Windows 10: iCloud for Windows: Unable to create a directory for iCloud Photos Error 5

I've searched high and low for a solution to this error. I had given up after over a year of trying to resolve it, on Windows 10 and Windows 11. I have some free time, so I used Hyper-V to setup a test bed and found the root of the issue. I've been through every single community post here, in the Dropbox Communities, and in the Apple Communities. I'm happy to report that I've uncovered the cause, but can't find a solution. When I install iCloud for Windows from the Microsoft Store on a clean Windows 11 machine, the ap

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icloud photo library

Hello Don,

There may be several reasons why your iCloud photos are not showing up on your wife's user account. To assist you better with your concern regarding syncing iCloud, kindly answer the questions below:

• When did this problem start?
• Is your iCloud up to date?
• Have you tried syncing iCloud while logged in to your wife's account?

You may refer to this article for steps on how to setup iCloud on Windows. Kindly make sure that you are logged in to your wife's account when performing the steps:
How to set up and use iCloud Photos on Windows 10.

We are looking forward for your reply.

 

Prevent iCloud Photos Folder Being Auto-Created?

I have iCloud for Windows v7.0.1.210 on Windows 10 version 1703. I only enabled iCloud Drive and web bookmark sync features. But somehow the iCloud Photos folder is created automatically every time I open the iCloud setting after I deleted it manually, especially annoyingly it got added to my Quick access list inside File Explorer.

BTW, anyway to remove the iCloud icon from system tray on windows 10?

 

iCloud Photos getting Error 5 on a new Windows 11 PC with Intel CPU

I am trying to get iCloud for Windows, installed from Microsoft Store, working on a new Windows 11 PC, but I am getting an error popup window, "Unable to create a directory for iCloud Photos. Restarting your computer might resolve the issue. (Error 5)".

I've found some past questions in this forum regarding this particular error, but those were for Windows 10 and the working resolution was to download a different version of iCloud for Windows from elsewhere outside the Microsoft Store. It appears there isn't any other websites hosting iCloud for Windows anymore, particularly for Windows 11, so I am stuck.

More specifically, the error message popup is displayed when I click on the "iCloud" app icon in the background app tray at the bottom-right of Windows 11 task bar for the very first time after iCloud for Windows starts, then clicking on "Open iCloud Photos" link. Once I dismiss this error popup dialog panel (by clicking on the "OK" button), subsequent clicks on the "Open iCloud Photos" link do nothing (i.e., no error popup window and silently fails to take any action).

Other functionality of iCloud for Windows that worked on my old Windows 10 seem unaffected by this issue with iCloud Photos (although I haven't used this new PC extensively at this point so there may be other issues I may find later).

If the past issue for Windows 10 was due to Microsoft Store hosting a buggy version of iCloud for Windows, I wonder if the issue has been fully addressed for Windows 11 for this app.

Has anyone else observed this issue with your Windows 11 PC and found a resolution? I would like to learn how to fix this issue. Thank you for your help!