I keep getting messages that my iCloud storage is almost full...when I open my finder on my iMac, the first prompt is to TURN ON the iCloud Drive? So, does that mean... that my photos app on my iMac is NOT backed up to iCloud, ...And, that only my other devices are filling my iCloud storage?
iMac 21.5″, macOS 11.0
iCloud Drive and iCloud Photos are two different things.
To turn on iCloud Photos, see information in Set up and use iCloud Photos - Apple Support
If you aren't sure whether your photos are synced with iCloud, log into www.icloud.com and go to the Photos there. Any photos you see there are iCloud Photos.
Also see:
Apple offers iCloud Backup for iPhones and iPads but not for Mac computers.
It is possible to sync data from a Mac to iCloud if you turn on those options (e.g., iCloud Photos, iCloud Drive including the Desktop & Documents option). Syncing has some of the benefits of a backup (and the benefit of being offsite) but is not the same as a backup. Major differences include the fact that not everything on your Mac can be synced and the fact that if you delete something, accidentally or otherwise, there is only a limited time period (30 days in most cases) during which it can be recovered.
Also see the Apple article: How to back up your Mac - Official Apple Support
And more information on syncing in:
Set up and use iCloud Photos - Apple Support
and
Access and manage your files in iCloud Drive - Apple Support
and
Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive - Apple Support
iCloud Drive and iCloud Photos are two different things.
To turn on iCloud Photos, see information in Set up and use iCloud Photos - Apple Support
If you aren't sure whether your photos are synced with iCloud, log into www.icloud.com and go to the Photos there. Any photos you see there are iCloud Photos.
Also see:
Apple offers iCloud Backup for iPhones and iPads but not for Mac computers.
It is possible to sync data from a Mac to iCloud if you turn on those options (e.g., iCloud Photos, iCloud Drive including the Desktop & Documents option). Syncing has some of the benefits of a backup (and the benefit of being offsite) but is not the same as a backup. Major differences include the fact that not everything on your Mac can be synced and the fact that if you delete something, accidentally or otherwise, there is only a limited time period (30 days in most cases) during which it can be recovered.
Also see the Apple article: How to back up your Mac - Official Apple Support
And more information on syncing in:
Set up and use iCloud Photos - Apple Support
and
Access and manage your files in iCloud Drive - Apple Support
and
Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive - Apple Support
Thank you so much! It wasn't the perfect answer, but put me on the right track. After several hours of review, I found that somehow certain periphials...phone and ipad were somehow being accessed and multiple browsing files were being uploaded as screenshots (very long, scrolling screenshots of Facebook and other sites) to my icloud, even though I didn't want icloud on for anything. But thank you! I have cleaned out the wicked files, transferred others. Took hours, but I think I now have a clean slate.
...NOW to double check that iCloud is turned off on all of my devices!
Reduce iCloud Storage if iCloud is not even active
