After 23 months from when my eldest son passed we have finally received word that a California judge has ruled in our favor and will compel Apple with a Court Order to provide access to his two iCloud accounts. This was particularly difficult as the threshold for access to email and text messages is much higher than photos.

No one here has any experience with anything Apple. We want to download all the iCloud files to a Window 10 desktop and be able to view and read everything. How do we do this? Is any special software required to view these files?

Appreciate any help members may be able to provide.

I just tried this. Simply logged onto my iCloud account from my Win10 machine, then downloaded a document. Very straightforward.

To start, download and install iCloud for Windows, establish a Apple ID and pass word. From there it's fairly intuitive after you long into iCloud. Most files should be in a folder called "Your iCloud Storage" or iCloud Drive, depending on how it was set up. Just browse around at the different sections.

quote:

Originally posted by NavyGuy:
iCloud for Windows

The reviews for this app are hideous.
https://apps.microsoft.com/sto.../icloud/9PKTQ5699M62
These reviews remind me of my experience with iTunes which I absolutely HATE.

Hopefully there is a better way....

Install icloud for Windows on your PC.

Log in using the credentials (user name and password) that Apple give (or gave you) when they complied with the court order. Do NOT create a new account of your own as that will not give you access to anyone else's icloud info, only your own.

I don't believe you have to install iCloud for Windows to access files. Just log onto iCloud.com from any browser on your PC, and you should have full access. Give it a try, only takes a minute.

Glad to hear of the positive results.

Pray this doesn’t sadden you too much when you finally access the contents. It will, inevitably.


I think Kevin (kkina) is right, any browser should do the trick.

My advise is to DOWNLOAD the bulk of it to the PC immediately, keep a copy handy and whatever sorting you decide to do, pace yourself and work STRICTLY on the downoaded copy.
Might want to do more than a single bulk copy and store at least one untouched.

Went through a similar process when my sister had several brain strokes and my mother passed shortly after. Some stuff only made sense after we had gained some background and started to connect some seemingly unrelated dots.

Good luck, strenght and patience, Bob.

0-0

i just logged into i-cloud.com, entered apple login/password.

6 digit code sent to i-phone to get into the pics on pc/win10.

quote:

Originally posted by 0-0:
I think Kevin (kkina) is right, any browser should do the trick.

Thanks Kevin & Nicky. Once the Court Order is processed and delivered to Apple and I get fresh passwords to access the iCloud accounts, I'll try what you both suggest.

quote:

Originally posted by airbubba:
i just logged into i-cloud.com, entered apple login/password.

6 digit code sent to i-phone to get into the pics on pc/win10.

Again we don't have anything Apple here. So NO iPhone.

quote:

Originally posted by Pyker:
Install icloud for Windows on your PC.

Log in using the credentials (user name and password) that Apple give (or gave you) when they complied with the court order. Do NOT create a new account of your own as that will not give you access to anyone else's icloud info, only your own.

Whether you install icloud or use a browser, the rest of my post is still germane. Good luck in your quest.

quote:

Originally posted by Pyker:
Whether you install icloud or use a browser, the rest of my post is still germane. Good luck in your quest.

Got it. Thanks!

Is it really going to give him access to email and text messages though? When I log into iCloud, those two are not there. Well email is, but only iCloud email and not the other email accounts on my devices.

I wonder if Apple will honor the court order in the manner they now have it so you can setup a Legacy Contact. I still don’t know exactly how it works for Apple to give you the information via this method. In your Apple device you can now make a person a Legacy Contact so they automatically have access to all of the data on your device when you present Apple with a death certificate if you were named as a Legacy Contact for that person. I have made sure to set this up on mine, my mom’s, and wife’s phones so we are all each other’s Legacy Contacts.

This is the information about a Legacy Contact: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212360

Mike,

From what Nicky has posted about his sister and mom I believe we will be able to access everything including text messages and emails. The veterans group pro bono attorneys in Kali had to add additional documentation from me to justify that access in a court order to Apple. Ironically they had to obtain an exemption from Apple to handle my case because they also represent Apple in other matters. Bottom line is that they know how to make this happen correctly with proper wording in a court order.

Your counsel about Legacy Contacts is sound for others to avoid a future exasperating journey like we've had with Apple.

quote:

Originally posted by bald1:
Mike,

From what Nicky has posted about his sister and mom I believe we will be able to access everything including text messages and emails. The veterans group pro bono attorneys in Kali had to add additional documentation from me to justify that access in a court order to Apple.

Your counsel about Legacy Contacts is sound for others to avoid a future exasperating journey like we've had with Apple.

Ok good to hear.