Q: desktop and documents on icloud

Does the icon look like in the picture below? That icon means that the file or folder in "ineligible" (you see that text if you hover your mouse above the icon) to be synchronized to the iClould. For example in my laptop, it does not synchronize Microsoft User Data to the iCloud. Not sure about the reason.

If that is the case, it means that those files are available only on your local hard disk but not in the cloud. You can check this by opening your iCloud Drive at www.icloud.com. You should not see those files there.

My iCloud icons have a downward arrow not a cross through them (and if you hover over the icon it says 'In iCloud'). But, no, you can't download them while off-line. Tried that. And something is definitely choking the file transfer. Some folders are not displayed in the Finder window if you look through the Desktop or Documents folders in the iCloud.

I think there are two alternatives. If you go to System Preferences -> iCloud -> iCloud Drive Options, there is following selection. If you enable this, your Mac will automatically delete some old files from your hard drive, but only if your hard drive starts to become full. Those files are available only in the cloud. That functionality tries to save your disk space. Disable it and the automatic synchronization will not delete files from your hard drive.

Another option is that those files with the downward arrow icon are something that you have dragged and dropped to the iCloud. Those have not been synchronized there but you have manually uploaded them. The synchronization does not automatically copy files from the cloud to your computer. It works only the other way around. The only thing the synchronization does is that it copies your Documents and Desktop to the iCloud Drive in the respective folders.

Are those files with the downward arrow icon either in the Documents folder or the Desktop folder?

And I do see the files through iCloud.com but not through the Finder on my Mac mini. So they seem to be in the iCloud but not on my mini.

Are those files in the Desktop or Documents folder if you check them in iCloud.com?

Last question first: it is mostly all about the Desktop & Documents folders with the icon, but the icon with a downward arrow can occur in other iCloud folders too.

Yes, I realized that earlier: the Optimize Mac Storage may be the issue but I didn't want to deselect it before things 'settled'.

In fact things are still settling ... files are being Uploaded and Downloaded.

I think the issue is, in parts, the speed of the ISP, the gigabytes of data I am trying to move to the iCloud, and my ancient 2010 Mac mini!

If I have understood it correctly, Desktop and Documents are the only folders that the system automatically synchronizes so that same files are both on your local hard drive and in the cloud. If you see the icon there, the reason should be the automatic cleaning functionality ("Optimize Mac Storage") that deletes old files from your hard drive to make you more room.

Also, my understanding is that if you create new folders to your iCloud Drive, I mean other than Desktop and Documents, those other folders and files stored on those folders are only in the cloud because there is no automatic synchronization for other folders. If you want them to be synchronized to your local hard drive, I recommend moving those folders under the Documents folder.

Yes, I think that is what is happening.

Thank you! I will let things proceed and see what happens ... I have one 1 GB out of 43 GB uploaded so far!

It is just a long process ... two days to Upload 1 GB ... looks like it will take a long time to 'settle'!

My Parallels which is running XP and other MS programmes will not upload to iCloud and just stalled for 4 days. I then turned iCloud desktop off and dragged the files back but parallels and all its content was not able to be found. Not until I turned on iCloud desktop on again did it all come back but I'm back to stalled upload to iCloud. This is crazy Apple and not good enough.

How is it you are expecting Parallels to leverage new Sierra based iCloud features?

In what context?

I expect every item in desktop and documents to upload to iCloud and why would I not. 

If you are using Windows, you will be subject to the features of iCloud for Windows (requires Windows 7), which does not include, at this time, the ability to sync the Desktop and Documents folder(s) which even El Capitan does not provide. It's an exclusive feature of macOS Sierra.

This is why I asked. I was not clear on your expectations. Perhaps I am still not. Are you trying to store the Parallels "machine" on iCloud?

At some point, Parallels may provide an update to allow full access to Sierra's new features. It does not look like they have done that yet. They may even find a way to use Siri.

In the meantime, you have complete access to plain ole' iCloud Drive only from Windows 7 or better.

I don't need them in iCloud and would bring them back but they are some were in-between and when I did tried to bring them back from iCloud they would not open. I'm now worried if I try to move them at all I'll lose the lot.

Sorry, I am not sure what "them" are/is.

Did you try to place the "machine" on iCloud? What size is that file?

I believe the machine file is a complex one that should not be tinkered with.

It's possible the various OSX file attributes for your "machine" have been altered in some way. I would think the OSX filesystem ownership values get changed during a sync to prevent changes being made to open files.

Is iCloud still syncing those files? If so, be patient until that process completes.

If not, call Apple Support for guidance.

Di you have a Time Machine backup of your Mac? Maybe rolling back to pre-Sierra will be your best option.

Reporting on the progress ... I'm up 7 Gb of around 42 GB ... so maybe it won't be many more days. Most importantly I think I can get access to all my files ... you just have to wait a bit when you select a folder having the iCloud icon and the downward arrow in it. Really, Apple probably went back too far to try to support old hardware with my 2010 Mac mini. And, it is working as hard as it can to push the data through the little straw to the iCloud (Upload is slow with the 'he who must not be named' ISP provider). Basically, I am happy because the purpose was to centralize all my data ... no more different Document folders across my Macs. Although, I like 'universal' data ... I do like to use a few different apps on each machine.