newbie to MacBook, can anyone help with missing documents folder in finder?

Hi Al1ce24.

Picking up on your opening comments….

Before you try any fixes suggested in the forum, obtain an external hard disk of at least three times the storage capacity of your Mac and use it to create a Time Machine backup.

Unless specifically configured by you, your iCloud storage is simply mimicking and sharing your Mac folders across Apple devices, it is not designed to be a fail-safe backup, for that you need a Time Machine backup.

Most of the fixes suggested by users here on the forum are fairly benign but there is always a very small risk in running various built-in Apple Mac test and repair functions that your data is compromised in some way, if this should happen you will need a Time Machine backup to recover your data, and is a pre-requisite when reinstalling your macOS on a wiped drive.

You don’t need an expensive external SSD disk for Time Machine either, an inexpensive old fashioned “spinning-platter” hard-drive is more reliable for long term Time Machine backups than a SSD.

So, before trying to diagnose and rectify this problem I would strongly recommend that you make a Time Machine backup before all else, or risk losing all your important user-data on your machine.

If, as you are a new MacBook user you have little user data already on your machine that is critical if lost, try restarting your MacBook in Safe-Mode one time.

A Safe-Mode start-up may be able to automatically repair the problem causing multiple copies of the Documents folder to be created after the software update, but, as above, if your MacBook has critical user data already stored then please make a backup first!

You can read how to carry out a Safe-Mode startup here:

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201262

Simply start in Safe-Mode, wait until your user desk-top view appears, which may take up to ten minutes, wait a further ten minutes and then restart the MacBook. During the Safe-Mode startup a range of self-test and repair functions will be carried out automatically.

After a normal restart following Safe-Mode does this change the situation?

HTH.

Will.

can I also ask where I can find some MacBook Air courses to help me learn how to use it, I’m looking for a genuine beginners course do apply provide this?

Here's a good place to start: MacBook Air Essentials, or MacBook Air Essentials on Apple Books.

Al1ice, I did not answer your original question because there should certainly not be so many instances of "Documents" folders. That is not normal. Something became seriously messed up, and it's anyone's guess what went wrong. You already received some good advice, but it doesn't directly address what's wrong or how to fix it. Even I wouldn't know where to start.

If your Mac is new, and it has been less than 90 days since you bought it, I recommend contacting Apple and having them introduce you to using your Mac. That service is included in the price of a new Mac: Apple Complimentary Support.

If it has been more than 90 days, and you did not already purchase AppleCare, I recommend purchasing AppleCare: Buy an AppleCare plan - Apple Support. Help for questions like yours is included for its duration.

Even if you don't purchase AppleCare you only have to pay a $29 (US) fee to resolve any particular concern.

Apple will also be able to help you fix what certainly appears to be a mess. As valuable a resource as Apple Support Communities is, its back-and-forth nature will probably just lead to more frustration.

Start here: Get Support. Click through the options until you eventually arrive at a point where you can schedule a phone call or chat session. Apple will be able to screen share with you (with your permission of course), and they will be able to help.

Hello Al1ce24,

We see you have some questions regarding 'Documents' on your Mac, and we'd like to provide some help.

Regarding what shows up on the sidebar in Finder, you can select/deselect the desired items by launching Finder first. Then go to the Finder menu at the top left corner of the screen, and choose Preferences. In there select the Sidebar tab, and select or deselect items as desired.

For iCloud, first check to see if you're signed in at the moment. This will be in System Preferences > Apple ID. If you're signed in, you should see the Apple ID listed under your profile photo at the top left of this window. Otherwise, be sure to sign in.

Cheers.

What does Get Info show about the multiple Documents folder?

Posting a screenshot of Get Info would be useful.

Is the path to those Documents folder: ~Users>Your user>Documents?

If not what is the path(s)?