Microsoft’s recently introduced iCloud for Windows program has already been plagued by a bug that is mistakenly sharing users’ images from their iCloud accounts with the wrong people.
A number of Windows users have complained on the MacRumors Forums that they have accidentally received another user’s photos while they downloaded their own from iCloud, and vice versa. Users have also reported receiving videos that were corrupted and displayed nothing but a blank screen with scan lines when played. Beginning on Wednesday, November 16th, when Microsoft announced the new feature, users began posting their app-related problems and solutions.
The iCloud for Windows app’s goal is to let users consolidate their media collections from disparate devices and services like iCloud Photos and OneDrive. However, it’s obvious that Apple’s iCloud storage service is the key marketing tie-in here. All of your iCloud-downloaded pictures should be neatly organized in a subfolder. On Windows 11, however, the software just makes one gallery for all uploaded photos and videos.
Not only is this program exceptional in that it can be downloaded via Microsoft’s App Store, but it also stands apart because of the company’s traditional emphasis on downloadable standalone versions of its apps.
One member on the MacRumors Forums described testing the bug on three separate computers, all of which ran Windows 10 Pro or Windows 11 Pro, and all of which sent him photographs that were not his, leading him to believe that his own images had been given to someone else.
The user noted that he had examined the issue across multiple Apple devices, including an iPad, an iPhone 11 Pro, and an iPhone 13 Pro Max, and concluded that his iPhone 14 Pro Max with HDR and HEVC turned on was the primary source of the problem. He added that he had reached out to Apple regarding the issue but had heard nothing back.
On the site, users shared stories of receiving photos of children and other unrelated stuff after using the program. The security implications of Apple’s actions have been debated at length by users, but whether or not Microsoft is aware of them is unknown.
