How to download files from icloud to pc

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/05/technology/personaltech/bringing-icloud-files-down-to-earth.html

Table of Contents Show

Part 1: Download iCloud for Windows Computer
Part 2: How to Setup iCloud on Windows
Part 3: How to Download your photos from iCloud?
Part 4: How to Manage your iCloud Storage
Part 5: Turn off or uninstall iCloud for Windows
The Best Data Backup Software for Windows
How do I get files from iCloud to Windows?
How do I download an entire file from iCloud?

Tech Tip

Jan. 5, 2017

Q. I want to download specific files from my iCloud account in order to have them physically on my laptop and delete them from iCloud. How do I do this?

A. If your iCloud storage allowance is getting tight, downloading files to your computer’s hard drive and then deleting them from iCloud.com is one way to free up space. The steps for downloading files vary based on the apps and operating system you are using, but in this method, start by logging into your account at iCloud.com.

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Credit...The New York Times

If you have upgraded to and are using the iCloud Drive feature to store files, select its icon in the iCloud window. Find a file you want to download and click its icon once to select it. Next, click the download icon at the top of the browser window — the icon looks like a cloud with a downward-pointing arrow. A copy of the selected file should then transfer to your computer and land in the place you have designated downloaded files to go, like your computer’s desktop or its Downloads folder.

If you have files created with Apple’s iWork for iCloud apps tucked away in the Pages, Numbers or Keynote folders within iCloud Drive, you can download those files the same way, by selecting them and clicking the Download icon. When you have checked the copies of the files you have downloaded to make sure they open properly and are now stored in a safe space on your computer, delete the iCloud Drive copy by selecting each file and clicking the trash can icon at the top of the window. You will see an alert box asking you to confirm your decision to delete.

For instructions on downloading other types of files from iCloud, like photos, videos, mail, notes and contacts, visit Apple’s online guide to archiving or downloading copies of iCloud data. The page also includes steps for specific operating systems and devices using the iCloud Drive app.

It doesn't matter if you have a Mac or a Windows PC, you can take the assistance of iCloud to keep your files safe. If you have already taken a backup of your iOS device on iCloud, then you can easily download the iCloud backup to PC as well. Since iCloud has a dedicated tool for Windows, you can easily use it to backup or restore your data files. In this informative post, we will teach you how to set up iCloud Drive on PC to download your backup.

Part 1: Download iCloud for Windows Computer
Part 2: How to Setup iCloud on Windows
Part 3: How to Download your photos from iCloud
Part 4: How to Manage your iCloud Storage
Part 5: Turn off or uninstall iCloud for Windows

Part 1: Download iCloud for Windows Computer

To download the iCloud backup to PC, you need to first install and setup iCloud. To start with, visit iCloud's official website right here https://www.icloud.com/ and download it on your Windows system. You will simply need to take care of the following prerequisites.

To use iCloud, you need to sign up for an Apple ID. This can be done from any iOS device or by visiting iCloud's website and creating an account. If you have already taken a backup of your iOS device, then use your existing Apple ID.
You should also sync your contacts, calendars, emails, etc. updated with Outlook 2016.
Bookmarks for Safari 5.1.7 (or later), Firefox 22 (or later), and Chrome 28 (or later)
Additionally, your Windows version should be updated to support iCloud installation.

Part 2: How to Setup iCloud on Windows

After downloading iCloud for Windows, you need to perform its setup. This will create a dedicated drive for iCloud on your computer, letting you access it on the go. To install iCloud on Windows, follow these simple steps:

Step 1 Download iCloud for Windows

Step 2 If the setup wizard won't start automatically, open it from the file explorer (recent downloads) and run it.

Step 3 Agree to the terms and conditions and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup.

Step 4 Within seconds, iCloud will be installed on your Windows system. Just click on the "Finish" button to complete the setup.

Step 5 Once it is done, you will be asked to restart our system. Simply agree to it to proceed.

