Over half my total storage in iCloud is used by documents and files that I do not want there. I only want them locally on my iMac and in my local time machine backup. How do I delete them from iCloud without having the deleted from my iMac.
iMac 21.5″, macOS 10.12
Hello MikeLV,
Welcome to Apple Support Communities!
If we understand your post correctly, you have documents and files in iCloud that you do not want there and only want them stored locally on your Mac and want to know how to delete them without them deleting from your Mac. We're happy to help!
"Turn off Desktop and Documents
What happens when you 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."
For more information about Desktop and Documents, check out this article: Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive
Let us know if you have any questions.
Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.
Take care!
Hello MikeLV,
"Download files
Changes you make to a downloaded file appear only on your computer unless you subsequently upload the file to iCloud Drive.
in the iCloud Drive toolbar.Upload and download files from iCloud Drive on iCloud.com
Thanks!
I am running Sierra MacOS 10.12.6. I did what you suggested to turn off Desktop and Documents. However I cannot figure out how to move files from iCloud Drive back to my Mac. Drag and drop from the iCloud Drive at iCloud.com doesn't work. Copy and Paste are not options available. the iCloud Drive folder in Finder on my iMac shows Desktop and Documents folders but there is nothing in them. The article you referenced tells how to move things to iCloud but not how to move them back out of iCloud.
Suggestions?
How to remove files from iCloud without deleting them from the device
