Get started with iCloud

Check your iCloud setup in iOS and macOS to get everything syncing smoothly

IF YOU OWN a Mac or Apple device, it’s ready to use iCloud as soon as you’re logged in with your Apple ID. (Go to bit.ly/mac351appid for Apple ID setup instructions.) You can then choose which of its services to use. In iOS or iPadOS, open Settings, tap your name and tap iCloud. You’ll see a chart of your iCloud storage — the space on Apple’s remote servers allocated to your Apple ID — and options for the apps and features that use iCloud. The options for your Mac look similar in macOS Catalina. (In previous versions of macOS, click the iCloud icon in System Preferences.)

Where there’s an on/off switch for an app, this gives it permission to use iCloud; exactly what it does with that will vary. Mail, for example, will instantly set up your Apple email address (@mac.com, me.com or icloud.com). Contacts, Calendars, Reminders and Notes will sync content between all your Apple devices that have iCloud enabled, although each lets you create items in iCloud or just on that device. You can use Messages without enabling iCloud, but doing so syncs your conversations to all devices. Other apps may use iCloud to sync settings and user data; when you add a phone number, bookmark or Favorite, it appears everywhere. Document storage is handled separately under iCloud Drive.

TWO–FACTOR AUTHENTICATION

You’ve probably succumbed by now to Apple’s nagging to enable two–factor authentication. It can cause issues on devices running very old versions of macOS or iOS, but otherwise shouldn’t be a hassle. The first time you’re asked to enter your Apple ID on each device, it’ll send a code to your chosen trusted phone number. Enter this code and it’s sorted, normally forever. Once 2FA is turned on, you must enable it on all your devices to keep using iCloud.

If you forget your Apple ID password, you can usually reset it: See bit.ly/ mac351idreset. If not, account recovery will help you: See bit.ly/mac351idrcvr.