iCloud and Apple Account on a Mac, fixed in plain English.
30 fixes for macOS 26 Tahoe and macOS 27 Golden Gate.
New iPhone photos aren't arriving on your MacSyncing pauses when the Mac is on battery or low-data, iCloud storage is full, or it simply needs time online.Find your lost or stolen MacIf Find My Mac was on, the Mac shows on a map in Find My.Contacts, Calendar, Notes or Reminders won't sync with iCloudThe app's iCloud switch is off, or this Mac is signed in to a different Apple Account.Your iPhone messages aren't showing up on your MacMessages in iCloud is off, or the Mac isn't signed in to iMessage with the same Apple Account.Turn iCloud Photos on or off on your MaciCloud Photos is controlled both in Apple Account > iCloud and in the Photos app settings.A used Mac asks for the previous owner's Apple AccountActivation Lock stays on while the owner's Find My Mac is on, so only that Apple Account can unlock it.iCloud storage is full: see what's using it and free up spacePhotos, backups, Drive files and mail share one iCloud allowance, which has filled up.Add your Gmail, Outlook or other email account to your MacEmail, contacts and calendar accounts from Google, Microsoft, Yahoo and others are added in Internet Accounts.iMessage or FaceTime says "Waiting for activation" or won't sign in on your MacThe Mac couldn't reach Apple's iMessage or FaceTime servers, often because of the network, the date and time, or the Apple Account sign-in.Stop sign-up spam by using Hide My Email on your MacHide My Email (with iCloud+) makes random addresses that forward to you and can be turned off.Turn on Advanced Data Protection so only your devices can read your iCloud dataAdvanced Data Protection end-to-end encrypts most iCloud data; only your devices hold the keys.Sync your Mac's Desktop and Documents to iCloud, or stop syncing themDesktop & Documents Folders keeps those two folders in iCloud Drive instead of only on this Mac.Let your family get your photos and files after you dieA Legacy Contact can request access to your iCloud data after your death.Get your Apple Account verification code when it doesn't arriveThe code goes to a trusted device or phone number; the device may be off, offline or not the one you expect.Set up a way back into your Apple Account before you need itA recovery contact or recovery key helps you get back in if you lose your password or devices.A file shows a cloud icon in Finder and won't openThe file is stored in iCloud and not downloaded to this Mac.I want a physical security key to protect my Apple AccountYour Apple Account can require a physical security key instead of a code when signing in on a new device.Turn iCloud Private Relay on or off, and manage Hide My EmailThese iCloud+ privacy features are switched in the iCloud pane and can interfere with some networks.Your Apple Account is locked or disabled: how to get back inApple locked the account after too many failed attempts or suspicious activity.You deleted photos on your Mac and they vanished from your iPhone tooWith iCloud Photos on, a deletion on one device deletes everywhere (recoverable for 30 days).Find and cancel subscriptions you pay Apple for on your MacSubscriptions bought through Apple are listed in your Apple Account.Your second-hand Mac asks for someone else's Apple AccountActivation Lock: the previous owner didn't remove the Mac from their Apple Account (Find My).Start, join or leave Family Sharing on your MacFamily Sharing is managed in its own Family section of System Settings.Keep full copies of your iCloud Drive files on your MacOptimize Mac Storage swaps older iCloud files for cloud-only placeholders when space is low.Change, downgrade or cancel your iCloud+ storage plan on a MacStorage plans are changed from the iCloud storage screen, not from Finder.Sign out of iCloud and your Apple Account on a MacSigning out removes this Mac from your Apple Account services.What iCloud is, and how to see what it does on your MaciCloud is Apple's online storage and sync: it keeps photos, files, passwords and contacts the same on your Apple devices, with 5 GB free (iCloud+ adds more).Stop a family member seeing your messages and contactsEveryone signed in with the same Apple Account shares Messages, Contacts, Photos and more.Sign in to iCloud with your Apple Account on a MaciCloud starts once you sign in with your Apple Account at the top of System Settings.Turn on two-factor authentication for your Apple AccountTwo-factor authentication is turned on in Sign-In & Security; most accounts already have it.