iPhone: The Missing Manual, 10th Edition

Chapter 17. iCloud

The free iCloud service stems from Apple’s brainstorm that, since it controls both ends of the connection between a Mac and the Apple website, it should be able to create some pretty clever Internet-based features.

This chapter concerns what iCloud can do for you, the iPhone owner.

Note

To get a free iCloud account if you don’t already have one, sign up in Settings→iCloud.

What iCloud Giveth

So what is iCloud? Mainly, it’s these things:

• iCloud Sync. It keeps your calendar, address book, and documents updated and identical on all your gadgets: Mac, PC, iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch. Also your web passwords, credit card numbers, AirPod (wireless earbud) pairing, and all kinds of other things. That’s a huge convenience—almost magical.

• Find My iPhone. Find My iPhone pinpoints the current location of your iPhone (or iPad, or Mac, or AirPods) on a map. In other words, it’s great for helping you find your phone if it’s been stolen or lost.

  You can also make your lost gadget make a loud pinging sound for a couple of minutes by remote control—even if it was silenced. That’s brilliantly effective when your phone has slipped between the couch cushions.

• Automatic backup. iCloud can back up your iPhone—automatically and wirelessly (over Wi-Fi, not over cellular connections). It’s a quick backup, since iCloud backs up only the changed data.

  If you ever want to set up a new i-gadget, or if you want to restore everything to an existing one, life is sweet. Once you’re in a Wi-Fi hotspot, all ...