disconnect MacBook saved docs from iCloud

I don't want any of my MacBook saved items on iCloud. I back up my stuff onto a separate hard drive. But I can't seem to disconnect my saved documents with out deleting them everywhere. How do I just save on my computer, separately from cloud?

MacBook Air 15″, macOS 14.1

Posted on Feb 16, 2024 11:16 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Feb 16, 2024 11:22 AM

For information on turning off iCloud Desktop and Documents or all of iCloud Drive, 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. Under Apps Using iCloud, click iCloud Drive. 
  4. Turn off 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.


or if you want to completely turn off iCloud Drive, see the following from that same support document:


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.

1 reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Feb 16, 2024 11:22 AM in response to JHmosse

For information on turning off iCloud Desktop and Documents or all of iCloud Drive, 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. Under Apps Using iCloud, click iCloud Drive. 
  4. Turn off 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.


or if you want to completely turn off iCloud Drive, see the following from that same support document:


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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disconnect MacBook saved docs from iCloud

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