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how to back up macbook pro on icloud

how to back up macbook pro on icloud

Posted on Mar 25, 2023 8:59 PM

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Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Mar 26, 2023 1:54 PM

You can sync your files to iCloud so they are available to any other device connected to iCloud, but file syncing & iCloud is not a backup even though at first glance it may appear so. When syncing files to the cloud, if you make a catastrophic edit or actually delete the file, then that change or file deletion will be carried over to every other copy on every other device syncing to iCloud. You cannot recover the file.


A backup like Time Machine allows you to recover an older copy of the file in the case of an accidental edit or accidental deletion of the file.


Unfortunately Apple's documentation is very misleading and makes it seem you can backup your Mac computer using iCloud, but this is not the case. You can backup your iPhone or iPad using iCloud, in addition to actual file syncing.


If you want to enable file syncing using iCloud, then here is an Apple article to help you:

Sign in to iCloud on all your devices - Apple Support


If you want to backup your Mac computer, then like the others have already mentioned, you just need to reference the article linked at the top left of this page to learn about Time Machine backups.


You want to make sure you also back up any items you place in the cloud as well since terms & conditions can change at any time, or the cloud may not be available when you absolutely need access to a particular file.

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Question marked as Best reply

Mar 26, 2023 1:54 PM in response to spiritbead1

You can sync your files to iCloud so they are available to any other device connected to iCloud, but file syncing & iCloud is not a backup even though at first glance it may appear so. When syncing files to the cloud, if you make a catastrophic edit or actually delete the file, then that change or file deletion will be carried over to every other copy on every other device syncing to iCloud. You cannot recover the file.


A backup like Time Machine allows you to recover an older copy of the file in the case of an accidental edit or accidental deletion of the file.


Unfortunately Apple's documentation is very misleading and makes it seem you can backup your Mac computer using iCloud, but this is not the case. You can backup your iPhone or iPad using iCloud, in addition to actual file syncing.


If you want to enable file syncing using iCloud, then here is an Apple article to help you:

Sign in to iCloud on all your devices - Apple Support


If you want to backup your Mac computer, then like the others have already mentioned, you just need to reference the article linked at the top left of this page to learn about Time Machine backups.


You want to make sure you also back up any items you place in the cloud as well since terms & conditions can change at any time, or the cloud may not be available when you absolutely need access to a particular file.

how to back up macbook pro on icloud

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