How to Sign in to iCloud on iPhone, iPad, Mac, & Windows

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Access iCloud photos, email, calendar, contacts, & more everywhere
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iCloud makes it easy to sync your most important data across all of your devices. On an iPhone or iPad, you can sign in to iCloud in the Settings app by tapping Apple Account . On a Mac, just open System Settings and click Sign In to log in. If you want to use iCloud on a Windows computer, download the iCloud for Windows app or access iCloud on the web. This article will show you how to log in to iCloud on any device in seconds.

On an iPhone or iPad, open your Settings , tap Apple Account , and select a sign-in option. On a Mac, click the Apple menu, select System Settings , and select Sign In . On Windows, you can sign in to iCloud using the iCloud for Windows app or log in at iCloud.com.

Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

iPhone & iPad

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  1. You'll find this gray gear icon on your Home screen, in your app list, or the App Library.
  2. If you're not already signed in to iCloud, you'll see this option at the top of your Settings.
    • If you're already signed in with an account, you'll see the account owner's name at the top of the menu instead. You can switch to a different account by tapping the name of the signed-in account, scrolling down, and tapping and choosing Sign Out . [1]
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  3. You'll have three choices for signing in to iCloud on your iPhone or iPad:
    • Use Another Apple Device: If you have another Apple device that's already signed in to iCloud with the same Apple Account you want to use on your iPhone, select this option, then bring your iPhone or iPad close to the other device. You'll be prompted to follow instructions on both devices to sign in to iCloud. [2]
    • Sign in Manually: Select the option to log in using your Apple Account (Apple ID) email address and password.
    • Don't have an Apple Account? Choose this option if you want to create a new Apple Account to sign in to iCloud. If you choose this option, follow the on-screen instructions to create your Apple Account and access iCloud.
  4. If you chose the option to sign in to iCloud manually, enter the email address and password associated with your Apple Account . Tap Continue to proceed.
  5. Type the password associated with your Apple Account, then tap the done key at the bottom-right corner of the keyboard.
    • If two-factor authentication is not set up on your account, this will sign you right into iCloud.
    • If you're using two-factor authentication, a notification will be sent to one of your trusted devices so you can complete the sign-in.
  6. In most cases, a notification will appear on one of your trusted devices (such as your Mac) that says someone is trying to sign in with your Apple Account. Click or tap Allow on this notification when it appears on your trusted device, and a code will appear. To complete the sign-in, enter the code on your iPhone, and you'll be signed in to iCloud. [4]
    • You may be prompted to merge certain data when logging in, such as your Safari browsing history and News data. If you choose to Merge , any browsing or news data on the phone will be synced to your iCloud account.
  7. Once you're signed in to iCloud, you can control which data automatically syncs:
    • In the Settings app, tap your name, and then choose iCloud .
    • Tap See All next to "Saved to iCloud to view a list of all apps you can sync to iCloud automatically.
    • Apps syncing to iCloud will either say "On" or have a green slider beside them. You can use the switches and menus to choose what data to sync to iCloud, such as your iCloud Photos . If you sync your photos, you can access them anywhere, including in your Mac's Photos app and on your PC .
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Mac

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  1. You can get there by clicking the gear icon on your dock or by clicking the Apple menu and selecting System Settings .
  2. If you're not signed in to iCloud, you'll see this option at the top-left corner of the window. [5]
    • If you're already signed in to an iCloud account but want to switch to another, click the name of the account owner at the top-left, click Sign Out , and follow the on-screen instructions.
  3. Alternatively, you can enter the phone number associated with your account here.
    • If you don't have an Apple Account, click Don't Have Account? and follow the on-screen instructions to create a new one.
    • If you don't remember your iCloud password, click Forgot Password , and follow the on-screen instructions to reset it.
  4. Type in the password you use to log into your iCloud account to complete the sign-in process. If your password is accepted, you'll either be signed into iCloud, or be prompted to enter a 6-digit verification code.
  5. If two-factor authentication is set up for your account, a notification will appear on your trusted device (such as your iPhone or iPad) that says somebody is trying to sign in. Once you allow the login, the verification code will appear, and you can enter that code on your Mac to finish signing in to iCloud.
    • You may be asked if you want to download your iCloud information onto your Mac. If so, follow the on-screen prompts to do so. This ensures that all your iCloud services, including your photos, email, and preferences remain synced across all your devices.
    • If prompted, enter your Mac user password to confirm.
  6. Now that you're signed in, you can click iCloud in your System Settings to control which apps and data automatically sync to iCloud. [6]
    • For example, select a service like iCloud Drive or Mail and then toggle "Sync this Mac" on or off.
    • If you don't see the app or service you're looking for, click See All to view them.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Windows

