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Keep documents on computer

I'm not always able to access the internet. How do I keep copies of my documents on my computer as well as iCloud?


MacBook Pro 13", macOS 10.14

Posted on Feb 25, 2019 7:01 PM

Reply
Question marked as Apple recommended

See this article https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT206985

Turn off Desktop and Documents

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.


Click on finder and take cursor on top menu bar > Go > Home > your user name > iCloud Drive ( Archive ) .

Posted on Feb 25, 2019 9:58 PM

2 replies
Question marked as Apple recommended

Feb 25, 2019 9:58 PM in response to kyrike

See this article https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT206985

Turn off Desktop and Documents

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.


Click on finder and take cursor on top menu bar > Go > Home > your user name > iCloud Drive ( Archive ) .

Feb 26, 2019 2:27 AM in response to kyrike

if you want all documents to be stored locally as well as in iCloud, do not use the "Optimize Mac Storage" option. Then iCloud Drive will be only a syncing service with iCloud, but not remove files from your Mac. This is explained in the second part of this document: Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive - Apple Support (scroll down to: Store your files in iCloud and save space on your device):

On your Mac, go to Apple menu   > System Preferences > iCloud. Next to iCloud Drive, click Options and turn off Optimize Mac Storage. 


With "Optimize Storage" off, all files will have local copies on your Mac, and you can access them using the iCloud Drive icon in the sidebar of the Finder window, even if you are off-line.


Keep documents on computer

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