Step 6 After your computer would be restarted, the iCloud pop-up will appear. Just provide your Apple ID and password to sign-in.

Step 7 Simply decide whether you wish to send usage information to Apple or not.

Step 8 In the end, your PC will be configured to iCloud and display a similar prompt like this.

Now, you can simply access iCloud on your computer. Not only to just upload your content to the drive, but it can also be used to download the iCloud backup to PC as well.

Part 3: How to Download your photos from iCloud?

After completing the iCloud setup, you can easily transfer your files from one device to another wirelessly. It is an excellent way to keep your important data files and photos handy. The dedicated iCloud drive on your system can be used to download the iCloud backup to PC as well and sync your photos, bookmarks, etc. To download your photos from iCloud, just follow these instructions.

Step 1 Launch the iCloud application on your system. From here, you can manage your photos, bookmarks, and more. To access your mails, calendar, reminder, etc. you need to visit its website.

Step 2 Simply select "Photos" and click on the "Options" button adjacent to it.

Step 3 This will let you perform various tasks related to photo sharing between iCloud and your system. From here, enable the option of "iCloud Photo Library" and "iCloud Photo Sharing".

Step 4 Additionally, enable the option of "Download new photos and videos to my PC" to get all the new photos clicked from your iOS device on your PC. You can also change the location to save these files from here.

Step 5 Wait for a while as iCloud will sync photos from the cloud to your iCloud drive.

Step 6 You can simply go to the iCloud Photos folder on your PC (or the designated location) to view them. Your files will be segregated into three categories: Upload, Download, and Shared.

Part 4: How to Manage your iCloud Storage

By default, Apple only provides free storage of 5 GB for each Apple ID. Therefore, users often find it hard to manage iCloud storage. If you are already using the same iCloud account among various devices, chances are that its storage would be exhausted in no time. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to manage the iCloud storage for a seamless experience.

Launch iCloud on your system to view how much storage is left. You can get to know about it from the welcome screen. To further manage the storage, simply click on the "Manage" button which is adjacent to the storage status.

From here, you can view how different applications have acquired space on iCloud. You can readily get rid of the files after visiting iCloud's website as well. If you don't want to lose anything, then simply expand the storage. This can be done by buying more space on iCloud.

Just click the "Buy More Storage" button and select the desired plan to expand your iCloud storage.

Part 5: Turn off or uninstall iCloud for Windows

There are times when due to the scarcity of space, users also wish to uninstall or turn off iCloud on Windows. You can turn off the iCloud feature temporarily or uninstall it from your computer as well.

To turn off iCloud, just launch its interface on your system. Now, simply disable the syncing of the services that you wish to turn off. Additionally, you can click on the "Sign out" button and log out of your Apple ID to stop using iCloud on your system.

If you wish to permanently remove iCloud from Windows, then go to Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Feature and choose to "Uninstall" a program. Look for iCloud from the list of all the programs installed on your system and simply uninstall it after following the on-screen instructions.

We hope that after following this informative guide, you can use iCloud on Windows without any trouble. From setting up iCloud on Windows to helping you download the iCloud backup to PC, we have covered it all in this post. Furthermore, we have also made you familiar with ways to set up your preferences, manage your storage, and uninstall the drive. Go ahead and use iCloud on Windows without any hassle and let us know about your experience in the comments.

The Best Data Backup Software for Windows

Allows you to take automatic, full, incremental, and differential backups of system, disk, partition, and files.
Supports system restore, disk restore, dissimilar hardware restore, partition restore, and selective file restore.
Supports disk clone, partition/volume clone, flexible clone, system clone, and command line clone.
Supports Windows 10, Windows 8.1/8, Windows 7, Vista, and XP (all editions, 32/64-bit)

How do I get files from iCloud to Windows?

On your Windows computer, open File Explorer or Windows Explorer, then click iCloud Drive in the Navigation pane. Locate the items you want to remove. Drag the items from iCloud Drive to the desktop or another folder on your hard disk.