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  1. The Windows iCloud app allows you to sync your iCloud Drive, photos, contacts, calendars, Safari bookmarks, and even your passwords to your Windows PC. If you haven't yet downloaded and installed the iCloud for Windows program:
    • First, if you just want to reply to iCloud email or use apps like Pages, you should access iCloud on the web instead.
    • Open the Microsoft Store app on your Windows 10 or 11 PC.
    • Type icloud into the search bar and press Enter .
    • Click Install on the iCloud app and follow the on-screen instructions.
    • Once installed, you'll find the iCloud app in your Windows Start menu.
  2. If you're still in the Microsoft Store, you can click Open to launch the app. Otherwise, you can open your Windows Start menu and click All apps > iCloud .
    • The first time you open the app, click Yes if prompted to allow the app to run.
    • If needed, click Get Started to access the login screen.
  3. You'll need to use the email address and password associated with your Apple ID.
  4. If you set up two-step authentication on your iCloud account, you will receive a code on your trusted Apple device, such as your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. You will need to enter that code into the Windows iCloud app to complete the sign-in.
    • If you can't access your primary Apple device, you won't be able to sign in to the Windows iCloud app.
  5. Now that you're signed in to iCloud, you will be prompted to choose which apps and services will sync automatically in the background. For example, if you sync Photos, you'll be able to automatically sync the photos on your PC to iCloud so you can view them on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
    • Select each app under "Apps Using iCloud" and choose Sync or Not Now .
    • Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup.
    • You can update your preferences later by clicking the iCloud app icon in the system tray—a white square with a blue cloud inside. If you don't see it, click the up arrow next to the clock.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

On the Web

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  1. Go to https://www.icloud.com and click Sign In . You can log in to iCloud on the web on any platform, including on Windows, Android, Chromebook, and Linux, to access web-based iCloud services. This includes web-based versions of apps like iCloud Drive , Mail, Photos, Contacts, Pages, and Calendar.
    • If you've set up two-step verification for your account, you will need to have your primary device handy to complete the sign-in. [7]
    • If you no longer have access to your primary device used for two-step verification, the only iCloud service you'll be able to access on the web is Find My, which can help you track down your lost iPhone or iPad .
  2. Type the email address you use for your iCloud account into the text box in the middle of the page. Once you click the arrow, you'll be prompted to enter a password.
  3. Once your password is accepted, iCloud.com will automatically send a 6-digit code to your primary device, which could be your iPhone, Mac, or iPad, depending on how you configured your account.
    • If you don't have two-step verification set up, you will be logged right into iCloud.
  4. If your primary device is an iPhone or iPad, tap the notification you receive on that device to get your code. If it's a Mac, the notification will pop up on your screen.
    • Now that you're signed in, your synced data from other iCloud devices will now be available on the web.
    • Some iCloud information, including your text messages, won't be available on the web.
    • The web app is handy for accessing your iCloud information, including your photos, but you won't be able to use it to sync new data to iCloud automatically.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    How can I link two devices when one is under a different account?
    Jackson Sivley
    Community Answer
    Remove the old Apple ID from one device and log into the same Apple ID on the other device and sign into that on the destination device. If an error message occurs saying “you cannot associate this device with another Apple ID for [number] days” (this can take up to 90 days), you will need to wait to use another Apple ID with that device.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/104958
      2. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/111001
      3. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201487
      4. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204915
      5. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/111001
      6. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/set-up-icloud-mh36834/mac
      7. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/icloud/sign-in-and-use-icloudcom-mm281e3e7d/icloud

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