Setting up iCloud - the best tips

If you want to set up iCloud on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, there are a few things to consider. We will tell you how the service works, what you should pay attention to and give you helpful tips.

How does iCloud work and how do I activate the service?

iCloud can be installed on all mobile Apple devices, such as the iPhone and iPad, as well as on Macbooks and Windows computers. You can also access iCloud from the browser.

• Function: The service primarily serves to synchronize your data and settings between your devices. For example, you can constantly compare the contacts on your iPhone with those on the iPad. You can determine which settings and data you want to synchronize yourself.
• Activation: Open the "Settings" app on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. Scroll down a bit and select the menu item "iCloud". You can now log in here with your Apple ID and password (see picture). When this is done, iCloud is activated on the device.
• In the next few paragraphs, you can read which functions are now available and what you should consider.

Set up iCloud: These functions are available

Here we explain what is behind the individual functions and what exactly happens when you activate the synchronization for them.

• Mail: If you activate the "Mail" function for the first time, you can create an iCloud email address. Here you can choose a desired name to which "@ icloud.com" will be attached. This not only gives you a new, free and ad-free email address, but also an email service that syncs across all your devices without any additional settings.
• Contacts, calendar, reminders, notes: If synchronization is activated, changes in one of these apps are immediately transmitted to the other devices when they are connected to the Internet. So if you change a note on your iPhone, it will automatically be updated on your iPad.
• Safari: Synchronizing Safari is recommended because not only your settings are adopted, but also any bookmarks that may have been set.
• Photo stream: With the photo stream you can not only synchronize the photos between your devices, but also load shared photos of friends into your photo album. You can read how this works in this practical tip.
• Documents & data: With this option you allow apps to save data such as scores in your iCloud. So you can play Angry Birds on your iPhone and later continue on your iPad where you left off on the iPhone.
• Find iPhone: It is recommended to activate this function. In the event of loss, you can use this to locate, lock and delete your iPhone, provided that it is connected to the Internet. This option is only available if the option is activated. Read here how to carry out a location in an emergency.
• Storage & Backup: Here you can not only buy additional iCloud storage, but also activate the backup. As soon as your device is connected to the Internet, any changes in the settings or new photos are transferred directly to the iCloud for a backup.

iCloud storage full - what to do?

If the 5 GB of free storage is not enough for you, 10 GB of additional storage alone costs 16 euros per year.

• If you exceed the 5 GB, we advise you to use a free service like Dropbox, where you can get up to 20 GB of storage space for free. Here you can only upload photos from your mobile device, but these make up the majority of the memory used.
• If you use this option, simply deactivate the "Photo stream" option in the iCloud settings.
• You can find other providers such as Dropbox in this practical tip.

iCloud: Sync devices with each other

The main function of iCloud is the synchronization between different devices. To do this, you must now set up iCloud on another mobile device or on your Mac or Windows PC.

• iPhone, iPad, iPod touch: You can now activate iCloud in the same way.
• Windows: For Windows you can download the iCloud Control Panel for Windows.
• Mac: On Mac, you can find iCloud settings in System Preferences.
• Browser: You can also access some services in the browser on iCloud.com.

For more tips on setting up iOS, see the iPhone special

There is more worth knowing and lots of tricks for iOS devices in the CHIP kiosk in our extensive special issue. On 148 pages special you will find everything about iOS 8, Apple Pay, Health, iMessage, photo library and other Apple services.

• In the CHIP Kiosk you will find the iPhone Guide either as a booklet or as a PDF for immediate download and quick start.
• In addition to tips on how to configure the iPhone correctly, we show you how to search safely with DuckDuckGo or shop on iTunes without a credit card.

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You can find more tips on iCloud here.