Syncing Offline Files with iCloud Automatically

Question

Michael9009 Author

Level 1

137 points

Syncing Offline Files with iCloud Automatically

How should I set up iCloud to work as follows:

On my Mac Studio I would like to have a copy of all files in, say, Documents stored offline on the hard drive in order to be able to back them up automatically on external hard drives using Time Machine.
At the same I would like my Documents synced with iCloud so they are all accessible online on my other devices (MacBook Air, iPad, iPhone).
If I modify and change a file offline on my Mac Studio, it would sync the changes to iCloud automatically.
If I modify and change a file online on my other devices, iCloud would sync the changes to the files on the Mac Studio's hard drive as well.

Mac Studio (2022)

Posted on Apr 2, 2024 2:11 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

muguy

Level 10

93,560 points

Apr 2, 2024 2:52 PM in response to Michael9009

thats exactly how iCloud works (except for your designation of offline and online, which is moot). Be sure to deselect the option to optimize at system settings > Apple ID > iCloud so that all of your documents remain on your Mac at all times.

Reply

Answer 2

Michael9009 Author

Level 1

137 points

Apr 2, 2024 3:49 PM in response to muguy

Thank you! This is good to hear. To recap, on my Mac Studio (where a copy of the files must remain on the Mac, and Time Machine will continue to back them up automatically on my external discs):

System Settings -> Apple ID -> iCloud -> iCloud Drive -> iCloud Drive Sync this Mac -> ON
System Settings -> Apple ID -> iCloud -> iCloud Drive -> Desktop & Document Folders -> ON*
System Settings -> Apple ID -> iCloud -> Optimize Mac Storage -> OFF**

* I understand that turning ON this option would copy the files from the Mac to the iCloud, and not move them.

** This option could be set to ON if enough space on the hard drive is available (in my case 88% is free space).

On my MacBook Air (which would access the files in the cloud, but they will not be stored locally):

System Settings -> Apple ID -> iCloud -> iCloud Drive -> iCloud Drive Sync this Mac -> ON
System Settings -> Apple ID -> iCloud -> iCloud Drive -> Desktop & Document Folders -> OFF
System Settings -> Apple ID -> iCloud -> Optimize Mac Storage -> OFF or ON

Is my understanding and approach correct for what I would like to achieve?

Reply

Answer 3

muguy

Level 10

93,560 points

Apr 2, 2024 3:54 PM in response to Michael9009

Michael9009 wrote:

Thank you! This is good to hear. To recap, on my Mac Studio• (where a copy of the files must remain on the Mac, and Time Machine will continue to back them up automatically on my external discs):

System Settings -> Apple ID -> iCloud -> iCloud Drive -> iCloud Drive Sync this Mac -> ON

• System Settings -> Apple ID -> iCloud -> iCloud Drive -> Desktop & Document Folders -> ON*

• System Settings -> Apple ID -> iCloud -> Optimize Mac Storage -> OFF**

* I understand that turning ON this option would copy the files from the Mac to the iCloud, and not move• them.

** This option could be set to ON if enough space on the hard drive is available (in my case 88% is free space).

If optimize is off, all of your files remain on your Mac and can be backed up to Time Machine. If optimize is on, files may be offloaded to an iCloud only status if space is needed on the Mac. Files offloaded into iCloud only would not be backed up in Time Machine.

On my MacBook Air (which would access the files in the cloud, but they will not be stored locally):

System Settings -> Apple ID -> iCloud -> iCloud Drive -> iCloud Drive Sync this Mac -> ON

• System Settings -> Apple ID -> iCloud -> iCloud Drive -> Desktop & Document Folders -> OFF

• System Settings -> Apple ID -> iCloud -> Optimize Mac Storage -> OFF or ON

Is my understanding and approach correct for what I would like to achieve?

Your MacBook Air will also sync all files locally. If you have optimize turned on/off, then the same as above applies. Whether you also elect to sync desktop and documents is up to you.

Any file in iCloud will always try to sync to your Mac.

Reply

Syncing Offline Files with iCloud Automatically

Similar questions