3 Easy Ways to Move from OneDrive to iCloud | 2026

Quick Search:

• User Case: How Can I Transfer Files from OneDrive to iCloud
• Overview of OneDrive and iCloud
• Before You Start Moving OneDrive to iCloud
• How to Move from OneDrive to iCloud on Mac (Drag & Drop)
• How to Move from OneDrive to iCloud on PC (Download & Upload)
• How to Move from OneDrive to iCloud Automatically on Any Platform
• FAQs About Moving OneDrive to iCloud
• The End

User Case: How Can I Transfer Files from OneDrive to iCloud

“I’m starting to use Apple products recently so iCloud starts to become my first choice to store local data. I used to utilize OneDrive when I use the Windows system. So, now I’m wondering how to move from OneDrive to iCloud. Thank you in advance!” – A Question on Quora.

Overview of OneDrive and iCloud

Produced by Microsoft, OneDrive is an excellent cloud storage service that supports both Windows systems and macOS 10.12 or newer. With 5GB of free storage space, users can store and access various types of files, such as photos, videos, documents, etc. Meanwhile, this service offers you convenient features for online collaboration. For instance, you can make OneDrive file requests.

Launched by Apple, iCloud is a native cloud storage service for Apple device users. With 2GB of free storage space, users, similar to OneDrive users, can store different types of files, including photos, PDF files, music files, etc. After backing up files to iCloud, you can access them from any device, such as laptops, computers, iPhones, etc.

As you can see, both OneDrive and iCloud are useful and advanced cloud storage solutions, which bring lots of conveniences to users. You can use both OneDrive and iCloud. However, there are some situations where you need to quit OneDrive and turn to iCloud, just like what is shown to you in the User Case. Nevertheless, how to move files from OneDrive to iCloud? Then read the content below.

Before You Start Moving OneDrive to iCloud

To avoid losing data or getting stuck mid-transfer, please review these important limitations before choosing a method.

1. File size limits

iCloud blocks files over 50GB. Before starting, check your OneDrive for files over 10GB. If so, split them first.

2. Shared OneDrive files

Moving a shared file creates a static copy. Future edits by the owner won't sync to iCloud. For shared files you need to collaborate on, notify the owner, unshare them first, then move the contents. For files you own, simply move them normally.

3. File name conflicts

Manual upload may ask "Replace/Skip/Keep Both". Choosing "Replace" permanently deletes the iCloud file.

Before any large transfer, search for duplicate file names and clean them up. Or, use a transfer tool that allows you to auto-rename without manual intervention.

How to Move from OneDrive to iCloud on Mac (Drag & Drop)

If you are using a Mac, you can turn to the desktop apps of OneDrive and iCloud. By dragging files from the OneDrive folder and dropping them into iCloud folder, your files will be moved successfully. Now, you can follow the detailed steps in the following content:

Step 1: After installing OneDrive on your Mac, there’s a OneDrive folder generated automatically. To move online-only files, you should first download them locally.

• Online-only files don’t take up space on your Mac. You’ll see a cloud icon under the file in Finder, but the file won’t download to your device until you open it.

Step 2: Now, drag and drop the files/folders you want to move to iCloud Drive in the sidebar of the Finder window.

If you want to move photos from OneDrive to iCloud, you can refer to the steps above as well.

How to Move from OneDrive to iCloud on PC (Download & Upload)

If you are using a Windows computer, you can download files from OneDrive and then upload them to iCloud on the web. This method is very simple and you can try the operations below:

Step 1: Sign in to your OneDrive on the web. And locate the files/folders you want to move.

Step 2: Click on the file or folder and select Download on the upper side.

Step 3: Now, head to your iCloud on the web with your Apple ID, and press the Upload icon on the upper side. In this way, downloaded files and folders will be moved to iCloud automatically then.

In a nutshell, if you want to move from OneDrive to iCloud, you can utilize their web and desktop apps. If you are wondering how to transfer photos from OneDrive to iCloud without installing any app on your PC, you can follow the same operations above.

