What Is iCloud? And How Do I Use It?

iCloud is the generic name for all of the services Apple delivers through the internet, whether that's on a Mac, iPhone, or a PC running Windows (an iCloud for Windows client is available).

These services include iCloud Drive, which is similar to Dropbox and Google Drive; iCloud Photo Library, which is an offshoot of Photo Stream; iTunes Match; and even Apple Music. iCloud also provides you with a way to back up your iPad in case you need to restore it at a future point, and while you can download the iWork suite to your iPad from the App Store, you can also run Pages, Numbers, and Keynote on your laptop or desktop PCs through icloud.com.

iCloud Features And How to Use Them

Here are some of the features you get with iCloud, along with some tips on how to use them:

iCloud Backup and Restore

Apple provides 5 GB of free iCloud storage for Apple ID accounts, the credentials you use to log in to the App Store and buy apps. You can use this storage for many purposes, including storing photos, but it's perhaps best used for backing up your devices.

By default, every time you plug your iPhone or iPad into a wall outlet or a computer, the iPad tries to back itself up to iCloud. You can also manually initiate a backup by opening the Settings app and navigating to iCloud > Backup > Back Up Now. You can restore from a backup by following the procedure to reset your iPad to factory default, then choosing to restore from the backup during the setup process of the iPad.

Find My Device

Another important iCloud feature is the Find My iPhone/iPad/MacBook service. Not only can you use this to track down the whereabouts of your device, you can also use it to lock down the iPad if it's lost or remotely reset it to factory default, which erases all data. While tracking your iPad wherever it travels can seem creepy, it also combines with putting a passcode lock on your iPad to make it quite secure. 

iCloud Drive

Apple's cloud storage solution isn't quite as smooth as Dropbox, but it ties in well with the iPad, iPhone, and Macs. You can also access iCloud Drive from Windows, so you aren't locked into Apple's ecosystem.

ICloud Drive is a service that allows apps to store documents on the internet, so you can access those files from multiple devices. You can create a Numbers spreadsheet on your iPad, for example, and then access it from your iPhone, pull it up on your Mac to make edits, and even use your Windows-based PC to modify it by signing into iCloud.com.

iCloud Photo Library, Shared Photo Albums, and My Photo Stream

My Photo Stream is a service that uploads every picture taken to the cloud and downloads it onto every other device signed up for My Photo Stream. You may not want every photo uploaded to the internet, however.

If you take a picture of a product in a store so you can remember the brand name or model number, that picture will find its way onto every other device. Still, the feature can be a life-saver for those who want the photos taken on their iPhone to transfer to their iPad without doing any work. Unfortunately, My Photo Stream photos disappear after 30 days, and it can hold a maximum of 1,000 photos at a time.

iCloud Photo Library is the new version of Photo Stream. The big difference is that it actually uploads the photos to iCloud permanently, so you don't have to worry about the maximum number of photos. You can also upload the entire image or an optimized version that doesn't take up as much storage space. Unfortunately, iCloud Photo Library isn't part of iCloud Drive.

Apple decided to keep the photos separate and, while they advertise the photos are easily accessible on your Mac or Windows-based PC, the actual usability is poor. But, as a service, iCloud Photo Library is still useful even if Apple hasn't quite nailed the idea of cloud-based photos.

Contacts, Calendars, Reminders, Notes, and More

Many of the basic apps that come with the iPad can utilize iCloud to sync between devices. So, if you want to access notes from your iPad and your iPhone, you can simply turn on Notes in the iCloud section of your iPad's settings. Similarly, if you turn on Reminders, you can use Siri to set a reminder on your iPhone and it will also appear on your iPad.

Apple Music

Apple Music is Apple's answer to Spotify, a subscription-based service that lets you stream an incredibly large selection of music. This music service is a great way to save on buying songs all the time. You can even download tracks from Apple Music, so you can listen if you aren't connected to the internet, and you can organize your library into playlists.