Using iCloud Drive to store files - but where are they actually stored?

Question

Using iCloud Drive to store files - but where are they actually stored?

Really basic question. I started using iCloud to store my Documents & Desktop (default options in the Sys Pref panel). It then started to whirr away storing my files in the cloud.

I then decided I wanted to think more about what was stored in the Cloud (i.e. exclude some stuff), so tried to stop the process by unticking the iCloud Drive tick-box.

However it then came up with a dialogue suggesting that if I did stop, I would LOSE files from my Mac mini....

So my question is, when signed up to iCloud Drive, are the files in iCloud and I just see links on my Mini - or (as I thought) are they on both Mini and in iCloud and they are just synchronised all the time? If I stop the process (which I took to be SYNCHRONISING the files and not MOVING them to iCloud Drive) why would it assume I wanted to delete from my Mini and only keep them in iCloud Drive?

Mac mini, macOS 11.2

Posted on Mar 11, 2021 12:31 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Brittany1416

Community Specialist

Mar 12, 2021 11:13 AM in response to Alasdair Mackie1

Hi Alasdair Mackie1,

We understand that you have some questions on iCloud Drive, and we'd like to provide some information that should help.

"With iCloud Drive, you can securely store your files in iCloud and access them on iCloud.com and your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, and Windows computer. You can also have all the files in the Desktop and Documents folders on your Mac stored automatically in iCloud Drive. That way, you can save files right where you usually keep them on your Mac, and they become available on iCloud.com and all your devices."

You can find more information about iCloud Drive, and how it works here: What is iCloud Drive?

Just to clarify, it sounds like you saw that alert after attempting to turn off iCloud Drive, correct?

"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."

For more information, please check out the "Turn off Desktop and Documents" section of this page: Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive

Take care!

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Answer 2

Mar 12, 2021 12:03 PM in response to Brittany1416

Thank you. I was confused about whether my documents would ONLY be on the iCloud Drive or on my Mac mini as well. I now understand that it's the former, and as this is not what I want, I'll back-out as you mention in the last sentence.

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Using iCloud Drive to store files - but where are they actually stored?

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