How to set up iCloud

If you recently picked up a new Mac, iPhone, iPod, or iPad, you may have seen mention of something called iCloud when setting up your device. If you don't already know, iCloud is a free syncing and backup service from Apple that aims to keep all of your devices--mobile devices running iOS 5 or later and desktop computers running OS X Lion or later, or Windows Vista or later--on the same page, with the same data, no matter which one you're using at any given moment.

Beware of the iCloud

We've written before about what you get with your iCloud account. But what if you're unsure about how to set up iCloud in the first place and how to get it to work on your Mac, PC, iOS device, and Apple TV? We'll show you.

Macworld - If you recently picked up a new Mac, iPhone, iPod, or iPad, you may have seen mention of something called iCloud when setting up your device. If you don't already know, iCloud is a free syncing and backup service from Apple that aims to keep all of your devices--mobile devices running iOS 5 or later and desktop computers running OS X Lion or later, or Windows Vista or later--on the same page, with the same data, no matter which one you're using at any given moment.

Beware of the iCloud

We've written before about what you get with your iCloud account. But what if you're unsure about how to set up iCloud in the first place and how to get it to work on your Mac, PC, iOS device, and Apple TV? We'll show you.

Sign up for an iCloud account

A few notes before we begin: Although signing up for iCloud is free, you can't do so just anywhere. You must create an account on either a mobile device running iOS 5 or later or a Mac running OS X 10.7.5 or later. Unfortunately, Windows users have to create an account on one of these platforms before they can log in from a PC.

Apple also limits you to creating ten iCloud accounts per device. You should ever need only one or two, so you'll probably never run up against the limit; because the limit persists after full device wipes, however, you may see a warning about it if you've received an older iOS device or Mac. If you do get an alert preventing you from making a new iCloud account, I suggest going to your nearest Apple Store, where they should be able to help you sort it out.

Do you have an Apple ID?

If you've ever purchased anything from the iTunes Store, App Store, or iBookstore, you have an Apple ID. (It's probably the email address you used to sign up for iTunes.) If you've logged in to the iTunes or App Store apps with this Apple ID, you should see the email address already filled out in the Apple ID section of the iCloud screen.

All iCloud accounts stem from Apple IDs, so it's easy to convert your current Apple ID into an iCloud account. You'll still be able to use your Apple ID for everything you currently use it for, but you'll also get all of iCloud's features. And if you haveA family members who use this Apple ID, they'll still be able to use it for purchases without getting all of your iCloud information. (For more on managing multiple Apple IDs and iCloud, see our explanation about common signup scenarios.)

To convert your Apple ID into an iCloud account, open the iCloud preference screen on your iOS device or Mac, and then sign in to iCloud with your current Apple ID and password. The screen will prompt you to agree to the iCloud terms and conditions; once you do, you're ready to begin using the service.

Note: If you do convert an Apple ID into an iCloud account, you won't get an iCloud email address (@icloud.com) by default. If you want one, simply go to Settings > iCloud on an iOS device and toggle the Mail switch on (or, on a Mac, click the checkbox). You'll then see a prompt to create an iCloud email address to go along with your account.