tekfranz

Q: MacOS Sierra Backup Files Moved to iCloud?

If I use iCloud on my MacBook Pro with Mac OS Sierra will I be able to backup files that are uploaded to iCloud using Time Machine?

 

I understand that files will be moved from the Documents and Desktop to iCloud as I run out of space & and a shortcut left behind. How will this work with Time Machine? Will Time Machine backup the whole file or just the shortcut?

MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Mid 2014), iOS 9.3.3, MacOS Sierra

Posted on Aug 8, 2016 6:44 AM

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Q: MacOS Sierra Backup Files Moved to iCloud?

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  • by macjack,

    macjack macjack Aug 8, 2016 6:49 AM in response to tekfranz
    Level 9 (55,709 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 8, 2016 6:49 AM in response to tekfranz

    Hi tekfranz, Time Machine will backup the "whole" file.

  • by G35Driver,

    G35Driver G35Driver Sep 24, 2016 9:52 PM in response to macjack
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Sep 24, 2016 9:52 PM in response to macjack

    Has Apple documented this anywhere? There's at least one other tech site that says the opposite - that any icloud-synced files that have been removed from your local folder (desktop/documents) by the "optimized storage" feature won't be backed up by time machine, as time machine only backs up local files.

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Sep 25, 2016 12:51 PM in response to G35Driver
    Level 9 (72,941 points)
    iTunes
    Sep 25, 2016 12:51 PM in response to G35Driver

    macjack's post was pre Sierra, so it was correct when posted.

  • by G35Driver,

    G35Driver G35Driver Sep 25, 2016 1:22 PM in response to Eric Root
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Sep 25, 2016 1:22 PM in response to Eric Root

    The question title explicity calls out Sierra, and the question description mentions "Documents and Desktop" which is a Sierra-specific facet of iCloud. Macjack then responds specifically to the original question, stating that the "whole" file will be backed up, even after Sierra decides that the file should be removed from the local drive and leaves an iCloud reference shortcut.

     

    Of course the question and MacJack's answer were before the public release of Sierra, but I'm still wondering, how does Time Machine handle these files that exist only in iCloud?