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User profile for user: aunimilne
aunimilne Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

Documents folder moved to iCloud in Big Sur

I have a new laptop with Big Sur installed. In previous versions I kept my work in Users/Username/Documents, however it seems the documents folder has been relocated to iCloud.


I don't wish to store things in the cloud since space is limited plus my internet is not always reliable and I would like to be able to continue working if I am offline. Is it as simple as creating a new documents folder myself in my username directory?


I have reviewed the community notes on turning off syncing for iCloud Drive and will do so once I feel I've set things up correctly and won't lose any work.

MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 10.14

Posted on Jan 30, 2021 5:51 AM

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User profile for user: FoxFifth
FoxFifth
User level: Level 10
468,987 points

Posted on Jan 30, 2021 9:30 AM

See the instructions below 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.

  1. From your Mac, choose Apple menu  > System Preferences. Click Apple ID, then click iCloud. On macOS Mojave or earlier, choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, then click iCloud.
  2. Next to iCloud Drive, click Options.
  3. Deselect Desktop & Documents Folders.
  4. Click Done.

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.


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User profile for user: FoxFifth
FoxFifth
User level: Level 10
468,987 points

Jan 30, 2021 9:30 AM in response to aunimilne

See the instructions below 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.

  1. From your Mac, choose Apple menu  > System Preferences. Click Apple ID, then click iCloud. On macOS Mojave or earlier, choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, then click iCloud.
  2. Next to iCloud Drive, click Options.
  3. Deselect Desktop & Documents Folders.
  4. Click Done.

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.


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Documents folder moved to iCloud in Big Sur

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