So you’ve purchased a shiny new iPhone or iPad and your ready to get rolling. Well, one of the first things you’re probably going to want to do is ensure your email, contacts and calendars are setup. There are a number of high profile service most people use for this information. The two most popular are probably services from Google and Microsoft. However, Apple has continued to develop iCloud and it has arguably become the best option for those who use multiple Apple devices.
Whether you just upgraded to your 5th iPhone or if you are new to the platform, this article will guide you through using iCloud to setup some of your most important information on your new device.
Of course if you are deep into the Google or Microsoft system, you may be hesitant to make the switch over to iCloud. That’s understandable and thankfully the iPhone and iPad have excellent support for those services. Neither are as tightly integrated into the device as iCloud, but they will serve you just fine.
If you choose to go this route, head to the Settings app, find Mail, Contacts & Calendars and simply select and sign into your account. From there, you can select the specific services you want to sync and you’ll be all set up.
Syncing iCloud Mail, Contacts and Calendars
iCloud, for those unfamiliar, is Apple’s service to keep all of your information synced between devices. The easiest way to get iCloud set up on your new device is from a backup of an old iPhone or iPad. If you are upgrading from a prior iOS device, you can restore your new Apple device from a backup. So long as you had iCloud activated on your old device, the service will be automatically setup on your new one.
If this is your first iPhone or iPad or you prefer not to setup your new device from a backup, setting up iCloud is still quite painless. In the Settings app, iCloud the has its own tab. Select iCloud and you will be asked to enter your iCloud password for your iCloud account. New users should have been prompted to setup an iCloud account when you initially setup your device.
After you’ve entered your password, you will be presented with a list of iCloud services. Similar to before, you can simply activate the services you want to Sync between devices. Once activated, your data will appear on every other device with iCloud activated. iCloud will sync between Apple devices and even a Windows PC. You can download iCloud for Windows on Apple’s website if you’re interested. Additionally, any future data you add will be synced across devices.
Additional iCloud Options
You will immediately notice that with iCloud, you get quite a bit more option than syncing a Google or Microsoft account. Towards the top is iCloud Drive. You can think of this service as Apple’s version of Dropbox, but much more integrated with the iPhone and iPad. This service is relatively new, but Apple has put a bunch of resources towards making it a solid service.
Photos is another notable iCloud feature. Apple recently overhauled the Photos app and the addition of iCloud Photo Library was one of the major additions. As the name implies, this service will sync all of your photos and videos in iCloud which makes them accessible on your other devices.
This guide will get you started with iCloud. Apple has improved the service over the past few years, but if you are experiencing syncing issues check out our troubleshooting guide. Apple is always adding to the service so stay tuned to Apple Toolbox to find out about updates and new features.
I turn on mail for iCloud and then it says “create free @icloud.com email address to turn on iCloud mail” so I click create, and nothing happens. If I leave the settings and go back into iCloud the mail option is turned off again. I’ve also looked into the mail app for something but have had no joy.
First, make sure your device has some iCloud Storage available. If not, delete some items in iCloud to free up some storage or purchase an iCloud storage plan to get more storage.
Then, try one of the following:
On your iDevice: Go to Settings > Apple ID Profile > iCloud (or Settings > iCloud), turn on Mail and follow the onscreen instructions
On your Mac: Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click iCloud, select Mail and follow the onscreen instructions
I’ve checked all the settings on my iPhone 6 SE and my iPad Air 2. Messages that I send to an Android on my iPhone go through, but not those that I send through my iPad.
To send SMS messages from your iPad, you need to use a feature called Continuity. And you must also turn on a setting on your iPhone–basically this allows your iPad to send text messages to non-apple devices using your iPhone’s cellular capabilities. To turn this setting on, go to your iPhone and the Settings App. Scroll down to Messages and look for Text Message Forwarding–tap that and look for your iPad in the list of devices. Toggle it on.
There are some caveats to texting from your iPad to non-Apple devices. To receive or send SMS texts on your iPad, your iPhone must be turned on and connected to a cellular network. And both the iPad and the iPhone must be signed in to iMessage with the same Apple ID.
Hopefully that did the trick! If problems persist, let us know
First, make sure you are following the correct steps:
Replication Steps
1. Open settings >>iCloud click on it
2. Mail should be switched off ( if Apple ID is not ur iCloud account)
3. Slide to turn it on, u are prompted to create or cancel , Click create
4. On the new Icloud Email, enter ur name to create name@icloud.com
5. Click on next , Confirm Email by clicking Done
I actually had this same problem a couple of months ago. Here’s what worked for me: sign out of your Apple ID via Settings > Apple ID Profile > scroll down and sign out. Once signed out, restart your device and then sign back in. When I signed back in, I could suddenly create a new icloud.com email address. Go figure!
Also, as another reader pointed out, you can’t use an @icloud email for your Apple ID. So if you’ve done that, it could be the source of your problems.
Additionally, you might need to set-up the iCloud email through Mail > Accounts.
One reader let us know that iCloud doesn’t like number strings for IDs or passwords. So make sure you create an iCloud email address with just letters.
Finally, if nothing worked thus far try changing your Apple ID password. Users who do this report that after changing Apple ID password and then completely shutting down their iphone via a hard restart (Power and Home or Volume Down until Apple Logo appears), they see a message saying to log in with their Apple ID and new password. After doing all that, then try setting up iCloud Mail and for most of our readers, everything worked.
