you use your phone every day, but how often do you think about the service storing your files?
Cloud storage for Android and Apple devices differs, and if you have an iPhone, there's a good chance you use iCloud.
Yet even if your devices rely on the service, you're probably still wondering, What is iCloud, exactly?
This cloud-based service stores, syncs and backs up data like photos, videos, documents and apps on all your Apple devices.
It plays a big role in many of the iPhone hacks that make our lives easier, and it's how we're able to retrieve deleted text messages and recover deleted photos. But there's more to it than meets the eye.
Understanding how this digital storage space works will give you a better idea of what you may or may not want to store online and whether your private information is safe in iCloud.
"How much you trust iCloud really comes down to how much you trust Apple," says Thomas Reed, director of Mac and mobile at Malwarebytes, a cybersecurity company.
Ready to learn more? We have everything you need to know about what iCloud is, how to set it up, why and when you would use it, and how safe it is.
What is iCloud? iCloud is an online cloud-based service that functions as a digital storage locker for Apple users' photos, videos, documents and apps, among a host of other things.
What is iCloud? Depending on the type of information, the data may be saved on Apple's servers or on third-party servers like Google Cloud Storage or Amazon Web Services, according to Reed.
With iCloud, you can view your files from any Apple device, regardless of the device that originally stored them.
For example, if you have photos stored on your iPhone, you can also view them on your iPad and Mac, so long as your devices are logged in to your Apple ID account and synced.
What does iCloud do exactly? At its core, Apple's iCloud saves and protects your most important digital files.
What is iCloud more specifically? It's a service that includes the storage, backup and restoration of files. One service even locates lost devices.
What does iCloud do exactly? Here is a detailed breakdown of some of the services that iCloud offers. You can access them via the iCloud website or apps on a Mac, iPhone or iPad.
Storage For the bulk of Apple users, iCloud's file storage is its best known (and most important!) feature. Each user with an iCloud account receives five gigabytes of free storage space to store photos, videos, text messages, documents, calendar invitations, contact lists, reminders and more.
Storage All these files are synced between your Apple devices through iCloud, so you can access them from any device, whenever and wherever you want.
Storage To get more than five gigabytes of storage, you can purchase an iCloud+ subscription, which starts at 99 cents per month for 50 gigabytes of storage plus the additional iCloud services.
Storage Canceling your subscription won't remove what you have already saved to iCloud, but you won't be able to store any additional files.
Storage Don't want to pay for more storage? Try freeing up storage space by deleting photos, apps and other files you don't need anymore. If you still see that pesky "Storage Full" notification after deleting the files from your device, go to iCloud.com and remove them from your iCloud account.
(1) Backup You can also use iCloud to back up your iOS devices, storing all the data and information from your Mac, iPad or iPhone online instead of on a hard drive. This can come in handy when you need more storage space than your device offers or you need to restore a lost or damaged device.
(2) Backup Choose a full backup or select what you want to have backed up, such as files, photos, videos, text messages, health information and device settings. Once you set up the iCloud backup feature, it will automatically back up your computer or phone daily when the device is connected to a power source and Wi-Fi.
Restore If you ever need to restore an iPhone after a factory reset or set up a new iOS device, iCloud has you covered. The cloud service can transfer the backup of your Mac, iPad or iPhone stored on its servers to the device, and you won't lose any data in the process. Think of it like an external hard drive, but instead of connecting it to your computer or phone, you connect digitally.
Find My Device With the Find My feature, iCloud can help you find a lost phone or laptop. Because your iCloud account is tied to your Apple ID account, you can see the location of any of the devices logged in to your Apple ID.
The feature also allows you to play a loud sound to locate the device or lock the device with "lost mode" and erase its data remotely if you can't recover it.
How do you set up iCloud? First, make sure your devices are updated with the latest iOS software. Then follow these instructions to set up iCloud on your iPhone, iPad or Mac:
On your iPhone or iPad: 1) Go to Settings and tap your name at the top. If you don't see your name, tap the sign-in option and then log in with your Apple ID and password. 2) Tap the "iCloud" option in the menu. 3) Toggle the sliders next to the apps and features you want to store on iCloud to the "on" position.
On your Mac: 1) Click the Apple menu icon in the upper-left corner of your screen. 2) Click "System Preferences." 3) Click on "Apple ID," then click "iCloud." If you don't see the "Apple ID" option, click "Sign In" in the upper-right corner, log in to your Apple ID account, then click "iCloud." 4) Select each app or feature you want to store on iCloud.
Back up your iPhone Once your iCloud account is set up, make sure to sign in with the same Apple ID on all your devices. From there, you can back up your iPhone by taking the steps next slide.
1) Go to Settings. 2) Tap your name. 3) Tap "iCloud." 4) Tap "iCloud Backup." 5) Tap "Back Up Now" to perform a manual backup.
iCloud security tip It's important to have iCloud security measures in place to safeguard all the information you store online. Experts recommend keeping your Apple devices updated with the latest software and creating good passwords for your online accounts.