I cannot retrieve documents from iCloud

Question

Level 1

18 points

I cannot retrieve documents from iCloud

I searched the community for this answer. I asked my friends for assistance. No one understands how the following works:

I create word docs, text docs, Excel, etcetera (all compatible with iCloud) on my Mac OS X 10.8.1. I have iCloud set up on 3 Macs, 1 iPad3 and 1 iPhone4. How in the world do you get the documents, pictures, etcetera from the iCloud. On my iPhone, I can see some documents but I can't download or view the contents, I only see a few txt docs (.rtf) and not the other docs. The automatic setting on the Mac computers are set to save onto iCloud but I can't do anything with them once they are in the cloud. Also, the Notification center does not sync with the other devices/macs when I complete/check-off and dismiss/cancel. It gets to the point where my computers' notification center Freezes and I have to force-quit with activity monitor. What is the Dealeo?

What do I do ?

I've followed EVERY SINGLE STEP on the instructions and help-files.

I don't require the use of "Keynote", "Pages" nor "Numbers", iWork, as I purchased this in 2009 (the 2008 product) and they did no use for professional work.

My files are in the cloud and I can't get them, edit them, share them, frustrating.

Everything else SEEMS easy, except iCloud with iDevices / Macs.

I appreciate your help in advance. I'd also love to know the steps to take for the people I moved to iCloud that are now hounding me because they can't get it to work on a Windows Environment when connecting their iPads and iPhones. grrr.

Oh, P.S. I have the maximum amount of storage purchased for my iCloud. I'm only using 5 docs, so to say the least, my iCloud (moved from MobileMe) is not being used so I'm basically paying for nothing.

Purchased iCloud ! Max Storage and can't use it.

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.1), non-retina

Posted on Aug 29, 2012 2:27 PM

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Answer 1

ArtsySue

Level 1

39 points

Mar 5, 2017 1:46 PM in response to HassanG

I went to https://developer.icloud.com, and there's no "documents" for me to click on. No what...? [Of course, I see it is 4 years later, but here it is, 2017, and I can't open a textedit doc on my iPhone.] Help, someone? 😉

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Answer 2

Aug 30, 2012 12:20 AM in response to VoilaMagic

iCloud does not have a general open file storage facility like MobileMe's iDisk, or Dropbox etc.

You can only access documents stored in iCloud from within the app that created them.

So, for instance, documents saved to iCloud from within Keynote, Pages & Numbers are available only from within Keynote, Pages & Numbers running on another Mac or iOS device.

Documents saved to iCloud from within TextEdit are only available from within TextEdit running on another Mac (there's no way to load them on an iOS devices yet).

Files saved to iCloud from within Preview are only available from within Preview running on another Mac.

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Answer 3

Oct 1, 2012 12:15 AM in response to Julian Wright

I just found an rtf I accidently saved to iCloud instead the folder on my desktop to which I had planned to save it. I opened Finder, clicked All My Documents and entered one word I knew would be in the document (it was an interview subject's first name). That brought it up. I tried it again to see if I coudl find another file I lost the same way, and sure enough, there it was.

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Answer 4

Oct 17, 2012 5:43 PM in response to VoilaMagic

So no preview for iPhone or iBooks for MacBook then, huh??

I want to read PDFs (long tech manuals and such) on multiple devices. It would be nice if each knew what page you left off on like my other readers...

So right now I guess I have to save them on each device? I am using iBooks on my iPhone and preview on my MacBook air to read PDF files.

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Answer 5

VoilaMagic Author

Level 1

18 points

Jan 8, 2013 7:23 AM in response to pohlcat01

iCloud is getting easier to use. It does a LOT of collecting when it should not, however, I can find some items and some items, I cannot use on every device, multiple devices and a limit of 2 and sometimes 3 activated devices allowed... It's January 2013 and I've installed many Apps on iPhone/iPad and windows OS, iCloud is yet to be seamless, it will be. For me, I'd be assisted, greatly, when Microsoft, Adobe and Apple join together and co-exist, that way, I can use iCloud.

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Answer 6

pvonk

Level 6

13,851 points

Jan 8, 2013 8:41 AM in response to pohlcat01

Or use GoodReader (for iOS). It can access PDF or most other files from Dropbox and iCloud.

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Answer 7

HassanG

Level 1

0 points

Jan 14, 2013 7:03 AM in response to VoilaMagic

So far I don't know of a way to access these files from iOS but you can access them online while you are on icloud.com, you can go to https://developer.icloud.com/ and click on documents, you'll be able to download any documents you saved to your icloud account even if you are not a registered developer

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Answer 8

tboltgs

Level 1

8 points

Jan 16, 2013 12:02 PM in response to HassanG

access is everything ..........went this way & found my test file available to download.

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Answer 9

Jun 3, 2013 2:29 AM in response to VoilaMagic

Ha! This worked:

The solution that worked for me is at this link.

http://www.businessinsider.com/10-icloud-tips-and-tricks-2012-8?op=1

Make sure Documents and Data is selected in Icloud preferences.

Next, open the Finder window and hit Command + Shift + G. A dialogue box will open and inside. Type ~/Library. This will let you into your hidden Library Folder.

Once you are inside, scroll down the Mobile Documents. Open the one that says: com~apple~TextEdit

Viola! There are your documents! You can read them, whatever.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/10-icloud-tips-and-tricks-2012-8?op=1#ixzz2V8yFfe Zo

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Answer 10

Jun 5, 2013 7:02 PM in response to HassanG

How do you do this? when I went to the developer site, it asked for a developer password (which costs $$ to get). When I go to iCloud.com, I don't see a way to get to the developer site.

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Answer 11

Jun 6, 2013 3:17 PM in response to mightypog

When I got to

Type ~/Library

I got a message saying the folder can't be found.

Are you doing this on the mac or on the ipad?

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Answer 12

pvonk

Level 6

13,851 points

Jun 6, 2013 4:04 PM in response to Susan Epstein

This would be on a mac. Open Finder and look in your home folder for the Library subfolder. It will be grayed out, but you should be able to go into it.

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Answer 13

Jun 6, 2013 5:42 PM in response to Susan Epstein

This is on my Macbook. Here's a little series of screen shots:

This actually shows up by default once I open Finder and hit Command+Shift+G

I hit enter here, then I get my library, which is the only way I know to access that library; it doesn't even show as a greyed out folder in my Home in Finder.

Here's what I see next: