iCloud: 5 things you want to know about the iPhone service

Do you have an iPhone? Then you will probably regularly see a message that your iCloud is full. But do you really have to subscribe to the service and is it really that handy? WANT editor Jeroen Kraak tells you.

If you have an iPhone, you can access iCloud right away. With the service you automatically make backups of your photos, videos, notes and files. This way you can quickly access everything you need, because it is linked to your Apple account. It is also easy to restore a backup to a new iPhone, for example.

Everything you want to know about iCloud on your iPhone

But what five things should you know about iCloud and iCloud+ anyway? Here they come.

#1 (Free) iCloud storage

Every iPhone user gets 5 GB of iCloud storage from Apple. This allows you to make backups of data and personal information. However, you soon notice that you run into that limit, especially if you want to store photos and videos in the cloud. That’s really not enough.

Fortunately, iCloud can be expanded via iCloud+. Various subscriptions are available. You pay 0.99 euros per month for 50 GB of storage. For 200 GB that amount is 2.99 euros per month and for 2 TB you pay 9.99 euros per month.

iCloud is also included in Apple One, the subscription service that combines various Apple apps. For example, 50 GB of storage is included in an individual subscription and you get 200 GB with a Premier and Family subscription.

#2 Download iCloud photos and videos on your iPhone

It is also possible to download photos and videos stored on iCloud. Handy for easily displaying your photos on other non-Apple devices, for example, or if you don’t have internet everywhere.

On the iPhone, take the following steps to download photos:

1. Go to icloud.com and tap photos
2. Select which photos and videos you want to download
3. Tap on More
4. Choose Download and then tap confirm

On Mac and PC it goes like this:

1. Go to icloud.com and click photos
2. Select the photos you want. Hold down the Command key on a Mac or the Ctrl key on your PC to select multiple images or videos
3. Click on the cloud in the top corner and hold it down
4. click on Download

#3 Easily share photos

iCloud makes it very easy to share photos or albums with up to five other people. Anything in a shared photo library appears in featured photos and memories.

You can also easily create a shared album. This way you can easily combine your self-made photos with those of friends. You can also easily show your photos to others. They automatically receive an update when you add something new. Moreover, it is also easy to add comments.

#4 Better protection of your privacy on your iPhone

With iCloud+, your data on your iPhone is even more protected when you use Safari. Private transfer prevents websites and providers from building a profile of you based on your IP address, location, and browsing history.

You can also hide your email address when creating an account. With the function Hide my email address you generate a unique address where messages are automatically forwarded to your own e-mail address. This way you filter spam even better.

#5 iCloud Mail

iCloud is automatically built into the Mail app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. With the service you can send and receive your e-mail everywhere. In addition, there are built-in safety features such as spam protection and anti-phishing.

Just like Gmail, you can also easily create your own email address, but this ends with icloud.com. With an iCloud+ subscription, you can also use your own domain.