. On Windows 7 and Windows 8, you can download iCloud for Windows on Apple's website. Make the most of iCloud for Windows When you download and set up iCloud on your Windows PC, your photos, videos, mail, files, and bookmarks are accessible on all of your devices. May 09, 2016 Access all of your documents in iCloud Drive right from the app on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. Features. Easily search for documents. Or browse by date, name, or tags created on your Mac. Open and edit documents right from any compatible app on your iOS device. No more making copies or importing documents from one app to another.
Launch Spark for Mac At the top menu, click on 'Spark' 'Add Account' Click on the 'iCloud' icon from the grid of email service providers When you see the Sign in with iCloud screen, enter your iCloud email and app-specific password and click Next.
For Apple users, there are two built-in ways to do back up your data on Mac: iCloud and Time Machine. Though very different in execution, both provide a simple and affordable way to keep your data protected.
In this post, we’ll explain the pros and cons of each so that you can decide which is the right way to protect your data.
Contents
- 4 The best Time Machine hard drives for Mac
- 5 FAQs
How does iCloud Work?
Most of us understand the concept of a data cloud by now, but few of us actually know how they work. How does Apple store millions of users’ data, how does Apple avoid losing files, how are these files secured, where are they kept, how do they know which files are yours, and what happens if Apple stops offering iCloud?
We won’t get into all of these questions in this article, but they’re the sorts of questions you should be asking when you sign up for a cloud service like iCloud.
Getting into the nuts and bolts of it, iCloud (and services like iCloud) work via servers. A “server” is just a computer that’s meant to be accessed over the internet rather than in person. Apple has warehouses around the world that are stuffed with servers, providing them with more bytes of data than you can imagine. And each of these servers is connected to the internet.
When you use iCloud to backup your iPhone or store your photos and email, your files are copied from your iPhone or Mac, uploaded over the internet, and copied to one of Apple’s servers. These servers are backed up frequently and replaced whenever they fail, which makes it next to impossible for your data to be lost or deleted.
How does Time Machine work?
While Time Machine is also used to back up and store files, it takes a much different approach. If you’re not familiar with Time Machine, it’s a feature of macOS that automatically backs up all of your files to an external drive every hour or so. The idea is that if you were to throw your Mac into a lake, you would still have all of your data from at least within the last hour safely stored on a Time Machine drive.
All you need for this feature to work is an external drive that is configured for Time Machine. We’ve listed a few of these further down in the article, though you can find them online by searching for “Time Machine drives”.
It’s important to note that Time Machine doesn’t literally back up every file every hour. Instead, it only backs up the files that have changed in the last hour. So if you haven’t done anything in the last hour, your Mac will probably only need to back up a few megabytes. On the other hand, if you just updated to the latest version of macOS, Time Machine will need to back up several gigabytes.
Time Machine vs. iCloud: Which is better for backing your data up?
So now that we’ve covered how iCloud and Time Machine each work, it’s time to get into which is better. The truth is that, at this point, both are extremely solid ways of keeping your data safe. Time Machine offers a more flexible, hands-on approach, while iCloud is a simple, set-and-forget data solution.
Icloud App For Mac
The drawbacks of iCloud are pretty surface level. It has a fixed fee, unlike Time Machine, so it will be more expensive in the long run. It doesn’t offer version control, so you can’t view hourly versions of a particular file like you can in Time Machine. And it doesn’t back up everything, only the files that you store in it. If you threw your Mac in a lake after backing up to iCloud, you would only be able to retrieve the files stored in your iCloud Drive; your Mac’s data itself, however, would largely be gone.
Time Machine, on the other hand, has problems that aren’t as immediately apparent. First, every data drive, whether it’s solid-state or hard disk, is going to fail eventually. That means that one day you will lose all of your Time Machine data unless you back up that data as well. You also have to maintain and set it up yourself, which can be especially tricky if you’re dealing with network-attached storage.
And, finally, everything is local when you use Time Machine, meaning that you can’t access the files stored in Time Machine on other devices. iCloud, on the other hand, allows you to stream your data from any Apple computer.
The ultimate solution is to use both if you can, as this offers the best of both worlds. That means storing all of your files in iCloud Drive and backing up your computer to Time Machine. If that’s not an option, however, here’s a quick guide to decide which is right for you:
- You should use iCloud Drive if:
- You want a simple solution
- You don’t care about version control
- You don’t have that much data
- You like being able to stream your data
- You should use Time Machine if:
- You want a hands-on approach to data storage
- You care about version control
- You have a lot of data to back up
- You prefer to keep your data local
The best Time Machine hard drives for Mac
Setting up iCloud storage is a pretty straightforward process. You just choose the amount of data that’s right for you and then move your files to the iCloud Drive folder in Finder.
Time Machine, on the other hand, is a bit more involved, especially since you have to pick out the right external drive. Many drives are not compatible with Time Machine, so you’ll need to shop smart. Ezcap video grabber driver windows 10. Below are some of the best Time Machine drives currently available.
All-purpose SSD: Samsung SSD
Long the go-to for Time Machine users and data hoarders in general, the Samsung SSDs are affordable, durable, simple, and extremely lightweight. Even the 1TB options are only slightly bigger than a normal thumb drive. If you aren’t sure which drive to get and want something that “just works”, Samsung’s SSDs are the ones to pick.
Budget Backups: Western Digital HDD/SSD
Another popular choice among data hoarders is Western Digital, known for having great customer service, long-lasting HDDs, and super affordable prices. They also have a wide variety of options, from small, portable drives to massive, 6TB NAS drives.
