iCLOUD GENIUS TIPS

At base level, iCloud keeps all of your Apple devices in sync, making sure your login details are stored no matter which version of Safari you are using, updating contacts, notes, emails and calendars across the board and allowing you to access photos and videos on any device. But there is also a lot more to it, which can lead to confusion and people upgrading their storage plans when they don’t need to. Every Apple user gets a free allocation of 5GB, but you can pay extra for additional 50GB, 200GB and 1TB storage. How you use iCloud will determine whether you need to upgrade your storage but, as we will discover later, you certainly won’t need to for iOS backups alone.

In this iCloud masterclass we’ll attempt to eradicate the confusion surrounding iCloud and provide tips and guidance on how to get the most out of your iCloud account and use your storage effectively on Mac and iOS. We’ll also explore the many buried features that you may not be aware of that could benefit your life in many ways.

If you have two Apple IDs then you can leave your Mac signed into one and access the other through iCloud.com. You cannot access both within Finder.

ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, TURN TO PAGE 22 NOW TO DISCOVER HOW TO BACK UP YOUR DEVICE WITHOUT PAYING FOR EXTRA STORAGE!

Master iCloud on Mac

Apple has integrated iCloud into the very fabric of macOS through System Preferences and Finder.

Using iCloud on your Mac

A quick tour around some of iCloud’s key Mac features

Mac iCloud settings

Your Mac’s iCloud settings can be accessed by going to System Preferences>Apple ID>iCloud. All of the Apple apps that use iCloud will be listed in the main window and you can disable iCloud access simply by unticking the boxes.

Optimise storage

If this option is ticked then, provided you have enough space on your Mac, the entire contents of your iCloud Drive will be stored locally for easy access. If hard drive space is tight leave this option unticked.

Store in iCloud

In the unlikely event of you having more free space in your iCloud than on your Mac, you can opt to store files and documents in iCloud. Go to Apple Menu>About This Mac>Storage and then click on the ‘Store in iCloud’ button.

Manage your storage

Click on this button to