Hi there
At the moment Desktop etc sync to my iCloud drive but I only want to use it for photos. As my desktop is used for work it fills up very quickly, meaning my iCloud is next to useless. I have upgraded iCloud but it's still an issue as I work with video files.
Surprisingly for Apple, I can't find a simple way to unselect which folders sync with iCloud.
Could someone please tell me how?
Thank you
All the best
Chris
There are two different services -- iCloud Photos and iCloud Drive. If you only want photos and videos in the Photos app on your Mac to sync you would turn on iCloud Photos but not iCloud Drive. See: Set up and use iCloud Photos - Apple Support
For files, if you turn on the Desktop and Documents option of iCloud Drive then all files in the Desktop and Documents folders sync to iCloud. There is no option to sync only specific folders. If you don't want all Desktop and Documents folders to sync, you can turn off the Desktop and Documents option and then only folders and files in the iCloud Drive folder will sync. You can access that folder via the Finder sidebar or via the Finder "Go" menu item.
Other information in: iCloud Drive FAQ - Apple Support
If you decide to turn off Desktop and Documents, read the following instructions first from Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive - Apple Support
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.
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.
There are two different services -- iCloud Photos and iCloud Drive. If you only want photos and videos in the Photos app on your Mac to sync you would turn on iCloud Photos but not iCloud Drive. See: Set up and use iCloud Photos - Apple Support
For files, if you turn on the Desktop and Documents option of iCloud Drive then all files in the Desktop and Documents folders sync to iCloud. There is no option to sync only specific folders. If you don't want all Desktop and Documents folders to sync, you can turn off the Desktop and Documents option and then only folders and files in the iCloud Drive folder will sync. You can access that folder via the Finder sidebar or via the Finder "Go" menu item.
Other information in: iCloud Drive FAQ - Apple Support
If you decide to turn off Desktop and Documents, read the following instructions first from Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive - Apple Support
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.
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.
Great. Thanks for this. Shame about limited syncing options but I've at least set it to just photos
Thanks again for your help
All the best
Chris
Choosing folders to sync to idrive / icloud
