It wasn't that long ago when the only way to sync your iPhone and iPad was through iTunes on your computer. Now, the process is much easier thanks to iCloud. Show
Let's look at how to sync your iPhone and iPad data using iCloud so you can access your content everywhere. How to Sync iPhone and iPad Content Through iCloudThe simplest way to sync files across your Apple devices is through iCloud. First introduced in 2011, iCloud allows you to store data like documents, photos, and music on Apple's servers. You can then access and download your content on iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and Windows devices. The service also allows you to back up mobile devices directly for setup and restoring purposes. With iCloud, your data stays secure both when it's in transit and in storage. Apple uses secure tokens for authentication, and end-to-end encryption protects sensitive information. To sync data across your Apple devices, you need to make sure you have enough iCloud storage space. If you don't have enough, you'll see a message on your iOS device before your attempt. iCloud offers 5GB of free storage by default, with options to upgrade to 50GB, 200GB, or 2TB worth of iCloud storage space. Check Your iCloud StorageTo see how much storage space you have available on iCloud:
You can also check your iCloud storage on a Mac or PC:
About Syncing All DataTo sync data across your iPhone and iPad, we assume you haven't set up at least one of the two devices yet. If both devices are already set up, you'll need to erase your iPhone or iPad using a factory reset and then sync through an iCloud backup. To get started with syncing, make sure your devices are on the same Wi-Fi network. You'll also need an up-to-date backup on iCloud. On the source device:
Then on the target device:
You've now synced your iPhone and iPad using iCloud data. Syncing Specific Categories Through iCloudYou may not want to sync all the data on your different devices through iCloud. Instead, you might wish only to sync data from specific categories or apps. Perhaps you just want to sync your photos or information from the Reminders app. To only sync certain data:
About Syncing App DataMany of the iOS apps in the App Store use iCloud to store data. This makes their information easy to sync across your devices when you install the same app. If you don't see your favorite app in the list described above, you should contact the developer. Perhaps they'll add iCloud syncing in a future update. About iCloud BackupMoving forward, be sure to use iCloud Backup on a regular basis across your Apple devices. With iCloud Backup, you can easily set up a new device (like you just did) or restore information on an existing device. Your iPhone or iPad will automatically run every night when you're not using it. For this to happen, make sure of the following:
What Information Does iCloud Back Up?By default, the following information is backed up using iCloud:
Some app information is already stored in iCloud, and therefore syncs across all your devices without a backup. This includes contacts, calendars, bookmarks, mail, notes, voice memos, shared photos, iCloud Photos, health data, call history, and files you store in iCloud Drive. What About Direct Syncing Between Devices?You might wonder whether you can directly sync your iPhone and iPad using a Lightning or USB-C. Unfortunately, that's not possible. iOS doesn't support this functionality, so you'll need to use iCloud as detailed here. By doing that you can transfer photos from one iPhone to another. Why Not Just Use a Computer to Sync?As mentioned, syncing data between iOS devices was once only possible through iTunes, or Finder in the newer versions of macOS. Using this method is still possible, although it's cumbersome at best. It requires backing up one device to your computer, then restoring the other device using the same machine. With this method, you're limited on the types of files you can transfer. Besides, the process takes longer than the options mentioned above. But we've looked at how to sync your iPhone to iTunes if you need to know. Syncing Your iPad and iPhone Made EasyIn summary, syncing data between iOS or iPadOS devices has become a simple process thanks to iCloud. Whether you want to sync all your data or select files, the process is safe and secure. Why are my iPhone and iPad not syncing?Make sure that you're signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID on all of your devices. Then, check that you turned on Contacts, Calendars, and Reminders in your iCloud settings. Check the date and time settings on your device to make sure they're correct for your current location.
How do I get all my Apple devices to sync?Simply select the “Automatically sync when this [device] is connected” checkbox in the General pane, then turn on syncing for each type of content you want to sync. Your Mac and iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch update to matching content whenever you connect them.
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