How to move documents from iCloud back to my iMac
I am running macOS Monterey and would like to move my files from cloud back to my iMac, but simply cannot find how it is done. Can anyone help?
iMac 27″, macOS 12.0
User profile for user:
MichaelB2019
User level:
Community Specialist
Hi Alan Pease,
Thanks for coming to Apple Support Communities for help today with iCloud Drive documents. It sounds like you want them back on your Mac.
Have a look here: Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive
"Turn off Desktop and Documents
- 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.
- Next to iCloud Drive, click Options.
- Deselect Desktop & Documents Folders.
- Click Done.
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.
What happens when you turn off iCloud Drive or sign out of iCloud
If you turn off iCloud Drive or sign out of iCloud, a new Desktop and Documents folder is created in your home folder. You also have the option to keep a local copy of your files that are in iCloud Drive. If you keep a local copy of your files in iCloud Drive, they're copied to a folder called iCloud Drive (Archive) in your home folder. You can move any files that were in your iCloud Desktop and Documents to your new local Desktop and Documents."
This article can show you how to archive almost anything you have in iCloud: Archive or make copies of the information you store in iCloud.
Have a fantastic day!