How to keep Desktop and Documents Files on my Mac while clearing iCloud storage?

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How to keep Desktop and Documents Files on my Mac while clearing iCloud storage?

When I go into settings and deselect the "Desktop and Documents Folders" from being synced to iCloud, a popup comes up saying "If you continue, items will be removed from the Desktop and the Documents folder on this Mac and will remain available in iCloud Drive." This is the opposite of what I want. I am simply trying to free up space on iCloud and just want my Macs desktop contents off of there, as I don't need to access them anywhere else but my computer. I also can't deselect it and transfer the contents from iCloud over to my desktop because my iCloud storage is full, and not all of my desktop files would be saved in iCloud.

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MacBook Pro (2017 – 2020)

Posted on May 10, 2024 6:08 AM

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FoxFifth

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May 10, 2024 7:55 AM in response to CollinSmith

See the following instructions 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 completely 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.

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How to keep Desktop and Documents Files on my Mac while clearing iCloud storage?

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