Apple iCloud Drive instructions not matching reality

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Aram from CA Author

Level 1

9 points

Apple iCloud Drive instructions not matching reality

Hi,

2021 MacBook Pro, Monterey 12.6. I want to back up my hard drive on iCloud.

These instructions look simple enough.

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

But when I enable the iCloud Drive checkbox in Preferences, I do not get the Options button. And then when I uncheck it, I get a dialog about deleting files, so it has started to do *something*. But without Options to choose from, I don't know what.

What am I missing?

Thank you,

Aram

MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 11.6

Posted on Nov 5, 2022 4:32 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

muguy

Level 10

83,119 points

Nov 5, 2022 5:15 PM in response to Aram from CA

Two things:

You cannot back up your Mac to iCloud. You can sync documents using iCloud Drive.
the option button is to the right of iCloud Drive in settings. The instructions you reference are correct

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Answer 2

Aram from CA Author

Level 1

9 points

Nov 5, 2022 6:15 PM in response to muguy

Thank you, muguy. To your second point, I see the Options button to the right of some other features (relay, hide my email). But I was correct in stating that no Options button appears next to iCloud drive. At least, not that I can see. I do not understand why, or else I am missing something basic.

Any guidance welcome,

Aram

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Answer 3

muguy

Level 10

83,119 points

Nov 5, 2022 6:22 PM in response to Aram from CA

You cannot backup the full contents of your Mac to iCloud, just the files in iCloud Drive, desktop & documents, and any apps through which you save files into iCloud. Backing up to Time Machine backs up everything allowing for a full restoration of the current state of your Mac.

Are you using the most recent version of MacOS? You may have an older version that did not support desktop and documents.

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Answer 4

Aram from CA Author

Level 1

9 points

Nov 5, 2022 7:33 PM in response to muguy

Thank you. I get it now (and I use Time Machine).

Thanks for your question, which turned out to be a heads up. I am running Monterey (just bought this laptop earlier this year). Apple has not been bugging me to update OS, and until now I was unaware of Ventura. Thanks!

Aram

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