If you want to know how to access the cloud from your android smartphone, you have come to the right article. In this article, we are not only going to show you all the methods to access the different cloud storage platforms, but we are also going to explain what it is and how they work.
what is the cloud
I have never understood why file storage platforms that work over the internet they are called cloud, since, with that name, a user without knowledge cannot get a slight idea of what it is.
Cloud storage platforms allow us store any type of files on remote servers, servers that we can access remotely from any device with the corresponding application or using a browser.
The cloud has become one of the best backup methods on our data without resorting to backups. Although if the information occupies a lot of space, we may be forced to contract additional space to the one they offer us.
How the cloud works
This type of platform has a different function both on mobile devices and computers. On mobile devices, if we want to store content on this type of platform, we must manually upload the file.
from smartphones
If it is about images or videos that we create from our device, the applications to manage cloud data include a function that automatically takes care of upload the content without us having to intervene in any moment.
However, some services, offers us two applications independently, as is the case with Google. Google allows us to manage the files stored on its platform through the Google Drive application.
But if we want the images and videos to be uploaded automatically, we must make use of Google Photos, a service that, in mid-2021, stopped offering free storage, although it remains an equally valid option for most users.
Other applications, such as Microsoft's OneDrive, Dropbox, Amazon Photos..., allow us both access how to upload all content that we do with the camera of our device completely automatically, as long as we have enough free space.
from computers
desktop operating systems they do not work in the same way as mobile operating systems, hence the operation of the applications is not the same either.
The applications that cloud storage platforms make available to us to access the content we store They work completely autonomously.
These applications take care of sync all changes we make to files in addition to uploading the new files that we have added in the folders that are synchronized with this platform.
Thus, we don't have to worry to upload the documents that we have edited with the most updated version. But, in addition, these applications do not download all the content on our computer since they work on demand.
Thanks to this operation, only the files that we edit are downloaded, files that, once edited, are automatically uploaded to the cloud in order to be available from any other device.
Applications to access the cloud
Although in the Play Store we can find applications that allow us access to a large number of cloud platforms, We will always find the most complete solution in the native application offered by the platform.
In the market we can find many storage platforms, but the most popular are those that offer us Google, Microsoft, Dropbox, iCloud and Mega (although the latter to a lesser extent).
Google Drive
If you use Google's cloud storage platform, we have 15 GB of storage completely free. To access, we must use Google Drive, an application that is installed on most devices.
With this application we can access files, download it to our device to work offline, share folders and files as well as share them with other platforms.
OneDrive
La Microsoft cloud storage platform It's called OneDrvie. Natively, Microsoft offers 5 GB of free storage space in your cloud, a space that we can expand up to 1 TB if we have contracted Microsoft 365 (previously known as Office 365).
With the Android app, in addition to access all content, we can also download it and share it with other applications.
In addition, automatically, if we previously give it the corresponding permissions, it will take care of upload all the new photos and videos that we take with our device.
Dropbox
Dropbox it was the first storage platform that became popular. As expected, the big technology companies (Google, Microsoft, Apple) quickly copied the idea and created their corresponding user-oriented platforms.
This platform only offers us 2 GB of free storage, very limited space for pretty much any use you can think of.
With the application available for Android, we can do same features with OneDrive from Microsoft, including the possibility of synchronizing all the photos and videos that we take with our smartphone.
iCloud
Apple's cloud storage platform is the only one that currently does not offer an Android app. The only method to access from an Android smartphone or tablet is by visiting the website iCloud.com.
Although it is not the best way to be able to access and interact with the files, it is the only one that Apple offers to Android users. The company will likely release a specific app over time, but there are no plans at the moment.
Mega
Mega is the platform that largest amount of GB of storage offered completely free of charge: 20GB. But, in addition, it also allows you to expand the space through the achievement program that adds an additional 5 GB.
This application It offers us the same functions as OneDrive to access files and upload a copy of photos and videos automatically.
Unlike other mobile applications, with Mega if we are going to be able to synchronize the files automatically. To do so, you need to install an additional Autosync for Mega app.
If you use any other cloud storage platform, surely there is an application in the Play Store to manage your files.
