iCloud is built into every Apple device and ensures all your photos, documents, notes, contacts, and more are up to date and available wherever you are.

With iCloud, your data stays safe in the cloud and synced across your devices—automatically. And it’s an easy way to share those files with friends, family, and colleagues.

Everyone gets 5 GB of free iCloud storage to start, as well as access to these great features:

iCloud Photos keeps a lifetime of photos and videos securely stored and protected in iCloud. So whether it’s a video of your puppy at the beach taken yesterday or a photo of your friends years ago, your entire library is accessible and shareable no matter where you are.

iCloud Photos stores lightweight versions of your photos and videos on device while keeping full-resolution originals in iCloud, ready to download whenever you need them.

To turn on Optimize Storage, go to Settings, tap your name, then tap iCloud > Photos and enable Optimize Storage.

Shared Albums make it easy to share and organize photos for specific moments. Create one for a road trip, a baby’s milestones, or a family event, then invite people to view (and contribute to) that collection.

Shared Photo Library is the best way to continuously share photos and videos with up to five close friends or family members. When photos get moved out of your Personal Library to your Shared Library, your group will automatically see them in their library. Or you can choose which ones to share yourself.

iCloud Backup automatically backs up the data on your iPhone or iPad so you can restore your data if you lose your device or get a new one.

iCloud Drive keeps your important documents synced across devices. Access them with the Files app on iPhone and iPad and with the Finder app on Mac. You can also share folders and files to collaborate with others and control who can view, share, or edit each file.

Upgrade to an iCloud+ plan to get:

Up to 12 TB of storage for the photos and data that matter to you most. The storage (and additional features below) can be shared with up to five family members at no extra cost. And everyone’s personal photos and files are kept private and separate.

Apple Invites lets you create unique invitations for life’s exciting moments. Guests can easily reply and view details from any device using just a link. Set up a shared album for an event to capture all the memories.

iCloud Private Relay hides your IP address and browsing activity in Safari and protects your unencrypted internet traffic—without affecting browsing performance.

Hide My Email creates unique, random email addresses that forward to your personal inbox so you can receive email without having to share your personal address.

HomeKit Secure Video connects your home security cameras in the Home app to record footage and let you view it from anywhere, while keeping it private and secure.

You can also access iCloud+ with a subscription to Apple One, which bundles Apple Music, Apple TV, Apple Arcade, iCloud+, Apple News+, and Apple Fitness+ into one easy plan. It brings together the world’s best entertainment with automatic data storage and the privacy protections Apple is known for. Enjoy the simplicity of a single discounted subscription you can share with up to five family members.