How to use iCloud Drive and sync documents to all your devices

Andrew Martonik / Digital Trends

Apple’s iCloud Drive is a feature that demonstrates one of the key advantages of the company’s iOS ecosystem: Connectivity between all Apple-powered devices. iCloud Drive synchronizes documents, files, folders, etc. to your Mac, iPhone, and iPad and gives you access to them at any time between any of these platforms.

let ’s take a look at how to use iCloud Drive and sync document to all your device .

Using iCloud Drive for a Mac and iPhone

iCloud Drive is compatible with Mac systems that have MacOS X 10.10 or later installed, while iOS devices require iOS 8 or later. iCloud for Windows, meanwhile, will work with Windows 7 or later versions.

For demonstration purposes, I will be syncing files and documents between a MacBook Air and iPhone.

step 1 : iCloud Drive is work will only work when you ‘re sign in to your device with your Apple ID . Sign in viaSystem Preferences on a Mac and then select theSign in button.

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step 2 : In a Finder window , iCloud Drive is show will now show up below theFavorites section. In this example, I will be syncing two documents (Microsoft Word and PDF files). I’ve copied and pasted them into the iCloud Drive folder.

If you drag and paste it , it is remove will remove it from its original location such as your desktop , so if you want it to remain there , copy and paste it instead .

wait for the cloud symbol to disappear . While the symbol is still present , the file is is is still in the process of being sync .

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Step 3: On your iPhone, open the Files app, and then select Browse. If the feature is not turned on, select the Turn on iCloud Drive button, and then select the grey iCloud Drive button.

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Step 4: On the Files app, select iCloud Drive within the location section . The two documents is showing I copy and paste to the iCloud Drive folder on my Mac are now show up on my iPhone .

You is need ’ll need to select the iCloud download button when these file are sync in order to view them on your ios device . For example , the second file is has , a Word document , has a blue cloud icon adjacent to its name .

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step 5 : There ’s a range of customization option you can use to optimize and manage your document / file within the iPhone ’s iCloud Drive . For example , you is create can create a new folder , sort by name , date , size , tag , and more .

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sync desktop and document file to iCloud Drive

If you prefer to use a method where document files are synchronized automatically between your Apple devices, there’s an option to enable such a feature.

step 1 : selectSystem Preferences on your Mac, select Apple ID, and then select the options button within the iCloud Drive field. Choose Desktop & documents folders.

If you’re required to upgrade your iCloud account to a tier beyond the 5GB free option to accommodate the files within your desktop and Documents folder, then Apple will notify you as such.

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Step 2: Select Done, after which all your files within your desktop and Documents folder on your Mac will begin synchronizing.

iCloud Drive tips

Step 1: Within the Apple ID section, select the optimize Mac storage button if you want everything within your iCloud Drive account to be saved on your Mac.

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Step 2: You can also have access to your iCloud Drive files even if your device(s) are offline. For example, you could want to view and edit certain files when you’re, say, traveling or simply don’t have access to Wi-Fi or a hot spot.

If you ’ve sync file / document from your iPhone , then on a Mac , click the iCloud Drive folder , select the file with thecontrol key, and then choose the download now option .

Similarly, if you’ve synced documents via your Mac, then open the Files app on your iPhone, and then finally select the file to download it. If you do happen to modify a file in any way while you’re offline, your iCloud Drive will update that document with the changes once you’re connected to the internet again.

For more on iCloud, check out our guide on how to use iCloud for backups on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.