How to access the iCloud Drive app in iOS 10

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When iCloud Drive first launched as a stand-alone app in iOS 9, it was hidden by default; you had to visit the Settings app if you wanted to enable the iCloud Drive app on your home screen.

With iOS 10, Apple has removed the Hide feature for iCloud Drive in the Settings app; since you can now remove built-in apps on your iPhone and iPad, having an additional option in Settings would just be redundant.

As such, if you have iCloud Drive hidden in iOS 9 and want it available to you in iOS 10, you can't simply unhide it in Settings; conversely, if you want to hide the app, there's a new way of going about it in iOS 10. Here's how.

How to download the iCloud Drive app on iPhone and iPad in iOS 10

If you had the iCloud Drive app hidden on your iPhone or iPad in iOS 9, you won't see it on your device when you upgrade to iOS 10. If you want to have access to the app, you'll have to download it from the App Store.

  1. Open the App Store on your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Download the iCloud Drive app.
  3. Close the App Store. iCloud Drive is now on your Home screen.

Note: Apple's built-in, or preinstalled apps are part of your device's operating system. You aren't actually downloading iCloud Drive or taking up any storage space; instead, the app icon has simply been unhidden on your Home screen.

How to get rid of the iCloud Drive app on iPhone and iPad in iOS 10

If you had iCloud Drive unhidden on your iPhone or iPad in iOS 9, it will still be there in iOS 10. If you don't want to see it on your Home screen anymore, you can remove it the same way you would delete an app.

  1. Press and hold the iCloud Drive app until it starts to jiggle.
  2. Tap the X in the upper left corner of the app icon.
  3. Tap Remove when prompted.

Note: Apple's built-in, or preinstalled apps are part of your device's operating system. You aren't actually downloading iCloud Drive or taking up any storage space; instead, the app icon has simply been unhidden on your Home screen.

Any questions?

Are you having trouble getting iCloud Drive on or off your device? Let me know in the comments and I'll help you out.

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Lory Gil
Lory Gil

Lory is a renaissance woman, writing news, reviews, and how-to guides for iMore. She also fancies herself a bit of a rock star in her town and spends too much time reading comic books.  If she's not typing away at her keyboard, you can probably find her at Disneyland or watching Star Wars (or both).