How to access your iCloud photos on Apple devices or through iCloud's website (2024)

You can access iCloud photos on synced iPhones and iPads using the Photos app.
To sync iCloud photos across Apple devices, you can enable iCloud Photos in the Settings app.
You can also access photos on the iCloud website by logging in with Apple ID and clicking Photos.

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If you have one or more iOS devices, you probably appreciate that everything is connected via iCloud.

Any photos you take on your iPhone, for example, can be automatically synced everywhere. That means you can take a photo on your phone and see it minutes later on your iPad or the iCloud website.

This iCloud Photos feature should work automatically, though you may need to make sure it is turned on.

If you're ready to sync your iCloud photos across devices, here's how to enable and access the feature.

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How to turn on iCloud Photos on an iPhone or iPad

1. Open the Settings app.

2. Tap Photos.

3. Tap the toggle for iCloud Photos to turn on the feature – if it's not already enabled.

How to access your iCloud photos on Apple devices or through iCloud's website (1)

4. Repeat that process for every device you want to sync with iCloud.

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How to access iCloud photos on an iPhone or iPad

1. Open the Photos app.

2. You should see all the photos taken on either your iPhone or iPad and stored on iCloud.

3. Tap Albums in the bottom menu to browse your photos by album and category.

How to access your iCloud photos on Apple devices or through iCloud's website (2)

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How to access iCloud photos on the iCloud website

1. Open iCloud.com in a web browser.

2. Login to the service with your Apple ID if needed.

3. Click Photos.

How to access your iCloud photos on Apple devices or through iCloud's website (3)

4. You should see all your photos taken on all your iOS and iPadOS devices.

Dave Johnson

Freelance Writer

Dave Johnson is a technology journalist who writes about consumer tech and how the industry is transforming the speculative world of science fiction into modern-day real life. Dave grew up in New Jersey before entering the Air Force to operate satellites, teach space operations, and do space launch planning. He then spent eight years as a content lead on the Windows team at Microsoft. As a photographer, Dave has photographed wolves in their natural environment; he's also a scuba instructor and co-host of several podcasts. Dave is the author of more than two dozen books and has contributed to many sites and publications including CNET, Forbes, PC World, How To Geek, and Insider.

Watch: I switched to Google Photos after using iCloud for 5 years and I'm never going back

FAQs

How to access your iCloud photos on Apple devices or through iCloud's website? ›

On your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Vision Pro

Read On ›

How do I access my Apple iCloud Photos? ›

How to access iCloud Photos

Open the Photos app.
Select Library to see your photos.
On your iPhone or iPad, tap the Albums tab to see My Albums, People & Places, Media Types, and Utilities. On your Mac, your Photos, Albums, and Projects are listed in the sidebar.

Feb 27, 2024

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How do I access my iCloud Photos across devices? ›

For Android users, while there isn't a dedicated iCloud app, you can still use the web browser to access iCloud.

Open your web browser and go to [iCloud.com](https://www.icloud.com).
Sign in with your Apple ID and password.
Tap on the "Photos" icon to view your iCloud Photo Library.

Jul 2, 2024

How do I access my photos on Apple website? ›

In Photos on iCloud.com, do one of the following: Click Library in the sidebar to see thumbnails of all your photos and videos. Click an album or folder in the sidebar to view its contents.

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How do I retrieve photos from iCloud? ›

How to download photos and videos from iCloud.com

On iCloud.com, tap Photos.
Tap Select, then tap a photo or video. To select multiple photos or videos, tap more than one. To select your entire library, tap Select All.
Tap the more button .
Choose Download, then tap Download to confirm.

Feb 8, 2024

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How do I access my Apple iCloud? ›

Sign in to iCloud.com

Go to iCloud.com, then sign in with your Apple ID in any of the following ways: In any browser: Enter your Apple ID (or another email address or phone number on file) and password. In Safari: Use Face ID or Touch ID (if you're already signed in to a device that supports these features).

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How to tell if photos are on iCloud or iPhone? ›

Photos stored on iCloud will have the cloud icon with a download arrow in the Photos app. You can access these photos from any device connected to your iCloud account. To ensure your photos are stored on iCloud, make sure iCloud Photos is enabled in Settings, as described earlier.

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How do I access devices on iCloud? ›

From the Devices section of your Apple ID account page, you can find all of the devices that you're currently signed in to with your Apple ID, including Android devices, consoles, and smart TVs: Sign in to appleid.apple.com,* then select Devices.

Explore More ›

Can anyone access my iPhone photos? ›

A hacked Apple ID can allow cybercriminals to track your location, access your photos and videos, or even take control of your saved payment details — including your credit card and Apple Pay.

Can I access iCloud Photos on a browser? ›

You can view photos, videos, and memories stored in iCloud Photos using a web browser. Note: You can't see your iCloud Shared Albums on iCloud.com.

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How do I see what's in my iCloud storage? ›

On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud. The bar graph shows your overall storage usage.

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Does deleting photos from iPhone delete from iCloud? ›

However, if you have enabled iCloud Photos (previously known as iCloud Photo Library), deleting a photo from your iPhone will also remove it from iCloud and all other devices connected to your iCloud account. This ensures that your photos are synced across all your devices.

See Details ›

How do I access my iCloud Photos? ›

You can access iCloud photos on synced iPhones and iPads using the Photos app. To sync iCloud photos across Apple devices, you can enable iCloud Photos in the Settings app. You can also access photos on the iCloud website by logging in with Apple ID and clicking Photos.

Get More Info Here ›

Where do deleted files go on an iPhone? ›

When you delete files from iCloud Drive or On My [device] in the Files app, they go into your Recently Deleted. After 30 days, your files are permanently deleted. Files deleted from Recently Deleted are deleted immediately and are not recoverable.

Where do permanently deleted photos go on an iPhone? ›

When you delete photos and videos, they go to your Recently Deleted album for 30 days. After 30 days, they'll be permanently deleted. If you use iCloud Photos, and delete photos and videos from one device, the photos and videos will be deleted on your other devices.

How can I access my iPhone photos on my computer? ›

First, connect your iPhone to a PC with a USB cable that can transfer files.

Turn your phone on and unlock it. Your PC can't find the device if the device is locked.
On your PC, select the Start button and then select Photos to open the Photos app.
Select Import > From a USB device, then follow the instructions.

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How do I log into my iCloud Photos on my PC? ›

Step 1: Go to iCloud.com on your computer: Open a web browser and go to https://www.icloud.com. Step 2: Use your Apple ID to log in. To access your iCloud account, enter your Apple ID and password. Step 3: Go to Photos: To access your iCloud photo collection after logging in, click on the “Photos” button.