website and click "Support." Click "Forgot Apple ID or password" on the support page. There will be an option called "If you forgot your Apple ID, you can look it up." Follow the prompts to recover your Apple ID.
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  • Question
    Icloud photos on my PC are not in date order but are in date order on ipad and iphone. How can I sort PC photos into date order?
    Kyle Smith
    wikiHow Technology Writer
    Kyle Smith is a wikiHow Technology Writer, learning and sharing information about the latest technology. He has presented his research at multiple engineering conferences and is the writer and editor of hundreds of online electronics repair guides. Kyle received a BS in Industrial Engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
    Kyle Smith
    wikiHow Technology Writer
    Expert Answer
    In the Photos section of the iCloud website, click "Library" in the left menu to see your photos in order of date. If you're using the iCloud desktop app for Windows, click the "Date" header in the iCloud Photos folder to sort by date.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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  • Question
    How do I copy a photo on iCloud to an external drive?
    Kyle Smith
    wikiHow Technology Writer
    Kyle Smith is a wikiHow Technology Writer, learning and sharing information about the latest technology. He has presented his research at multiple engineering conferences and is the writer and editor of hundreds of online electronics repair guides. Kyle received a BS in Industrial Engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
    Kyle Smith
    wikiHow Technology Writer
    Expert Answer
    If you're using the iCloud website, select the photos you want to download, then click the download button (a cloud with a down arrow). Drag and drop the downloaded photos from the download location to the external drive. If you're using the iCloud desktop app for Windows, select the photos you want to copy. Then, right-click a selected photo and click "Copy." Right-click an empty area in the external drive and select "Paste."
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205323
      2. ↑ http://www.apple.com/icloud/setup/pc.html
      3. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205323

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