How to Use iCloud Drive and Sync Files Across Mac, iPhone and iPad
iCloud Drive syncs your documents across Mac, iPhone and iPad once you sign in with your Apple ID; you can also sync the Desktop and Documents folders, but you may need to go beyond the free 5 GB.
4 min read
In brief
AI summaryiCloud Drive syncs documents, files and folders across Mac, iPhone and iPad; it needs macOS X 10.10 or later, iOS 8 or later, or iCloud for Windows on Windows 7 or later.
To use iCloud Drive, sign in with your Apple ID on each device, copy files into the iCloud Drive folder on the Mac and open the Files app > Browse > iCloud Drive on the iPhone.
To sync the Desktop and Documents folders, go to System Preferences > Apple ID > iCloud Drive Options; Apple will tell you if you need to upgrade beyond the free 5 GB iCloud tier.
Contents5 sections
Apple's iCloud Drive is a feature that shows one of the most important advantages of the company's iOS ecosystem. iCloud Drive syncs documents, files, folders and more with your Mac, iPhone and iPad and lets you access them at any time between any of these platforms. So how do you use iCloud Drive and sync your documents across all your devices?
How Do You Use iCloud Drive and Sync With It? 2022
Using iCloud Drive on Mac and iPhone
iCloud Drive is compatible with Mac systems running MacOS X 10.10 or later, while iOS devices require iOS 8 or later. Meanwhile, iCloud for Windows works with Windows 7 or later.
- iCloud Drive only works when you sign in with your Apple ID on your devices. On the Mac, sign in through System Preferences and then select the Sign In button.
- In a Finder window, iCloud Drive will now appear under the Favorites section. In this example, I'm going to sync two documents (Microsoft Word and PDF files). I copied them and pasted them into the iCloud Drive folder. If you drag and paste, it will remove the file from its original location, such as your desktop, so copy and paste if you want it to stay there. Wait for the cloud symbol to disappear. While the symbol is still present, the file is still in the process of syncing.
- Open the Files app on your iPhone and then select Browse. If the feature isn't on, select the Turn On iCloud Drive button and then the gray iCloud Drive button.
- In the Files app, select iCloud Drive in the Locations section. The two documents I copied and pasted into the iCloud Drive folder on my Mac now appear on my iPhone. When these files sync, you need to select the iCloud download button to view them on your iOS devices. For example, the second file, a Word document, has a blue cloud icon next to its name.
- The iPhone's iCloud Drive has a number of customization options you can use to optimize and manage your documents/files. For example, you can create a new folder and sort by name, date, size, tags and more.
Syncing Desktop and Documents Files With iCloud Drive
If you prefer a method in which document files are synced automatically across your Apple devices, there is an option to enable such a feature.
- On your Mac, select System Preferences, select Apple ID, and then select the Options button in the iCloud Drive area. Select the Desktop and Documents folders. If you need to upgrade your iCloud account to a tier beyond the free 5 GB option to put files on your desktop and in your Documents folder, Apple will let you know this way.
- Select Done, and then all the files on your desktop and in the Documents folder on your Mac start to sync.
iCloud Drive Tips
- If you want everything in your iCloud Drive account to be saved on your Mac, select the Optimize Mac Storage button in the Apple ID section.
- You can access your iCloud Drive files even when your devices are offline. For example, you may want to view and edit certain files while traveling or when you only have no access to Wi-Fi or a hotspot. If you synced files/documents from your iPhone, then click the iCloud Drive folder on a Mac, Control-click the file and then select Download Now. Similarly, if you synced documents through your Mac, open the Files app on your iPhone and finally select the file to download it. If you modify a file in any way while offline, your iCloud Drive will update that document with the changes when you reconnect to the internet.
More Tech Articles
- Instagram Nickname Suggestions Are Here
- Instagram Post Times 2022
- How Do You Create Instagram Filters?
- How Do You Change Your Instagram Username? 2022
- What Are the Instagram Photo Editing Tactics? 2022
- How Do You Add an Instagram Account to TikTok? 2022
- How Do You Create a Pinterest Business Account?
- Pinterest Account Finder Guide
- Downloading Pinterest Photos 2022
- Guide to Installing the Android Operating System on a Computer 2022
- What Is ThrottleStop, What Is It Used For and How Do You Use It?
- How Do You Fix the Throttlestop CPU Not Supported Error?
- Best Apple iPhone 13 Screen Protectors
Frequently asked questions
Questions answered in this article
How Do You Use iCloud Drive and Sync With It? 2022
iCloud Drive is compatible with Mac systems running MacOS X 10.10 or later, while iOS devices require iOS 8 or later. Meanwhile, iCloud for Windows works with Windows 7 or later. If you prefer a method in which document files are synced automatically across your Apple devices, there is an option to enable such a feature.
Go to section
