I'm trying to stop syncing my documents and desktop because i don't have enough space on icloud, i want to store everything on my macbook pros ssd, but when i tryed to stop syncing i was scared it'll delete everything

So i want to make sure after i stop syncing my documents desktop files on icloud i still have them on my MacBooks ssd

MacBook Pro (M2 Max, 2023)

Posted on Nov 16, 2023 4:21 AM

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Posted on Nov 16, 2023 8:29 AM

Another option if you want to completely turn off iCloud Drive is also described in Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive - Apple Support


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.


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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Nov 16, 2023 8:29 AM in response to lineout17

Another option if you want to completely turn off iCloud Drive is also described in Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive - Apple Support


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.


Nov 16, 2023 8:27 AM in response to lineout17

To turn off iCloud Desktop and Documents, see the following from Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive - Apple Support


Turn off Desktop and Documents

  1. From your Mac, choose Apple menu  > System Settings. In macOS Monterey or earlier, choose Apple menu  > System Preferences. 
  2. Click Apple ID, then click iCloud.
  3. Next to iCloud Drive, click Options.
  4. Deselect Desktop & Documents Folders.
  5. 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.

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I'm trying to stop syncing my documents and desktop because i don't have enough space on icloud, i want to store everything on my macbook pros ssd, but when i tryed to stop syncing i was scared it'll delete everything

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