what happens to files stored in iCloud when you back up to an external hard drive
how do you backup files stored in iCloud to an external hard drive. Do you have to download them first
iMac 27″, macOS 10.13
Question marked as
Best reply
borgogno wrote:
how do you backup files stored in iCloud to an external hard drive. Do you have to download them first
The iCloud Drive folder on your Mac is what is also stored on iCloud. Backing that folder up will effectively back up your iCloud content stored in that folder.
Keep in mind that "iCloud" is a term for several types of data being stored on iCloud.
Photos, reminders, Contacts, Notes etc. are all stored in other places on your Mac.
Desktop and Documents are also synced between iCloud and your Mac if you enabled that. If you also optimized Desktop and Documents, some files may not be physically present on your Mac at any given time.
Backing up iCloud content to an external drive is not a simple switch to turn on. Nor should it be. iCloud content is always in iCloud until you remove it.