A new iMac, just for my photography

Question

kevin-john Author

Level 1

20 points

A new iMac, just for my photography

Hello, I have purchased another iMac that I will use mainly for my photos.

On the new computer I bought do I have to sign in to the iCloud ?

I really don’t want to as I do not want the information on the older computer transferred to the new one.

I want to choose those files manually.

Also, I do not need a password, I only want my photos on the new iMac plus the ability to use the WIFI for scrolling the internet. TIA

For information: I did set up the new one using my Apple I.D. and now I must reformat the new one and start all over again with it, (it obviously transferred everything onto it).

This is a task I really do not wish to do(reformatting), but I have looked on U.Tube for some help and hopefully that will go according to plan.

iMac 27″ 5K, macOS 13.7

Posted on Nov 13, 2024 3:38 AM

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Answer 1

AlWeir

Level 4

3,170 points

Nov 13, 2024 5:42 AM in response to kevin-john

First thing you do is back your photos up to a external SSD.

Backup routines are convenient but not the cats meow. Better having a local copy if iCloud loses you data or you can't access because of some technical glitch.

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Answer 2

Nov 13, 2024 9:38 AM in response to kevin-john

kevin-john wrote: …If I take away (switch off) the wifi on the new computer, then reformat it and not sign in on the cloud, would that be a way around the problem of the automatic transferring the information between the 2, which is the basic problem.

Sure-- there's no reason you have to connect to iCloud or to sign with an Apple lD at all.

Or you can sign in with your Apple ID, but never connect to iCloud.
Or, you can make a new Apple ID and sign in to iCloud and not be connected with your other ID stuff at all.

iCloud is primarily for synchronizing with other devices so you can see your pictures and stuff on your phone and your iPad. If you don't want that, then you don't need it.

Re-formatting seems to me to be pretty useless. You could make a new administrator account,

Add a user or group on Mac - Apple Support

and delete the old one.

Delete a user or group on Mac - Apple Support

That will get rid of all the stuff that's connected to that original account.

Keep us updated…

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Answer 3

kevin-john Author

Level 1

20 points

Nov 13, 2024 7:16 AM in response to AlWeir

Thanks for the advice, I'm backing up now to an external drive.

However, I signed in to the new computer using my iCloud account and the relevant password.

Therefore both computers are on the icloud.

I now need to remove those files on the 'new computer' -(because I need it completely clear of all other information except my photos)- doing so (as I'm on the cloud) they will also be deleted from my main computer (the original) obviously not what I want to do.

My Question is: If I take away (switch off) the wifi on the new computer, then reformat it and not sign in on the cloud, would that be a way around the problem of the automatic transferring the information between the 2, which is the basic problem. Thank you once again

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