Before getting started, find out which version of iCloud for Windows you have.
iCloud for Windows version 11 or later
You see thumbnails of your photos and videos until you download them. If a photo or video is edited or deleted on an Apple device or on iCloud.com, the changes appear here automatically.
On your Windows computer, open File Explorer, then click iCloudPhotos in the Navigation pane.
If you do not see iCloudPhotos, click Pictures in the Navigation pane, then double-click iCloudPhotos.
Double-click a thumbnail to download and view it.
The icon next to a photo or videos filename indicates the download status. See Keep photos and videos downloaded in iCloud for Windows.
during setup].You see any photos or videos added to iCloudPhotos after you set it up on your PC.
To see photos and videos that were added before you set up the feature, click the Notification area in the taskbar, click Download Photos in the iCloud Photos notification, then choose the photos and videos you want to download.
iCloud for Windows version 7
When you turn on iCloud or MyPhoto Stream, new photos and videos you add to iCloudPhotos on other devices are automatically downloaded to your PC. If a photo or video is changed on another device or on iCloud.com, you need to download it again to see the updates.
You can manually download older photos and videos by year.
On your Windows computer, open File Explorer [Windows8 or later] or Windows Explorer [Windows7], then click iCloudPhotos in the Navigation pane.
If you do not see iCloudPhotos, click Pictures in the Navigation pane, then double-click iCloudPhotos.
Double-click the Downloads folder [or the location you chose during setup].
You see any photos or videos added to iCloudPhotos or MyPhoto Stream after you set it up on your PC.
To see photos and videos that were added before you set up the feature, click Download photos and videos in the Windows Explorer toolbar, choose the photos and videos you want to download, then click Download.
Note: If you edit a photo or video on your Windows computer, those edits do not appear on your Apple devices or on iCloud.com. If you want the edited file added to iCloudPhotos, upload it as a new file.