Announced at the beginning of the year, integrating iCloud Photos into Windows 11 is now available to users thanks to the latest Photos app update. There was a time when Apple and Microsoft were considered fierce rivals whose software couldn’t coexist on the same platform.
However, times have changed, and today we have Microsoft Edge on macOS and iTunes on the Microsoft Store, so users of both companies have access to each other’s software on both platforms.
Starting today, Windows 11 users also have access to iCloud Photos directly from their devices, so it becomes even easier to live as an Apple user on Windows.
The new feature obviously offers easy access to content stored in iCloud directly from the Photos app, which means that all images will now be together on a Windows 11 device under the same roof. “We know that many Windows customers have photo and video collections on their iPhones that they would like to be able to view on their PC. This iCloud Photos integration will allow iPhone owners to have direct access to all the memories they hold dear in one organized place and is another step in our ongoing efforts to make experiences on Windows 11 seamless.“explains Microsoft.
It goes without saying that users are allowed to use more than one cloud service in the Photos app. In other words, all photos will be displayed in the Photos app, whether they’re stored in iCloud or OneDrive. Both services feel at home on Windows 11 devices after this update, so you can configure the Photos app as a single library for multiple sources where your images are stored, including local hard drives and cloud services.
Rolling out
However, if you want to see iCloud photos in the Photos app, it is not enough to install the latest version of the app. The software giant explains that you also need to install iCloud for Windows on your computer.
“To integrate your iCloud photos into the Photos app, make sure your Photos app is up to date, then install the iCloud app for Windows, from the Microsoft Store. From there, sign in and choose to sync your photos, and all your iCloud Photos content will automatically appear in your Photos app.“, explains the company.
You should know that the functionality is specifically for Windows 11 Update 2022 users, but it should theoretically work fine on other supported versions of Windows 11 as well. However, devices must meet the prerequisites mentioned above, and the latest version of the Photos app must be installed.
If the arrival of iCloud Photos in Windows 11 is obviously good news for Apple users, you should know that the new integration is not yet available for all users. The rollout started earlier today, but Microsoft says not everyone will get it on day one. The process will continue in the coming weeks, and the company says all Windows 11 users should be able to see their iCloud photos in the Photos app by the end of the month.