How to Move from OneDrive to iCloud Automatically on Any Platform

Both methods above are a little troublesome and time-consuming. To accomplish the migration task easily and quickly without going through a download-and-upload process, you can use MultCloud. MultCloud is a web-based cloud-to-cloud transfer service that allows you to manage multiple cloud storage services/accounts in only one service. 

Currently, it supports more than 30+ cloud services in the market, such as iCloud Drive, iCloud Photos, OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Photos, Google Photos, Box, Flickr, MEGA, Amazon S3, etc. Why use MultCloud to transfer files from OneDrive to iCloud? There are some other benefits:

Now, you can follow the operations below to learn how to move from OneDrive to iCloud via MultCloud.

Step 1: Sign in to your MultCloud account on the web. If you don’t have a MultCloud account, you need to register one by your preferred email.

Step 2: Hit the Add Cloud tab on the left navigation bar. Then add OneDrive and iCloud Drive, respectively.

Step 3: Now, click on Cloud Transfer on the left sidebar and choose OneDrive as the source directory and iCloud Drive as the target directory. Finally, Transfer Now to transfer from OneDrive to iCloud without downloading.

Tips before transferring:✎...

You can click Options to enjoy more settings, like skipping/overwriting/renaming files if the file already exists, deleting all source files after transfer, keeping the modified date, setting up email notification, filtering, etc.

Schedule can run the task once, daily, weekly, or even monthly, set it and forget it; it's very easy to manage.

Please upgrade to MultCloud's advanced plans to enjoy scheduling, filtering, and all premium features.

By performing only 3 steps above, you can make data migration from OneDrive to iCloud Drive directly on the web. As you can see, this service can save lots of time, compared to the manual methods. Similarly, if you want to sync iCloud Photos to OneDrive, move files from one Google Drive to another account, transfer files from Dropbox to Box, you can refer to the steps above. The only alteration is to re-select the source and target directories.

FAQs About Moving OneDrive to iCloud

Will my folder structure be preserved when moving from OneDrive to iCloud?

A: Yes, for both methods if you move entire folders. Manual download/upload may result in empty folders being lost. MultCloud preserves structure automatically while migrating from OneDrive to iCloud.

Can I transfer only my photos from OneDrive to iCloud?

A: Yes. On a Mac, drag photo folders only. On a PC, download only photo folders then upload. MultCloud also offers file-type filtering (e.g., .jpg, .png).

How can I transfer thousands of photos from OneDrive to iCloud without manually selecting each one?

A: On a computer, use Ctrl + A (Windows), Command + A (Mac) in OneDrive web. Avoid selecting large batches on mobile—it may crash the app. Or you can use a filter to select all photos in MultCloud.

Is there a direct way to transfer files between OneDrive and iCloud?

A:  No native direct method exists to migrate OneDrive to iCloud. You must download then upload manually, or use a third-party cloud transfer tool like MultCloud.

Is MultCloud safe and secure to use for cloud transfers?

A: MultCloud uses encryption and does not permanently store your files. It only facilitates direct transfers. As with any third-party tool, research before granting access.

What happens to shared files and sharing permissions after transfer?

A: Shared files become static copies after the OneDrive to iCloud transfer. Future edits in OneDrive will not sync to iCloud. Sharing permissions and links are not transferred.

Why do I get a "not enough space" error when I have enough iCloud storage?

A: Your iCloud may already contain device backups (iPhone/iPad). Check your available space carefully. Try moving files in smaller batches.

Will OneDrive compress my photos or videos during transfer?

A:  No. Downloaded files retain original quality (48MP photos, 4K videos) and EXIF data.

In the End

Anyway, you’ve learned 3 useful methods to move from OneDrive to iCloud. Specifically speaking, you can take advantage of the desktop apps and web apps of OneDrive and iCloud. Meanwhile, if you want to transfer files between OneDrive and iCloud Drive seamlessly, you can turn to MultCloud. In addition, MultCloud allows you to sync and backup files between clouds too. For instance, you are allowed to backup Dropbox to Synology NAS directly, sync iCloud to OneDrive, etc.