Desktop folders suddenly only in iCloud unless I click them to load them onto my computer!

I have Mojave. I have been storing my Desktop folders both in iCloud and on my hard drive, with no issue. But suddenly they're not actually there--I have to click them to download them from the cloud to have them actually on the computer. I did not change any iCloud settings at any point.


In the iCloud settings in System Preferences, in Options, the box next to Desktop Documents & Folders IS checked, and the Optimize Mac Storage box IS checked, as various people on here have been told to do when this happens to them. What caused my Desktop files to suddenly be living only in the cloud?? I am not out of hard drive space.

Posted on Jan 14, 2020 3:47 PM

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2 replies

Jan 14, 2020 7:01 PM in response to leroydouglas

Thanks, leroydouglas. I have read the articles at those links already, and I understand what they’re talking about. I’ve already done the things they say to do.


What I’m trying to figure out is what suddenly made my files suddenly no longer be on my hard drive and only in iCloud. It all changed within a few minutes, without me having changed any settings—and how I can get it all back on my hard drive (not in iCloud) at once.


Anyone know what’s happening?

Jan 14, 2020 5:44 PM in response to greenholly

greenholly wrote:

I have Mojave. I have been storing my Desktop folders both in iCloud and on my hard drive, with no issue. But suddenly they're not actually there--I have to click them to download them from the cloud to have them actually on the computer. I did not change any iCloud settings at any point.

In the iCloud settings in System Preferences, in Options, the box next to Desktop Documents & Folders IS checked, and the Optimize Mac Storage box IS checked, as various people on here have been told to do when this happens to them. What caused my Desktop files to suddenly be living only in the cloud?? I am not out of hard drive space.


Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive - Apple ...



How to Restore Your Desktop and Documents After Disabling ...


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Desktop folders suddenly only in iCloud unless I click them to load them onto my computer!

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