iCloud Drive FAQ - Apple Support

iCloud Drive FAQ

iCloud Drive lets you securely access all of your documents from your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, and Windows PC. So no matter which device you’re using, you always have the most up to date documents when you need them.

Here's what you can do with iCloud Drive

• Keep files and folders up to date across all of your devices.
• Create new files and folders from iCloud-enabled apps.
• Work on the same file across multiple apps.
• Access the files from your Mac Desktop and Documents folder everywhere that you use iCloud Drive.
• Share files with anyone you like.

What do I need to use iCloud Drive?

• Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to the latest iOS and your Mac to the latest macOS.
• Make sure that you’re signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID on all of your devices.
• Set up iCloud on all of your devices and turn on iCloud Drive.
• If you have a Windows PC, update to Windows 7 or later and download iCloud for Windows.

How do I access my files in iCloud Drive?

There are multiple ways you can access your files in iCloud Drive:

• Using any supported web browser, you can use iCloud Drive at iCloud.com.
• On your Mac, you can go to iCloud Drive in Finder.
• On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 11 or later, you can access your files from the Files app. On iOS 9 or iOS 10, you can access them from the iCloud Drive app.
• On your PC with Windows 7 or later and iCloud for Windows, you can go to iCloud Drive in File Explorer.

When you add your Desktop and Documents to iCloud Drive, all of your files move to iCloud. On your Mac, you can find the files on your Desktop and in your Documents folder in Finder under iCloud. If you add a second Mac Desktop, you'll find those files in the Desktop folder in iCloud Drive. A folder is created with the same name as your second Mac.

What types of files can I store in iCloud Drive?

You can store any type of file in iCloud Drive, as long as it's 50GB or less in size and you don't exceed your iCloud storage limit. That means you can keep all of your work documents, school projects, presentations, and more up to date across all of your devices. Learn more about managing your iCloud storage.

You shouldn't store app folders, libraries, or .tmp files in iCloud Drive.

How much storage do I have in iCloud Drive and how do I get more?

When you set up iCloud, you automatically get 5GB of storage. You can use that storage space for iCloud Backup, iCloud Drive, iCloud Photos, iCloud Mail (your @icloud.com email account), and the information from your apps that use iCloud.

If you need more iCloud storage, you can buy more starting at 50GB for $0.99 (USD) a month. If you choose a 200GB or 2TB plan, you can share iCloud storage with your family, without sharing your files. Learn more about prices in your region.

How do I get back files that I deleted?

If you need to access a file that you deleted within the last 30 days, you can recover it from iCloud.com, the Files app in iOS 11 or later, or Trash on your Mac.

On iCloud.com

1. Sign in to iCloud.com.
2. Go to iCloud Drive.
3. In the bottom-right corner, click Recently Deleted items.
4. Browse the list of files.

You can also go to Settings > Restore Files. After 30 days, files are removed from Recently Deleted and Restore Files.

On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 11 or later

1. Open the Files app.
2. Go to Locations > Recently Deleted. 
3. Select the file that you want to keep.
4. Tap Recover. 

After 30 days, your files are removed from Recently Deleted.

On your Mac

1. Click Trash in the Dock.
2. Select the file that you want to keep.
3. Drag it to the desktop or another folder.