Apple gives all the users of the iPhone, iPod, and iPad 5GB free storage on iCloud. With a set up iCloud, once you plug the Apple device to power and connect to WiFi, your settings and data backup to iCloud. Once the backup ends, you can download iCloud backup when you need it.
In this post, we explain the scenarios that might lead to you downloading the iCloud backup and how to download iCloud backup to PC using several methods.
Why Do You Need to Download iCloud Backup to PC?
There is so much that you can do using iCloud from storing contacts, notes to tracking your iPhone. Like we stated above, each Apple user has access to 5GB free storage on iCloud. As such, you can back up the data across different Apple devices like iPod, iPad, and iPhone to iCloud.
The benefit of iCloud backup is that you have your data on the cloud, and you can access it anywhere. Another advantage is that you can share such data as location, calendars, photos, and videos with other individuals. Considering how much iCloud brings to the table, it is essential to know the situations where you may need to download the iCloud backup.
- To recover files: iCloud doesn’t allow you to access or view data from the backup unless you download it to your PC. It is similar to what happens with iTunes backup. Also, the only way to restore the iCloud backup to your device is by downloading the entire backup file.
- Free up space in iCloud: When you consider it closely, 5GB storage space is relatively small. It means that you are already short on space by the time you back up a few videos, audios, and photos. How do you free up iCloud space so that you can have sufficient space for essential files? – Download the backup to a computer and delete it from iCloud. This way, you have your 5GB all over.
- Retrieve data when you lose an iOS device: We have already told you that iOS backs up files to iCloud when your device connects to WiFi. It means that even when the device gets lost or damaged, you can still retrieve your files if a backup exists. To do this, download the backup from iCloud to your PC.
Now that you have convincing reasons to download the iCloud backup to PC, let’s show you how.
Top 3 Methods to Download iCloud Backup to PC
In this section, we explain the three different methods to download the iCloud backup to your PC.
1. Preview and Download iCloud Backup to PC Selectively
Like we stated above, iCloud doesn’t allow you to view data in your backup before download. It means that without the appropriate tool, you have to download the whole backup first. Of course, this is not favorable if all you need is a single file or a few files from your backup.
The only way to preview your files before downloading them is by using an iCloud backup extractor. In this case, we suggest Tenorshare UltData. When you sign in to your iCloud account using this software, it locates your files. This way, you can view them on your PC and decide which files you want to download.
When you do this, you don’t wipe the data present on the device. It is ordinarily impossible without this software. Tenorshare UltData comes in two versions, for Mac OS and Windows OS. Here’s how to download iCloud backup using Tenorshare UltData.
Step 1: Download Tenorshare UltData on your PC and install it to launch the program.
Step 2: Note that Tenorshare UltData is also an iPhone data recovery and iTunes backup extractor tool. So, to access your iCloud account, select “Recover Data from iCloud.”
Step 3: Input your Apple ID to sign in to iCloud.
Step 4: All the backup files linked to your iCloud account get displayed on the screen. Choose the iCloud backup file you need and click on “Next.”
Step 5: On this screen, the file formats get displayed. Tick the boxes to select the relevant file type for recovery and select “Next” for the download process to start.
Step 6: After the download, a new screen appears showing the backed-up data. Choose the files you need, then click on the “Recover” button.
Step 7: Select the Output Format for the recovered files and choose “Recover to PC.”
Also Read: Tenorshare UltData Review
2. Download iCloud Backup to PC from iCloud.com
For now, this is the most popular method of downloading iCloud backup to a computer. It also the most straightforward approach. All it requires is to sign in to your iCloud.com account using the appropriate Apple ID.
The method allows you to recover photos, contacts, and notes. You can also transfer such files from your computer to iCloud and vice versa.
However, there are certain data types that you cannot access with this method. Some of them include text messages, Kik messages, iMessage, Viber, WhatsApp messages, SMS attachments, and call history.
Here’s how to download the iCloud backup via iCloud.com:
Step 1: Launch a browser on the PC and visit iCloud.com.
Step 2: Sign in iCloud using the appropriate Apple ID.
Step 3: Select the category that you need to download by clicking on, e.g., Photos.
Step 4: Click on the item that you need to recover. After this, click on the “download” icon to download them to the PC.
Unfortunately, with this approach, you must individually go through each iCloud category to recover the files.
3. Download iCloud Data to PC Using iCloud Control Panel
To make use of this method, you need to have a PC that runs on Windows OS. You also need to download the iCloud version for Windows. When you do, you can access bookmarks, photos, emails, videos, and more via your Windows PC.
However, you cannot preview files before downloading them. Here’s how to use iCloud control panel to download the iCloud backup to PC. In this case, we will be using Photos to buttress our point.
Step 1: Go to your iOS device and turn on iCloud Photos.
Step 2: Download iCloud on your PC and install it.
Step 3: Sign in to iCloud with your Apple ID details.
Step 4: Open iCloud control panel on the PC and tick “Photos.”
Step 5: Go to the “Options” menu beside “Photos” and select “iCloud Photo Library” and “Download new photos and videos to my PC.” Then click “Done.”
Step 6: Select “Apply” on the main page for all changes to take effect.
Step 7: Open “This PC” from your “File Explorer” and select “iCloud Photos.”
Step 8: Click on “Downloads” to view all your downloaded iCloud Photos.
Conclusion
By now, you should know how to download the iCloud backup to your PC. We have shown you three methods while recommending Tenorshare UltData as a top option for extracting files from the iCloud backup. With these, you can always access your iCloud backup anytime.