iCloud Photos is one library that you keep in iCloud and sync (if desired) across all your devices. You no longer have a library on your Mac, iPhone or iPad, but in iCloud. All changes are synchronized with this library and are shown everywhere, it is even possible to use it on a Windows PC.
If you also want to use iCloud photos on your Windows PC, you can activate the option of the same name in the iCloud app. Then the photos will appear in the default Windows Photos app. You can also consult your Apple online photo library in Windows Explorer.
Install iCloud Photos on Windows PC
- Open the Microsoft Store on your Windows PC
- Search for ‘iCloud’ or use this link
- Click ‘Download’ and then ‘Install’
- Log in with your Apple Account for iCloud
- Follow the steps on the screen
- Then enable the ‘iCloud Photos’ option
Do you want to use shared albums? Then you can enable it in the iCloud app for Windows. Click the greater than sign next to iCloud Photos and enable the Shared Albums option.
iCloud Photos for Windows
If you also want to use iCloud photos on your Windows PC, you can activate the option of the same name in the iCloud app. Then the photos will appear in the default Windows Photos app. You can also consult your Apple online photo library in Windows Explorer.
Unfortunately, all photos are displayed at once and not split into albums or anything like that. This means you’ll see your iCloud photos in one library. You can edit, manage, add or delete photos and videos. All changes are synced via iCloud.
Download photos and videos from iCloud Photos
New photos and videos you add to iCloud Photos automatically appear on your PC. To download the file from iCloud while you’re viewing it, double-click the file’s thumbnail. You can also keep the photos downloaded on your PC by following these steps:
- Open Explorer.
- In the navigation pane, click iCloud Photos.
- Select the images you want to save on your PC.
- Right-click the selection and choose ‘Always keep on this device’.
If you change a photo or video on another device or on iCloud.com, it will automatically update on your PC.
Upload photos and videos to iCloud Photos
- Open a window in Explorer.
- In the navigation pane, click iCloud Photos.
- In a new window, open the folder where you currently keep the photos you want to add to iCloud Photos.
- Select the photos you want to add.
- Drag them to the iCloud Photos folder.
You can see the photos and videos you uploaded to the Photos app on iCloud.com and on all your Apple devices. When you delete a photo in File Explorer or Microsoft Photos, the sync with iCloud Photos is automatically deleted.