Just know that if you decide to get an HDD (which uses a spinning disk) that these are not meant to be portable and are prone to breaking if jostled roughly. This is true for any HDD, not just Western Digital products.
Network-Attached Storage: Synology Diskstation
Using Network-Attached Storage, or NAS, is like setting up your own personal iCloud at home. It’s a backup drive that you plug into your WiFi router, allowing you to access your files from any device connected to your WiFi network. Setting one of these up is a bit more complicated than a standard drive, but it’s also much more rewarding.
By setting up a NAS, you can use Time Machine wirelessly, which is as cool as it is convenient. We recommend grabbing a Synology Diskstation, as these not only come with a lot of reliable storage, but also other features that capitalize on its streaming capabilities. Just make sure that the Diskstation you by comes with hard disks, unless you prefer to buy disks separately.
Rugged Drives: LaCie HDD
Download Icloud App
Last but not least is the always famous LaCie HDD. These are one of the most popular Time Machine drives available as they are exceptionally rugged. They are drop, shock, dust, and rain resistant (though not water-resistant, mind you) which makes them perfect for tossing in your bag and hitting the road. If you’re someone who travels a lot, the LaCie HDD was made for you.
FAQs
Does Time Machine back up iCloud files?
Time Machine backs up every file on your Mac by default, which includes iCloud files. That means every file you store in iCloud Drive, as well as other iCloud services (like Photos and Calendar), are backed up to Time Machine. If you delete something in iCloud (such as a Reminder) you can recover it with Time Machine.
Should I use Carbon Copy Cloner or Time Machine?
There are other apps available for Mac, like Carbon Copy Cloner and SuperDuper, that perform a similar role to Time Machine but with tweaks that might make them better for certain users. In our opinion, none of these other solutions is outright better than Time Machine; it comes down to researching and finding the solution that is right for you. Just keep in mind that moving to a third-party solution could complicate your data hoarding process.
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The best place for all your photos, files, and more.
iCloud is built into every Apple device. That means all your stuff — photos, files, notes, and more — is safe, up to date, and available wherever you are. And it works automatically, so all you have to do is keep doing what you love. Everyone gets 5GB of free iCloud storage to start, and it’s easy to add more at any time.
iCloud Photos
All your photos and videos.
Always available.
A lifetime of photos
on all your devices.
With iCloud Photos, you can browse, search, and share all the photos and videos from any of your devices, whether they were taken yesterday or years ago.
Take all the photos you want. Without worrying about space on your devices.
To save space on your devices, the original, full‑resolution photos you take are automatically uploaded to iCloud. You’ll still always have a lightweight version of every photo on your device, and you can download the originals whenever you need them.
All your files available from all your devices.
The files you keep safe in iCloud Drive are easy to get to, no matter which device you’re using. You can access all your files from the Files app on iOS and iPadOS, the Finder on your Mac, File Explorer for Windows PCs, or iCloud.com.
Organize files however you want. Get to them on any device you want.
iCloud Drive lets you organize your files with folders, rename them, and tag them with colors. And when you make a change, the update is made across all your devices. You can even have everything in your Mac Desktop and Documents folders automatically available in iCloud Drive.
Apps using iCloud
Your favorite apps are
even better with iCloud.
All your essentials.
Accessible from all your devices.
iCloud automatically keeps apps — including Mail, Calendar, Contacts, Reminders, Safari, and some of your favorite apps from the App Store — updated across all your devices. So when you add a new phone number, bookmark a website, or update a slide in a presentation, the change appears everywhere.
Collaborate with Pages, Numbers, Keynote, and Notes.
Work with others on documents, presentations, and spreadsheets and see edits as they’re made. With live updates on all your devices, your collaborators will always be on the same page.
Every message. Updated across all your devices.
iCloud automatically stores all of your messages. Search for an address, a funny exchange, or anything else. And you can pick up every conversation right where you left off. Even when you move to a new phone or computer.
iCloud Backup and Restore
All the things that matter.
Safe and secure.
Automatic backups give you peace of mind.
iCloud automatically backs up your iOS and iPadOS devices when they’re connected to power and Wi-Fi. So if you lose your device or get a new one, you’ll have all the things that matter without missing a beat.1
Move to a new device with everything you loved about your old one.
iCloud makes moving your settings, photos, apps, and documents to a new device seamless. Just sign in to iCloud when you set up your new device, and you’ll be ready to go in minutes.
Two‑factor authentication helps keep your data safe.
Two‑factor authentication is an extra layer of security designed to ensure that only you can access your account. That means your account can only be accessed on devices you trust, like your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
Find the storage plan that’s right for you.
The right amount of storage depends on how you and your family members want to use your devices. Everyone gets 5GB of free iCloud storage to get started and it’s easy to upgrade at any time. Your apps and any iTunes or Apple TV purchases don’t count toward your iCloud storage space, so you need it just for things like photos, videos, files, and device backups.
Good for safely storing all the basics, like contacts, calendars, and notes.
Recommended for storing your photos, videos, files, and apps and backing up your device.
Good for families or one person with lots of photos and videos.
A lifetime of photos, videos, and everything else for you and up to five family members. Ideal for families to share.
Family Sharing
Family Sharing makes it easy for you and up to five family members to share Apple Books and App Store purchases and an iCloud storage plan.2 And everyone can access an Apple Music family plan and subscriptions to Apple TV+, Apple News+, and Apple Arcade.
Designed with your
privacy in mind.
Apple takes the security of your data and the privacy of your personal information very seriously. Because of that, iCloud features are designed to keep your information safe, secure, and available only to you.