Apple has released iCloud for Windows 5 with support for iCloud Photo Library and two-factor authentication for Apple ID accounts. Windows users were previously limited to accessing iCloud Photo Library through the web interface.

windows-icloud-hero-pc-iphone
Apple recommends that iCloud for Windows users have Windows 7, 8 or 10 installed. For email, the software currently supports Outlook 2007 through Outlook 2013, while Outlook 2016 users can access iCloud Mail, Contacts, and Calendars on iCloud.com.

Use iCloud Photo Library on your Windows PC to download all of the photos and videos from your Apple devices to your computer, or upload your Windows Pictures library to iCloud. And when you turn on iCloud Photo Sharing, you can share your captured memories with just the people you choose.

Apple has published a support document for setting up and using iCloud Photo Library on Windows.

Tags: iCloud, iCloud for Windows, iCloud Photo Library, Two-Factor Authentication, Windows
Related Forum: Apple Music, Apple Pay/Card, iCloud, Fitness+

Top Rated Comments

Klae17 Avatar
Klae17
134 months ago
What the hell is Windows 5? .... Is what I thought right away.
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Tucom Avatar
Tucom
134 months ago
At fist read it as iCloud, for Windows 5.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
aloshka Avatar
aloshka
134 months ago
This is stupid. The photo sync is not automatic. You have to click download in icloud app or in explorer which will download to a downloads folder. Changes here are not reflected on icloud. So if you need to delete a photo you have to go to icloud.com and delete it there. Then delete from your downloads folder too. To upload you have to copy and image to upload folder and click upload.

Very smooth . When downloading there is no progress bar and there are delays. So if it stops downloading that doesn't necessarily mean it's done. It could start up later again and download now photos
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ignatius345 Avatar
ignatius345
134 months ago
What the hell is Windows 5? .... Is what I thought right away.
Whoever wrote the headline wasn't thinking -- "iCloud 5 for Windows" makes much more sense
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Crosscreek Avatar
Crosscreek
134 months ago
The case is getting stronger for a Windows desktop that fills in the gaps of a headless Mac between the underpowered Mac Mini and the over priced Mac Pro. I can now access all my iCloud files and photos in my Windows 10 Bootcamp and do everything I used my Mac Mini for. My calendars, e-mail and contacts sync with my iPhone and iPad.

Apple better get their desktop act together beside those AIO iMacs or I'll be headed to a Windows machine for my next desktop.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
thekeyring Avatar
thekeyring
134 months ago
This is stupid. The photo sync is not automatic. You have to click download in icloud app or in explorer which will download to a downloads folder. Changes here are not reflected on icloud. So if you need to delete a photo you have to go to icloud.com and delete it there. Then delete from your downloads folder too. To upload you have to copy and image to upload folder and click upload.

Very smooth . When downloading there is no progress bar and there are delays. So if it stops downloading that doesn't necessarily mean it's done. It could start up later again and download now photos
Sounds like Apple should just do a Photos app for Windows. Or encourage Windows users to use the web app.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments

Popular Stories

airpods pro 3 purple

New, Higher End AirPods Pro Coming This Year

Tuesday January 20, 2026 9:05 am PST by
Apple is planning to debut a high-end secondary version of AirPods Pro 3 this year, sitting in the lineup alongside the current model, reports suggest. Back in September 2025, supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple is planning to introduce a successor to the AirPods Pro 3 in 2026. This would be somewhat unusual since Apple normally waits around three years to make major...
Read Full Article • 108 comments
smaller dynamic island iphone 18 pro Filip Vabrous%CC%8Cek

iPhone 18 Pro Leak: Smaller Dynamic Island, No Top-Left Camera Cutout

Tuesday January 20, 2026 2:34 am PST by
Over the last few months, rumors around the iPhone 18 Pro's front-panel design have been conflicted, with some supply-chain leaks pointing to under-display Face ID, reports suggesting a top-left hole-punch camera, and debate over whether the familiar Dynamic Island will shrink, shift, or disappear entirely. Today, Weibo-based leaker Instant Digital shared new details that appear to clarify the ...
Read Full Article • 57 comments
Apple Logo Spotlight

Apple Expected to Unveil Five All-New Products This Year

Wednesday January 21, 2026 10:54 am PST by
In addition to updating many of its existing products, Apple is expected to unveil five all-new products this year, including a smart home hub, a Face ID doorbell, a MacBook with an A18 Pro chip, a foldable iPhone, and augmented reality glasses. Below, we have recapped rumored features for each product. Smart Home Hub Apple home hub (concept) Apple's long-rumored smart home hub should...
Read Full Article • 65 comments
Liquid Glass App Store Feature

App Store and Apple TV Experiencing Outage

Tuesday January 20, 2026 4:36 pm PST by
Apple's App Store, iTunes Store, and Apple TV service are experiencing an outage at the current time, according to Apple's System Status page. Apple says that some users may be experiencing issues with the App Store and iTunes Store. Apple also says some users may be seeing intermittent issues with Apple TV. The Apple TV Channels feature is down too, and users may be unable to access some...
Read Full Article • 42 comments
airtag prime day 2

Apple Developing AirTag-Sized AI Pin With Dual Cameras

Wednesday January 21, 2026 12:31 pm PST by
Apple is working on a small, wearable AI pin equipped with multiple cameras, a speaker, and microphones, reports The Information. If it actually launches, the AI pin will likely run the new Siri chatbot that Apple plans to unveil in iOS 27. The pin is said to be similar in size to an AirTag, with a thin, flat, circular disc shape. It has an aluminum and glass shell, and two cameras at the...
Read Full Article • 132 comments