Why is it not clear how to download photos, etc. stored on iCloud back to your iPhone? Photos go to a .zip file on iCloud Drive???

Greetings INeedhelpsoon,

Thanks for visiting the Apple Support Communities! It seems you'd like to download photos from iCloud to your iPhone.

You'll need to enable iCloud Photos on your iPhone for the photos to sync to your device. Check out those steps in the following article:

Set up and use iCloud Photos - Apple Support

"On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

1. Go to Settings > [your name].
2. Tap iCloud.
3. Tap Photos, then turn on iCloud Photos."

For photos and items in iCloud Drive, you'll need to turn on iCloud Drive on your iPhone, and then those items can be found in the Files app on your device:

Use the Files app on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

Let us know how it goes from here.

INeedhelpsoon,

Thanks for following up and confirming you're able to get the photos on your iPhone.

Reach back out to Apple Support Communities if help is needed in the future!

Cheers.