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Ever wondered what iCloud means and why it's so talked about? Simply put, iCloud is the name for all the services Apple provides through cloud computing. These services include iCloud Drive, iCloud Photo Library, and all the data stored from your iOS devices. iCloud gives all iPhone users a way to back up their iPhone and iPad so they can restore their device anytime.
What exactly is iCloud?
iCloud is the umbrella term for all Apple services based on the cloud. It's also where all your Apple information is stored online. Your data can be accessed on every Apple device, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, and even Windows computers. You can also access iCloud.com, log in, and search for the data you've stored in the cloud.
Exploring the capabilities of iCloud.
Take notice of the people you've saved in your Contacts. With iCloud, all your contacts will automatically sync across your iOS and macOS devices. You just need to maintain one contact list, and if you delete or add new contacts, this action will also occur on your other Apple devices. The same goes for the Calendar app, where all your events, birthdays, and holidays will be synchronized. Additionally, the services include Notes, Reminders, iWork, and even iMessages are backed up, allowing you to read messages on any device.
On the other hand, iCloud Drive functions similarly to Google Drive, Dropbox, etc. You can create folders and drag and drop files into iCloud Drive to store them. Like all other services, the changes you make in iCloud Drive are synchronized across all your macOS and iOS devices. Additionally, iCloud also helps you receive calls from any device nearest to you. The caller will call your iPhone, but you can choose to listen on iPad if you prefer.
How much does iCloud cost?
Good news! Apple offers all its customers 5GB of free storage. This capacity is used for iCloud backups for devices, iMessages, photos, and iCloud Drive. Typically, 5GB is sufficient for a single user, but you might need more. Purchasing additional storage means you'll have more space to back up apps, data, files, photos, and more. So how much does iCloud cost if you need extra storage?
- For 19,000đ per month, you'll receive 50GB of storage.
- For 59,000đ per month, you'll get 200GB of storage.
- For 199,000đ per month, you'll have 2TB of storage.
For other storage services, Google Drive offers 15GB for free, with plans starting from 45,000đ/month for 100GB. Dropbox is priced at $9.99 for a 2TB plan, while they only provide a meager 2GB of free storage. With these examples, it's easy to see that iCloud offers quite competitive pricing.
Activating iCloud Drive
The easiest way to set up iCloud Drive when you start using a new iPhone or iPad. You'll be asked if you want to use iCloud. If you chose not to at that time, you can now enable it in settings.
iOS or iPadOS
- Open the Settings app, tap on your Username. Then select iCloud.
- In these settings, you can allow which apps to use iCloud or not. Scroll down to find iCloud Drive, toggle the switch to turn it on.
On MacOS
Start at the Apple menu (the Apple logo in the top left corner).
Open System Preferences, navigate to Apple ID.
Here, select iCloud and check the services you want to use (including iCloud Drive).
Family Sharing
Similar to other cloud services, Apple and iCloud also offer Family Sharing. Not only can you share purchased apps and Apple Music, but you can also share iCloud Drive storage. As a company that prioritizes privacy, Apple maintains the viewpoint that even with Family Sharing, photos and documents remain private to each member.
To use the Family Sharing feature, access Settings, tap on your Username. Here, select Family Sharing.
On this screen, you can optionally add up to 6 people to your family by choosing Add Family Member....
Below, you can choose from various sharing options including sharing purchased apps, iCloud storage, Apple Arcade games, Apple Music, and more.
Since its inception, iCloud has become an invaluable part of the iOS and MacOS experience. Do you find iCloud interesting and useful?
