How do I set up new iMac without using iCloud?

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Level 1

43 points

How do I set up new iMac without using iCloud?

Just got a new M3 iMac, and upgraded the MacOS to Sonoma 14.1.1. Love it, generally.

Here's the rub: I don't want any of my data uploaded from my iMac's drive to iCloud.

I do want to be able to download apps from the Mac App Store and use FaceTime, so I will need to be signed in to my Apple ID. I don't need Find My, or iMessage, or iCloud email, and mostly don't want my data in iCloud.

How do I do this?

The Mac nags me to sign in to iCloud. I wish I could set up iCloud preferences to not upload data before I log in. But it appears that before I can set up any iCloud settings, I must first sign in to iCloud which immediately starts the data copying process. Even if I hurriedly toggle off all the iCloud options, that will take a period of time (say one minute), and by then some of my data is already in the cloud. It seems silly to have to race against my new machine to make it stop as soon as possible.

Please advise. Specific step-by-step appreciated. Thanks.

iMac (M3, 2023)

Posted on Nov 8, 2023 4:21 PM

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Answer 1

muguy

Level 10

92,372 points

Nov 9, 2023 2:48 AM in response to Red Ed

You need not use iCloud Drive. System settings > Apple ID > iCloud. Toggle on/off whatever you wish to sync/ not sync

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Answer 2

Red Ed Author

Level 1

43 points

Nov 9, 2023 12:30 PM in response to muguy

Thanks. I did log in to iCloud and immediately toggled everything off. Not sure if I was fast enough though. Now I get a red (1) on my System Settings icon in the Dock, which leads to this notice:

Is this true, that Health, Maps and password data are already in iCloud? How do I delete that now? What happens if I hit the Resume Data Sync button (clearly I don't want to sync data)? How do I stop the nag messages?

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Answer 3

muguy

Level 10

92,372 points

Nov 9, 2023 5:36 PM in response to Red Ed

Is this true, that Health, Maps and password data are already in iCloud?

Only if you enabled the data to sync in your system settings on one of your devices.

How do I delete that now?

Turn off iCloud sync.

What happens if I hit the Resume Data Sync button (clearly I don't want to sync data)?

Your data will sync through iCloud to all of your devices.

How do I stop the nag messages?

I'm not sure if those eventually go away. I've always used iCloud to sync my devices.

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How do I set up new iMac without using iCloud?

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