lost files after Big Sur upgrade

I had this same issue. It appears that iCloud Drive had the Desktop/Documents folders setting toggled off during the update.

I resolved the problem by going to System Preferences -> Apple ID -> iCloud and selecting the options button next to iCloud Drive. Then turn on Desktop & Documents Folders.

In my case the files were immediately displayed after changing this setting.

So I almost had a heart attack this morning when I finally upgraded to Big Sur on my MacBook Pro. NONE of my many GB of critical work data was in the usual place. I couldn't find it on my hard drive either.

After upgrading, I had chosen the option to store everything in to iCloud... and it showed hundred of GB being uploaded, and yet I could not find my files.

So before I freaked out, I checked the "recents" list, found a document from yesterday, and chose "Show in Finder" --> and that's how I found EVERYTHING.

Maybe you can all check in this location:

iCloud Drive > Documents - (computer name)

Everything should be there.

I had exactly the same issue after the update Big Sur. All the files that were on the Desktop disappeared. Once I managed to tick the iCloud settings, the files that were on iCloud came back to the desktop, but the sub-folder and bigger files did not, since they were not linked to iCloud. My downloads folder/files were intact, so it didn't make any sense that only the desktop would have been erased due to the update. I contacted Apple Support and they were hopeless, to be honest. All I got was an apology, since my files were not backed-up and not in iCloud, they were gone. ALL MY WORK FILES GONE.

So here is what I founded out by myself and might be helpful: find a file's name that you know you had on your desktop and it's "gone" > Search it in Finder > if you are lucky as me and find it double-click it and "Show in Enclosing Folder" > this should lead you to your old "Desktop" folder > move the files from there to your new "Desktop - Local" folder.

There you go, this worked for me! I have no idea where the old desktop folder was actually located and why it wasn't showing up. Also why there are two Desktop folders anyway. I hope this help someone as well! I almost had a heart attack over Christmas.

I just upgraded to Big Sur. I didn't back anything up and couldn't find my files, resulting in near panic. After searching on the Macintosh HD for a folder name I knew (as mentioned in this thread), I found my files here: Macintosh HD/System/Volumes/Macintosh HD/Documents, Photos, etc.. I hope this helps someone. Lesson learned, back it up!

I found my Desktop and Documents folders to be in the "/Users/<username>/iCloud Drive (Archive)" folder and transferred them back.

Maybe you can all check in this location:

iCloud Drive > Documents - (computer name)

That’s where I found all of my files after the upgrade. Nearly gave me a heart attack!

This worked for me (see also above post). I just upgraded to Big Sur. I didn't back anything up and couldn't find my files, resulting in near panic. After searching on the Macintosh HD for a folder name I knew (as mentioned in this thread), I found my files here: Macintosh HD/System/Volumes/Macintosh HD/Documents, Photos, etc.. I hope this helps someone. Lesson learned, back it up!

After upgrading to Big Sur, all my data seemed to have disappeared. In my case, this was because my login folder was on an external disc.

None of the app.s could find their data, except Finder that could see them, so I knew that they were still there. It took me a long time to work out what was wrong.

it seems that during the update the external disc, when the external disc wasn’t mounted, the system noticed that it could not find the home directory and create an empty template home directory. Then when the system tried to mount the disc, it could not mounted in the usual place, and mounted it with a different name. All the applications were looking in the empty template which is why they could not find my data.

if you think this might have happened to you, you can check as follows:-

1. Open the Terminal app.
2. Type in “ls /Volumes/“

You should get something like:-

Mac-mini:~ user$ ls /Volumes
Macintosh HD      external
external 1
Mac-mini:~ user$

If you get two entries for your external drive, one of simply its name and one with “ 1” on the end, when you have this problem.

The one without “ 1” is the folder created by the Big Sur upgrade; this is where the disc should be mounted. The one with the “ 1” is where the system has mounted the disc. You cannot simply delete the directory created by the upgrade, because the system won’t let you. I only had one home directory on the disc. I noted all the user details, and deleted it. I was then able to delete are upgrade-created directory. Then I unmounted and immediately re-mounted the disc (using Disk Utility) and then had its original mount point. I then recreated the user, and it worked fine.

(It might be necessary delete the user; it might be sufficient to change its home directory to somewhere else and change it back.)

You can open Finder, Shift+Command+G and enter the absolute path, in the event that you are relying on the the symbolic paths from the Finder sidebar. e.g. /Users/some_user/Documents

I also lost files, but not all my files. I'm not sure which ones as it was on my work computer. I just know I needed my spreadsheets from Numbers at the beginning of the month and now I am lost. Every .number file on my computer was erased. There also seems to be missing some other word and excel files. I also would appreciate any help one can give.

Thank you

Being new with Mac, I freaked out when I couldn't locate my folder in "Macintosh HD" after upgrade to Big Sur. All I had to do was to search the name of my folder in the "Macintosh HD" where I had it saved before upgrade and was able to locate it that way. Luckily for me I had everthing under one folder and was easy to locate it and all my files seemed to be there. Once I located it, then I had to copy it to my desktop. Hopefully Apple comes up with a fix asap.

This worked for me also however I couldn't select the options button to show the folder like before. Once I ticked the iCloud Drive box however it showed all the documents that were uploaded on to the cloud so if I need anything I just need to go there to get it now.

thus is a great fix also...thank you!! just a couple of extra clicks!!

what the heck is Apple doing???

After updating Big Sur my desktop has disappeared. I tried the remedy by going to System Preferences->Apple ID->iCloud and selecting the box beside Turn on Desktop & Documents Folders but it didn't work. Hopefully Apple will see our problem and help us fix the issue because a great deal of information is on many of our desk tops.

I upgraded Big Sur today but fortunately I backed everything up last night to 3TB MyPassport hard drive. Unfortunately, I do not know how to the hard drive to get things put back on the desktop.

"Options" button doesn't even pop-up when I go to System Preferences->Apple ID->iCloud to even select "Turn on Desktop & Documents Folders".

I have lost important documents!!! And had to re-install drivers for printers.

Not happy with Apply right now!! And I just spend $1500 on an Apple Air for my daughter. I should have just gotten her a Microsoft product for Christmas.