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How to make an extra copy of my iCloud Drive documents?

My son stores his Desktop and Documents folders iCloud Drive. Just now, he thought he had accidentally deleted the contents of his iCloud/Documents/ folder. He hadn't (phew!) but it made us realize that the contents of iCloud/Documents apparently aren't backed up by Time Machine.


Is there a way to automatically create a backup of everything in iCloud/Documents/ and iCloud/Desktop?


Alternatively, if you accidentally delete something from iCloud/Documents or iCloud/Desktop, is there a way to recover it?

MacBook Pro 15″, OS X 10.11

Posted on May 31, 2021 1:14 PM

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Question marked as Best reply

Posted on May 31, 2021 8:48 PM

See the articles Recover deleted files on iCloud.com - Apple Support

Access iCloud Drive files from your iPhone and other devices - Apple Support

 open system preferences > iCloud and uncheck the box of iCloud Drive a pop up window appears , showing to keep a copy of documents , and remove from the Mac .

( a ) if you had clicked on keep a copy , they will be archived in home folder that can be viewed by clicking on finder in the dock , take cursor on top menu bar > Go > Home > your user name > iCloud Drive ( Archive ) .


Once again double click on empty iCloud Drive box , a circle rotates setting up the box finally gets checked , make sure always turn on iCloud Drive and desktops and documents box as checked Use iCloud Drive to store documents on your Mac and iOS devices - Apple Support

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


2 replies
Question marked as Best reply

May 31, 2021 8:48 PM in response to Andrew Shalit

See the articles Recover deleted files on iCloud.com - Apple Support

Access iCloud Drive files from your iPhone and other devices - Apple Support

 open system preferences > iCloud and uncheck the box of iCloud Drive a pop up window appears , showing to keep a copy of documents , and remove from the Mac .

( a ) if you had clicked on keep a copy , they will be archived in home folder that can be viewed by clicking on finder in the dock , take cursor on top menu bar > Go > Home > your user name > iCloud Drive ( Archive ) .


Once again double click on empty iCloud Drive box , a circle rotates setting up the box finally gets checked , make sure always turn on iCloud Drive and desktops and documents box as checked Use iCloud Drive to store documents on your Mac and iOS devices - Apple Support

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


May 31, 2021 1:20 PM in response to Andrew Shalit

Use an internet browser, log into www.icloud.com , click Account Settings near the middle top of the screen, click Advanced on the next screen, click Restore Files.


Also, if you do not have Apple menu > System Preferences > Apple ID > iCloud (in the left sidebar) > Optimize Mac Storage (near the bottom right of the window) turned on, then there is always a local copy of your iCloud Drive documents (accessed via Finder "Go" menu or Finder sidebar) and they are included in a Time Machine backup.

How to make an extra copy of my iCloud Drive documents?

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