I need assistance on how to sync iCloud files between PC and iPhone.
In the past I would put files in C:\Users\{name}\iCloud Drive and these would then come available on my iPhone. Now that is not happening. I have to upload to icloud.com to make it available on my iPhone.
Can you tell me how to get the sync to restart between the two devices?
iPhone 7, iOS 15
Hello WTerryA,
Thanks for the clarification. Make sure iCloud Drive is turned on in your iCloud settings on the iPhone by navigating to
Set up iCloud Drive on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch
1. On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud.
2. Turn on iCloud Drive.
A list of apps appears below iCloud Drive. When you turn on an app, it can store data in iCloud.
3. To view your iCloud Drive files and folders, open the Files app and go to the iCloud Drive section.
For more information on how to use iCloud Drive on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, see any of the following:
iPhone User Guide: Share files and folders in iCloud Drive on iPhone
Set up iCloud Drive on your Windows computer
1. If you don’t already have it, get iCloud for Windows. See the Apple Support article Download iCloud for Windows.
2. On your Windows computer, open iCloud for Windows.
3. Select iCloud Drive, then click Apply.
4. To view your iCloud Drive files and folders, open File Explorer (Windows 8 or later) or Windows Explorer (Windows 7), then click iCloud Drive in the Navigation pane.
For more information on how to use iCloud Drive on your Windows computer, see View, add, or remove iCloud Drive files in iCloud for Windows and Share iCloud Drive files and folders in iCloud for Windows in the iCloud for Windows User Guide.
Access and manage your files in iCloud Drive
If you're on a device with iOS 11 or later, you can access your files from the Files app.
On your PC with Windows 10 or later and iCloud for Windows, you can go to iCloud Drive in File Explorer.
Thanks for using the Apple Support Communities, and have a great day!
Hello WTerryA,
Thanks for the clarification. Make sure iCloud Drive is turned on in your iCloud settings on the iPhone by navigating to
Set up iCloud Drive on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch
1. On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud.
2. Turn on iCloud Drive.
A list of apps appears below iCloud Drive. When you turn on an app, it can store data in iCloud.
3. To view your iCloud Drive files and folders, open the Files app and go to the iCloud Drive section.
For more information on how to use iCloud Drive on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, see any of the following:
iPhone User Guide: Share files and folders in iCloud Drive on iPhone
Set up iCloud Drive on your Windows computer
1. If you don’t already have it, get iCloud for Windows. See the Apple Support article Download iCloud for Windows.
2. On your Windows computer, open iCloud for Windows.
3. Select iCloud Drive, then click Apply.
4. To view your iCloud Drive files and folders, open File Explorer (Windows 8 or later) or Windows Explorer (Windows 7), then click iCloud Drive in the Navigation pane.
For more information on how to use iCloud Drive on your Windows computer, see View, add, or remove iCloud Drive files in iCloud for Windows and Share iCloud Drive files and folders in iCloud for Windows in the iCloud for Windows User Guide.
Access and manage your files in iCloud Drive
If you're on a device with iOS 11 or later, you can access your files from the Files app.
On your PC with Windows 10 or later and iCloud for Windows, you can go to iCloud Drive in File Explorer.
Thanks for using the Apple Support Communities, and have a great day!
Hello, WTerryA.
Let's start off by checking the helpful steps in this article: Sync iPhone with your computer - Apple Support. Your current experience is correct. If you wish to sync content between your PC and iPhone using iCloud, uploading the content to iCloud is the way to go. Please follow the steps in this article in the "Set up syncing between your Windows PC and iPhone" section.
Let us know if we can help with anything else at all or if this doesn't settle your issue. Thanks and have a fabulous day!
Hi Gena_D,
Not quite what I was after.
In the past, I was able to drop a file in iCloud Drive on my PC and it the updated file would appear in the Files folder on my iPhone. That is no longer happening. Has the feature been discontinued?
Syncing iCloud drive between PC and iPhone
