Have you tried iCloud for Windows and didn't like it? Well, join the club. But you might want to try it again. Apple has finally turned this much-maligned app into a more user-friendly and user-friendly program. The new iCloud for Windows, available in the Microsoft Store, includes a complete redesign, new features, and bug fixes.
In addition to the redesign, the latest version offers an easy setup process with prompts to guide you through each step. Now supports physical security keys for more secure sign-in. Thankfully, you won't see as many sign-in prompts as you used to.
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You can now check the sync status of your iCloud content. Additionally, Apple promises improved photo syncing and fixes for Contacts and Calendar syncing with Outlook. However, Outlook sync appears to require Windows 11 version 22H2 or later.
The latest features and improvements are designed to fix an app that has been difficult to use, confusing, and buggy for years. Previous versions of this app have received numerous 1-star ratings in the Microsoft Store. That's because you're using a Windows PC instead of a Mac.
Mac owners can easily sync their online iCloud content using convenient and simple built-in MacOS features. However, Windows users face challenges in this process. Windows doesn't have a built-in iCloud sync tool, so your only option is the iCloud for Windows app. And this always felt like an app that Apple haphazardly put together just to appease his Windows users.
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If you haven't tried iCloud for Windows yet, it lets you sync certain items stored online in iCloud to your Windows PC. In that sense, it provides several important features.
You can access and view your synced iCloud photos in the Microsoft Photos app in Windows 11. Keep your photos up to date on your PC, iPhone, and iPad. Additionally, you can create shared albums that others can view.
When you enable iCloud Drive, you can view and access your online folders and files directly in File Explorer. You can also share files and automatically sync changes to them.
This app lets you sign in to websites using the credentials you have saved in your iCloud Keychain. The iCloud Passwords app lets you access all your passwords and create new ones. This app is automatically added when you install iCloud for Windows. The iCloud Password extension also works with desktop versions of Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge. You can also generate a verification code to sign in to a website.
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There's more. View your iCloud calendar and contacts directly in Microsoft Outlook. You can also sync your Safari bookmarks using the iCloud Bookmarks extension in Chrome, Edge, or Firefox.
If you already have a previous version of iCloud for Windows, the new version will be installed automatically the next time you open the app. If you don't have it yet, visit the Microsoft Store page to download and install it.
When you launch the app and sign in for the first time, a settings screen will ask you what content you want to sync. Sync iCloud Photos to Microsoft Photos app, iCloud Drive to File Explorer, iCloud Keychain passwords, Safari bookmarks, and iCloud Calendars and Contacts to Outlook. You can choose.
Once setup is complete, you'll see the newly redesigned iCloud for Windows screen. Here you can clearly see the sync status of each type of content and choose which to turn on or off. This screen also shows the total space you've used and free space in iCloud.
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Is the new iCloud for Windows a dramatic improvement over its predecessor? Several people on the Microsoft Store have complained about syncing issues and other glitches. However, an equal number of people gave this overhaul a 5-star rating. Some reports say that apps work better overall on Windows 11 than on Windows 10, especially syncing photos, contacts, and calendars.
In my testing, the app ran smoothly on Windows 11 without any issues. It crashed once when I tried to sync iCloud photos on Windows 10, but other than that it's working fine. At least it looks like a clear improvement over the old version.
