Getting Started with iCloud
Set up and use Apple's useful online storage service on Mac, PC or iOS device.
If you recently picked up a new Mac, iPhone, iPod or iPad, you may have seen mention of something called iCloud when setting up your device. If you don't already know, this is a free syncing and backup service from Apple that aims to keep all your tech - mobile devices running iOS 5 or later, and desktop computers running OS X Lion or later, or Windows Vista or later - on the same page with the same data, no matter which one you are using at any given moment.
iCloud does a lot of amazing things: it keeps your mail, contacts, calendars, reminders and notes in sync among your various computers and iOS devices. It instantly copies that photo you took of your cousin on your iPhone to your Mac, iPad mini and laptop. It lets you work with your Macs from afar, helps you find stranded and wayward devices, and lets you know when your friends are nearby. And it does it all for free.
But what if you are unsure how to set up iCloud or how to get it to work on your Mac, PC, iOS device and Apple TV? Here's how.
Sign UP for an iCloud Account
A few notes before we beging: although signin up for iCloud is free, you cannot do so just anywhere. You must create an account on either mobile device running iOS 5 or later, or a Mac running OS X 10.7.5 or later. Unfortunately, Windows users will have to create an account on one of these platforms before they can log in form a PC.
Apple also limits you to 10 iCloud accounts per device. You should only ever need one or two, so you will probably never run up against the limit; but because the limit persists after full device wipes, you may see a warning about this if you have received an older iOS device or Mac. If you do get an alert preventing you from creating a new iCloud account, we suggest going to your nearest Apple Store, where they should be able to help you sort it out.
If you have ever purchased anything from the iTunes Store, App Store or iBookstore, you will have an Apple ID. (It is probably the email address you used when signin up for iTunes.) When you log into the iTunes or App Store with this Apple ID, you will see the email address already filled out in the Apple ID section of the iCloud screen.
All iCloud accounts stem from Apple IDs, so are easy to create. You will still be able to use your Apple ID for everything you currently use it for, but you will also get all of iCloud's features. And if you have family members who use your Apple ID, they will still be able to use it for purchases without getting all your iCloud information.
To convert your Apple ID into an iCloud account, open the iCloud preference screen on your iOS device or Mac, and then sign into iCloud with your current Apple ID and password. The screen will prompt you to agree to iCloud's terms and conditions, once you do, you are ready to begin.
Note:
If you do convert an Apple ID into an iCloud account, you won't get an iCloud email address (@icloud.com) by default. If you want one, simply go to Settings → iCloud on an iOS device and toggle the Mail switch on (or, on a Mac, click the tickbox). You will then see a prompt to create an iCloud email address to go along with your account.
On an iOS device, go ahead and tap the Get a Free Apple ID button at the bottom of the iCloud settings screen. (On a Mac, click Create an Apple ID.)
The screens will request your birth date and name, and ask whether you'd like to use a current email address or create an iCloud.com address for your Apple ID. Even if you selec to use your old email, you can create a new iCloud.com address after making your account by going to Settings → iCloud and turning on the Mail switch.
From there, you will either have to enter your current email address or type what you'd like your new iCloud email address to be. The service will also prompt you for a password for your account and a security question.
After that, to finish up, simply indicate whether you want to get email updates from Apple, and agree to the terms and conditions. You are then ready to start using iCloud.
Set up an iOS Device
iCloud was introduced as a sync mechanism for iOS devices, and consequently the iCloud signup process is easiest on your iPhone, iPad or iPod. You will need to be running iOS 5 or later, if your iPhone or iPod is still running iOS4, you can't get in on the iCloud action until you upgrade.
When you first set up your device, you should have been a screen asking you to sign in, or sign up for an Apple ID and iCloud, even if you chose not to set that up when you first unboxed the gadget, getting an account in simple. On your device, open the Settings app and tap the iCloud entry. You will see a space for logging in with an Apple ID and password, and a Get a Free Apple ID button at the bottom.
Once you have set up iCloud on your iOS device, most of it starts working automatically. It will sync your email (if you have set that up), along with any previously created contacts, calender, reminders, notes, Passbook passes (iPhone-only), and Safari bookmarks, to its central online server. Photo Stream will also automatically upload the last 1,000 photos you have taken. All its options are on by default; if you don't want to sync a specific item type, tap the appropriate toggle to turn it off.
You can also start creating backups of your iOS devices by going to Settings → iCloud → Storage and Backup → Back Up Now.
Set Up a MAC
The Mac setup process is similar to that of an iPad, iPhone or iPod. You use the iCloud settings pane in System Preferences. To add or create an iCloud account, your computer needs to be OS X 10.7.5, any earlier, and you won't have that pane.
As on an iOS device, once you have set up iCloud on your Mac, it will sync your email (if you have set that up), contacts, calendars, and so on. All options are on by default, except for 'Back to My Mac', which you must turn on manually. Again, if you don't want iCloud to sync specific data, just click the respective toggle to turn it off.
Unlike with iOS devices, you can't create iCloud backups of your Mac - in part because they would eat up all your iCloud storage space, given the size of most Mac hard drivers. But your Mac does offer support for iCloud's data sync, allowing compatible programs to store their documents and data there.
Set up a PC
In contrast to iOS devices and Macs, a Windows PC doesn't come with any kind of iCloud control panel pre-installed, you will have to download it from Apple's website. And, as noted above, your PC is also the only device you can't use to create an iCloud account, so you will need to have first made one on your Mac or iOS device.
When you sign into the control panel for the first time, it will ask whether you want to send diagnostic and usage information to Apple, accepting this arrangement allows the company to automatically collect data on any crashes you might have related to iCloud, and to send that back to its servers to prevent similar crashes from happening in the future.
Your sync options for iCloud on the PC are limited in comparison to those on iOS devices and the Mac. You can sync email (if you have created an iCloud.com account), contacts, calendars, and tasks in Outlook, web browser bookmarks, and your Photo Stream. Unfortunately, the Windows operating system does not support syncing reminers, notes, iCloud data, or PC versions of Back to My Mac or Find My Mac.
Set UP an Apple TV
Although your Apple TV does not have access to iCloud's calendars, reminders, notes or mail, you can still use iCloud features such as Photo Stream and iTunes Match when you log in with the Apple ID tied to your iCloud account. To do so, go to the Setting screen of your Apple TV, click iTunes Store, and enter your account information.
