iCloud's photo storage characteristic is an like shooting fish in a barrel and user-friendly way to go on your photograph library in sync across your devices — and not just on your iPhone and iPad. You tin can besides admission your iCloud photos on your Mac or even your PC. Keep reading to come across how to access your iCloud photos and turn on iCloud across all of your devices.

How to view iCloud photos on your iPhone

Setting up your iPhone to sync your iCloud photos is a bang-up style to make sure all the pictures you take are automatically backed up with the rest of your iCloud photograph library. Just that'due south not the only style you can view your pictures and videos from iCloud. Beneath are instructions for syncing your pictures and viewing them in the Photos app, also as how to scan through your iCloud photos if yous don't want them saved on your phone.

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Mobile banner: Download Gemini Photos and stop storing photo clutter in iCloud

Option 1. Access your iCloud photos in the Photos app

The most straightforward manner to view your photos from iCloud on your iPhone is past turning on iCloud Photos in the Settings app so that all of your pictures and videos sync with your device. Follow these steps to plough on iCloud Photos:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Tap [your proper name] > iCloud > Photos.
  3. Turn the slider for iCloud Photos on.

One time you have that turned on, you lot'll be able to view all of your pictures and videos in the Photos app.

Option 2. View the photos in your browser

If you're using a shared iCloud account — or want to view a unlike photo library — you can view pictures from iCloud using your spider web browser. Follow the steps below to access your iCloud photos without all of them syncing to your device:

  1. Open up Safari and become to iCloud.com.
  2. Sign in to your iCloud account.
  3. Tap Photos.

Why don't I run across my iCloud photos on iPhone?

If y'all don't run across your iCloud photos on your iPhone, in that location are a few possible reasons. Here are some mutual issues and things yous tin practice to resolve them:

  • iCloud Photos is not allowed on cellular data. Syncing pictures and videos can use up a lot of information, and then there'southward a feature that will restrict your phone to updating only when connected to a Wi-Fi network. To permit or restrict updates using cellular data, go to Settings > Photos > Cellular Data.
  • You're signed in to a dissimilar iCloud account. If you lot take multiple Apple tree IDs, it could be that you're logged in to two dissimilar accounts on your iPhone and on your computer. You can bank check which Apple ID you're signed in with on your iPhone by going to Settings > [your name].
  • iCloud Photos isn't turned on. It'southward possible to be logged in to iCloud without iCloud Photos being turned on. To check, yous can go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Photos.

How to access iCloud Photos on a Windows PC

One of the great things nearly iCloud is that you can access your pictures on any device. Yes, even on a Windows computer. While iCloud may not be as seamless on a PC as information technology is on a Mac, Apple tree has gone to dandy lengths to arrive every bit convenient as possible.

Option 1. Employ iCloud for Windows

If y'all want to keep your photo library in sync with your iPhone and Windows computer, you lot'll take to download iCloud for Windows. After y'all have that downloaded and installed, you tin turn on iCloud to commencement syncing:

  1. Open the iCloud for Windows app.
  2. Sign in with your Apple ID.
  3. Check the box adjacent to Photos to turn it on.
  4. Click Utilise.

Afterwards yous've turned on iCloud Photos, how you view your photos will depend on which operating organisation you're using.

For Windows 10:

  1. In the notification surface area, click the upwards arrow in the bottom-correct corner of your screen.
  2. Click the iCloud icon.
  3. Click Download Photos.

For Windows eight:

  1. Click Beginning.
    Note: On Windows 8.1, y'all'll too need to click the down arrow in the lower-left corner.
  2. Open the iCloud Photos app.

Choice 2. Log in to iCloud in your browser

If yous simply want to view your pictures without iCloud syncing them to the calculator you're using, you can admission your iCloud photos through your web browser:

  1. Open up your browser of pick and go to iCloud.com.
  2. Sign in with your Apple ID.
  3. Click Photos.

How to access iCloud Photos on Mac

Thankfully, using iCloud with a Mac couldn't be any easier. You can prepare it up and then that your iCloud photos are syncing with the Photos app. Or if you don't want your pictures to automatically relieve to the computer y'all're using, y'all tin simply view your photograph library using Safari.

Option one. See your iCloud photos in the Photos app

If you want to brand sure that your most recent pictures and videos are always on your Mac, you'll want to turn on iCloud Photos in Organisation Preferences. iCloud volition make sure the Photos app on your Mac is automatically updated with your pictures from other devices, like your iPhone or iPad. Follow these steps to commencement syncing your Mac with iCloud photos:

  1. Click the Apple icon at the top-left of your screen.
  2. Click Organization Preferences > iCloud.
  3. Sign in with your Apple ID.
  4. Check the box next to Photos to turn information technology on.
  5. Open the Photos app.
How to set up iCloud Photos on Mac

Option 2. Admission iCloud in your browser

If you're using a friend'due south figurer or a shared Mac, you probably won't want to sync your photo library with that computer. But don't worry. You tin nevertheless view your iCloud pictures past following these steps:

  1. Open Safari and go to iCloud.com.
  2. Log in with your Apple ID.
  3. Click Photos.
How to view your iCloud Photos on Mac

Why tin can't I see my iCloud photos on a Mac?

If some of your iCloud photos aren't showing up on your Mac, here are a couple of common bug and what you lot can practice to fix them:

  • Your software needs to be updated. Either your MacOS or the Photos app could be out of date, causing syncing issues. Check for updates past clicking the Apple icon > App Shop > Updates.
  • You lot're signed in to a different iCloud account. Verify that you lot're logged in to the correct iCloud business relationship past clicking the Apple icon > Organisation Preferences > iCloud.
  • iCloud is out of storage. If your iCloud business relationship is out of complimentary infinite, it won't be able to update with your photos. You can check how much storage you have available by going to the Apple icon > System Preferences > iCloud. Or, if you're in Safari, go to iCloud.com > Business relationship Settings > Storage.

iCloud Photos is a great way to support your photo library and brand certain that your devices automatically contain your most recent pictures. Information technology also keeps your videos and pics online, and so whether yous're using your personal computer or that of a friend, y'all'll always be able to view your photos. And if at some point you demand to download your photos from iCloud, it'due south like shooting fish in a barrel to do likewise.