I don't want to use icloud. I can I turn if off and keep my files on my Mac?
I don't want to use icloud. How can I turn if off and keep my files on my Mac?
MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 13.5
Question marked as
There is no requirement to use iCloud Drive or iCloud Photos.
If you have the Desktop and Documents option of iCloud Drive turned on and want to turn it off but leave iCloud Drive on for occasional use of syncing specific files, see the following from Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive - Apple Support
Turn off Desktop and Documents
- From your Mac, choose Apple menu > System Settings. In macOS Monterey or earlier, choose Apple menu > System Preferences.
- Click Apple ID, then click iCloud.
- Under Apps Using iCloud, click iCloud Drive.
- Turn off Desktop & Documents Folders.
- 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.
Or if you want to complete turn off iCloud Drive, see the following from that same support article:
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.
If you want to turn off iCloud Photos, see: How to turn off iCloud Photos - Apple Support