iCloud Drive Optimization vs Not?

Here is a typical System Preferences view of an iCloud Drive setup using optimization.

I think it is odd that with optimization enabled Desktop and Document folders are kept both on iCloud Drive and one's Mac unless the Mac's storage becomes inadequate, while with optimization not enabled, these folders are removed from one's Home folder and kept only on iCloud Drive (which is what happened to me when I set iCloud Drive up without enabling optimization). It seems to me that the processes would make more sense if reversed.

Do you have any thoughts about why "things" are the way they are?

Posted on Feb 18, 2020 12:51 PM

17 replies

Eric Root

Level 10

685,221 points

Feb 22, 2020 6:15 AM in response to donv_the_ghost

You are welcome.

donv_the_ghost Author

Level 9

50,979 points

Feb 21, 2020 8:49 AM in response to Eric Root

Hi léonie:

You say: "But once the folders are appearing again, now on iCloud Drive instead of in the Home folder, and all files have been downloaded again, they are working for all purposes again like before as local files." What you say is interesting as is the fact that TM is backing them up. I am not very good with terminal, but I get what your are saying. Unfortunately, in principle, the desktop and document items are not where users want them to be after the sync, although the system is still usable.

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iCloud Drive Optimization vs Not?