Return Desktop & Documents folder to my Mac from iCloud

When I tried to retrieve all my files from iCloud and keep them locally by going to System Prefs and unchecking the "Desktop & Documents Folder" box, I get a message that says almost the opposite what I would expect:


"If you continue, items will be removed from the Desktop and the Documents folder on this Mac and will remain available in iCloud Drive.


New items added to your Desktop or your Documents folder on this Mac will no longer be stored in iCloud."


To me that says that like Vegas, anything in iCloud will remain in iCloud, but any new files will be stored local.


Anyone know how to get all back on my local drive? Thanks.

Posted on Dec 30, 2018 6:23 PM

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Dec 30, 2018 6:31 PM in response to Charles Link

See the following from Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive - Apple Support


When you turn off Desktop &

Documents Folders, your files stay in iCloud Drive and a new Desktop and

Documents folder is created on your Mac in the home folder. You can

move files from iCloud Drive to your Mac as you need them, or select all

of your files and drag them to the place you want to keep them.


      1. From your Mac, go to Apple menu  > System Preferences > iCloud.
      2. Next to iCloud Drive, click Options.
      3. Deselect Desktop & Documents Folders.
      4. Click Done.


If you turn off iCloud Drive or sign out of

iCloud, you have the option to keep a local copy of your files that are

in iCloud Drive. Whether you decide to keep a local copy or not, a new

Desktop and Documents folder is created in your home folder. If you

choose to keep a local copy, your files in iCloud Drive are copied to a

folder called iCloud Drive (Archive) in your home folder. Then you have

the option to move any files that were in your iCloud Desktop and

Documents, back to your new local Desktop and Documents.


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Return Desktop & Documents folder to my Mac from iCloud

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