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OS Catalina - Can't access files.

My Mac upgraded to Catalina recently and created the partition for 'security' reasons in the HD and I can't access any files in the 'Macintosh HD - Data'.


• In Utilities it indicates that the data is actually in the 'Macintosh HD - Data' partition. (see pic)

• When I click 'Desktop' in the sidebar - it gives me the message "The desktop cannot be found"


I have lost access to a lot of recent work that was on my desktop prior to the 'upgrade'.


I have no back-up of my desktop.


Any suggestions would be super appreciated.


Thanks


Bryan


MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 10.12

Posted on Jan 12, 2021 12:27 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jan 12, 2021 8:45 AM

Bryan_Watt wrote:

Hi, thanks for the reply

"created the partition for 'security' reasons in the HD" - I read that the partitioning was done by Apple as a new 'security' feature in Catalina.

• There is nothing much significant in the relocation folder.
• My working files were on my desktop before the upgrade - Now they are missing and the desktop cannot be modified in any way.
• The files are no doubt in the Macintosh HD- Data partition - but there is no way for me to access them.

Thanks..


I suspect iCloud Drive got turned on by default— I would look there.



iCloud drive missing desktop and documents


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


Set up iCloud Drive - Apple Support


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


How to find your Documents and Desktop folder contents after ...


 


Finder>Go>Go to Folder>copy & paste:

~/iCloud Drive (Archive)

iCLoud Drive (Archive) - here you should find all your files 

Similar questions

3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jan 12, 2021 8:45 AM in response to Bryan_Watt

Bryan_Watt wrote:

Hi, thanks for the reply

"created the partition for 'security' reasons in the HD" - I read that the partitioning was done by Apple as a new 'security' feature in Catalina.

• There is nothing much significant in the relocation folder.
• My working files were on my desktop before the upgrade - Now they are missing and the desktop cannot be modified in any way.
• The files are no doubt in the Macintosh HD- Data partition - but there is no way for me to access them.

Thanks..


I suspect iCloud Drive got turned on by default— I would look there.



iCloud drive missing desktop and documents


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


Set up iCloud Drive - Apple Support


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


How to find your Documents and Desktop folder contents after ...


 


Finder>Go>Go to Folder>copy & paste:

~/iCloud Drive (Archive)

iCLoud Drive (Archive) - here you should find all your files 

Jan 12, 2021 4:18 AM in response to Bryan_Watt

Bryan_Watt wrote:

My Mac upgraded to Catalina recently and created the partition for 'security' reasons in the HD and I can't access any files in the 'Macintosh HD - Data'.

• In Utilities it indicates that the data is actually in the 'Macintosh HD - Data' partition. (see pic)
• When I click 'Desktop' in the sidebar - it gives me the message "The desktop cannot be found"

I have lost access to a lot of recent work that was on my desktop prior to the 'upgrade'.

I have no back-up of my desktop.
https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/80e077d1-52c6-4a42-810c-32da487469ae
https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/6b773150-309a-414b-b9c0-c044204517ba

Any suggestions would be super appreciated.

Thanks

Bryan



What does this mean "created the partition for 'security' reasons in the HD" What I see in your Disk Utility looks normal for macOS Catalina.




Were you files/directories always left in the default location— or did you customize and move them outside your User/Home Folder at some point? This would be an issue.


Your Macintosh HD - Data Volume is certainly showing the ~168 GB of used storage(?)


ref: About the read-only system volume in macOS Catalina - Apple ...

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210650



Was there anything significant in the relocated file folder upon upgrade?



Jan 12, 2021 4:52 AM in response to leroydouglas

Hi, thanks for the reply


"created the partition for 'security' reasons in the HD" - I read that the partitioning was done by Apple as a new 'security' feature in Catalina.


• There is nothing much significant in the relocation folder.

• My working files were on my desktop before the upgrade - Now they are missing and the desktop cannot be modified in any way.

• The files are no doubt in the Macintosh HD- Data partition - but there is no way for me to access them.


Thanks..

OS Catalina - Can't access files.

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