I hope one of these tips works for you. Keep us posted.
I have I pad 3. My iPad loads apps without tapping on them. It also will not let me tap on certain apps. The apps will open but it will close and open a different app. It has a mind of its own.
Please help! I have tried many things.
That’s a strange problem indeed! Yikes. First off, backup your iPad using iCloud, iTunes, or your preferred backup method. Next, perform a hard reset by holding down both the Home and Power buttons until you see the Apple logo. If that didn’t do the trick, reset your Settings by going to Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings. What this does is to reset some of your personalized Settings back to default. It removes all of your preferences for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Do No Disturb, Notifications, General, Sounds, Brightness & Wallpaper and Privacy. It DOES NOT remove any data.
Next, reset your network by going to Settings > General > Reset and tap Reset Network Settings.
If your problem still happens, sign out of your Apple ID and iCloud. Then power down your iPad and start up again normally. Once back up, sign into your Apple ID and iCloud account again.
Finally, check if there’s a software update by going to Settings > General > Software Update. If something’s available, update your iPad to its latest iOS.
I turn on mail for iCloud and then it says “create free @icloud.com email address to turn on iCloud mail” so I click create, and nothing happens. If I leave the settings and go back into iCloud the mail option is turned off again. I’ve also looked into the mail app for something but have had no joy.
Hi Lana,
First, make sure your device has some iCloud Storage available. If not, delete some items in iCloud to free up some storage or purchase an iCloud storage plan to get more storage.
Then, try one of the following:
On your iDevice: Go to Settings > Apple ID Profile > iCloud (or Settings > iCloud), turn on Mail and follow the onscreen instructions
On your Mac: Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click iCloud, select Mail and follow the onscreen instructions
Sam
I tried to access my email account from my iPhone but I don’t know.
I’ve checked all the settings on my iPhone 6 SE and my iPad Air 2. Messages that I send to an Android on my iPhone go through, but not those that I send through my iPad.
Could you help?
Thank you!
Hi Rhonda,
To send SMS messages from your iPad, you need to use a feature called Continuity. And you must also turn on a setting on your iPhone–basically this allows your iPad to send text messages to non-apple devices using your iPhone’s cellular capabilities. To turn this setting on, go to your iPhone and the Settings App. Scroll down to Messages and look for Text Message Forwarding–tap that and look for your iPad in the list of devices. Toggle it on.
There are some caveats to texting from your iPad to non-Apple devices. To receive or send SMS texts on your iPad, your iPhone must be turned on and connected to a cellular network. And both the iPad and the iPhone must be signed in to iMessage with the same Apple ID.
Hopefully that did the trick! If problems persist, let us know
SK
I can’t get my ICloud email account going
The error reads”Problem Turning On Mail try again”…same message over and over.
Can you help?
Thanks!
Hi Nan,
First, make sure you are following the correct steps:
Replication Steps
1. Open settings >>iCloud click on it
2. Mail should be switched off ( if Apple ID is not ur iCloud account)
3. Slide to turn it on, u are prompted to create or cancel , Click create
4. On the new Icloud Email, enter ur name to create name@icloud.com
5. Click on next , Confirm Email by clicking Done
I actually had this same problem a couple of months ago. Here’s what worked for me: sign out of your Apple ID via Settings > Apple ID Profile > scroll down and sign out. Once signed out, restart your device and then sign back in. When I signed back in, I could suddenly create a new icloud.com email address. Go figure!
Also, as another reader pointed out, you can’t use an @icloud email for your Apple ID. So if you’ve done that, it could be the source of your problems.
Additionally, you might need to set-up the iCloud email through Mail > Accounts.
One reader let us know that iCloud doesn’t like number strings for IDs or passwords. So make sure you create an iCloud email address with just letters.
Finally, if nothing worked thus far try changing your Apple ID password. Users who do this report that after changing Apple ID password and then completely shutting down their iphone via a hard restart (Power and Home or Volume Down until Apple Logo appears), they see a message saying to log in with their Apple ID and new password. After doing all that, then try setting up iCloud Mail and for most of our readers, everything worked.
I hope one of these tips works for you. Keep us posted.
Cheers,
Liz
I have I pad 3. My iPad loads apps without tapping on them. It also will not let me tap on certain apps. The apps will open but it will close and open a different app. It has a mind of its own.
Please help! I have tried many things.
Deena,
That’s a strange problem indeed! Yikes. First off, backup your iPad using iCloud, iTunes, or your preferred backup method. Next, perform a hard reset by holding down both the Home and Power buttons until you see the Apple logo. If that didn’t do the trick, reset your Settings by going to Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings. What this does is to reset some of your personalized Settings back to default. It removes all of your preferences for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Do No Disturb, Notifications, General, Sounds, Brightness & Wallpaper and Privacy. It DOES NOT remove any data.
Next, reset your network by going to Settings > General > Reset and tap Reset Network Settings.
If your problem still happens, sign out of your Apple ID and iCloud. Then power down your iPad and start up again normally. Once back up, sign into your Apple ID and iCloud account again.
Finally, check if there’s a software update by going to Settings > General > Software Update. If something’s available, update your iPad to its latest iOS.
Hope one of these tips worked!
SK