Become an iCloud genius
Memorize our six top tips for doing more with iCloud and you’ll spend less time messing about, enjoy increased security, save money, and more…
1 Synchronize purchases
iCloud syncs your purchase history of media from Apple’s stores to all of your devices, enabling each one to automatically receive things you buy on any device that’s signed in using the same account. Go to Settings > iTunes & App Store on iOS, or the Store tab in iTunes’ and iBooks’ preferences on a Mac, to set automatic download options. Macs can also retrieve movies and TV shows.
2 Secure your acc ount
Two-step verification adds an extra layer of protection to your account by sending a temporary code to a trusted device, which is needed as well as your password to sign in to your account.
3 Engage Drive
In Finder or a dialog that opens or saves a file, press ß+ç+I to jump to the top level of iCloud Drive. If Finder is active but has no window open, this will create one for you at the same time.
4 Acc ess your Macs remotely
Back to My Mac enables you to connect to one of your Macs from another remotely, enabling you to browse its storage or see and control its screen. You need to enable this feature in each Mac’s iCloud preferences, UPnP and NAT-PMP must be enabled on your router, and your firewall may need tweaking too. Full instructions are at bit.ly/iclbtmm.
5 Slim down your backups
If you’re short on space in iCloud, go to Settings > iCloud > Storage > Manage Storage and check whether any of your iOS device backups are using a lot of space. If so, switch to the device in question, then go to the same settings and tap the name of the device. Under the Backup Options heading is a list of apps whose data can be backed up to iCloud, and the space their documents and data take up. You may be able to pull back some precious space by turning off the switch adjacent to any app whose data you don’t care to back up.
6 Family Sharing
Family Sharing gives six family members a shared calendar and a shared photo album, plus access to each other’s app and media purchases from Apple’s stores. As a parent, you’re able to authorize or reject your kids’ purchase attempts right from your iOS device. The caveat is that every allowed purchase is billed to your credit card. Get started by tapping or clicking Set Up Family Sharing on the Mac or iOS device of whoever will be the family organizer.