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User profile for user: M0ndayTuesday
M0ndayTuesday Author
User level: Level 1
27 points

Why can't I find my Documents folder on my Mac favorites and how can I restore it?

I mistakenly moved 'Documents from my Mac to iCloud a while ago. I am trying to reestablish 'Documents' in the Finder Sidebar of my Mac. There is no 'Documents' folder in Mac HD\Users\'UserName'. When I try and create a 'Documents' I am told that one already exists and/or cannot be created because Mac OS won't permit it as a folder of this name is required by the system.


I have searched my Mac and cannot find a folder called 'Documents' in the Mac HD\Users\UserName.


What is causing the Mac to tell me this folder already exists when searching & Spotlight cannot find it? How do I re-establish 'Documents' in Favorites?


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iMac 24″, macOS 14.6

Posted on Sep 16, 2024 6:40 AM

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4 replies
User profile for user: Barney-15E
Barney-15E
User level: Level 10
117,262 points

Sep 16, 2024 9:34 AM in response to M0ndayTuesday

Thank you for the reply. My problem is that I want the ‘Documents’ to be on my Mac not in the iCloud. So, if it is hidden by Finder, how do I unhide it?

Disable the Desktop & Documents in iCloud.

Take note of the information provided in the confirmation dialogs. You can either transfer from the iCloud folder or you can have it create an "Archive" folder in your home folder and move them from there. You will end up with empty Desktop and Documents folders inside your Home folder.


In both cases, nothing has moved from your Mac (unless you turned on Optimize Storage). All that has happened is macOS created hard links to the files in either the iCloud Drive folder or in that Archive folder. Moving them will not download them from iCloud, just create another hard link wherever you move them. That will happen almost immediately.

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Why can't I find my Documents folder on my Mac favorites and how can I restore it?

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