How can I get my documents out of iCloud?

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Level 1

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How can I get my documents out of iCloud?

I do not have iCloud on my computer, but at some point I signed up for iCloud on my iPad and iPhone without realizing that my computer can't work with iCloud (OS 10.6.9). When I realized I couldn't sync contacts and calendars by using iCloud, I decided just to withdraw from iCloud. As soon as I cancelled the iCloud account on my iPad, I lost all of my documents from Pages, Numbers and Keynote. In order to get them back I had to sign on to iCloud again. I feel as though I'm dealing with Big Brother. How can I get my documents out of iCloud, turn it off and just keep what I want in my computer and on my iPad?

All I can think of is to make sure I have all those documents on my computer, then remove them from my iPad, then close the iCloud account, and then put back the ones I want to have on my iPad. Is there some easier way just to get my documents back on my iPad? I use them a lot when I'm traveling, and never had any problems about this until pesky iCloud entered my life. Thanks very much for any assistance.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8), Bought it in 2009

Posted on Oct 9, 2012 7:01 PM

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Answer 1

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Demo

Level 10

166,501 points

Oct 9, 2012 7:39 PM in response to Barbara Hunt

I can retrieve documents from iCloud.com on my iMc at work that is running OS X 10.4.11. I do it all the time.

Log into iCloud.com and the iWorks icon. In the next window you can click on Pages, Keynote or Numbers at the top. When you click on Pages - all of your Pages files will appear in the browser window. Tap on any of the documents and you can download them to the Mac.

You can do the same thing in the Keynote and Numbers sections of your iCloud account - you do not need to be running Lion or Mountain Lion in order to do this using a browser on the Mac. You may get a "unsupported browser" warning depending on what browser you use (Safari is the best choice for this) but it will work anyway, just ignore the message.

BTW ... The documents should be on your iPad in the Pages, Keynotes and Number apps anyway. If they are, you can use file sharing to get them into iTunes and from there yoy can save them to your desktop on the Mac.

When I copy and paste this from a Google search, this does not show up as a valid link in blue type, but you can tap or click on the "iOS: About File Sharing" heading and it should open the kb article anyway.

iOS: About File Sharing
support.apple.com/kb/HT4094
Jul 6, 2011 – Using iTunes 9.1 or later, you can copy files between your computer and apps on your iOS device that support File Sharing (for example, Pages ...

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Answer 2

Barbara Hunt Author

Level 1

40 points

Oct 9, 2012 8:24 PM in response to Demo

Thank you. This is amazing. I didn't know about iCloud.com, even though i have been looking up info about iCloud and trying to find out more info. Finding my documents there was very reassuring. However, I remain confused about the various ways to sync files between my computer and my iPad and iPhone. All I really want to sync are my calendar and my contacts. I never wanted anything from iPages, Numbers or Keynote to be in iCloud, and in fact, I was happy syncing calendars and contacts wirelessly between iTunes on my computer and my other devices. I never keep anything in iPages, Numbers or Keynote that I don't also have in my computer. Is there some reason for me to use iCloud that I'm not perceiving?

One more question: I see that my contacts and calendars are there in iCloud, but they are not entirely accurate. I would assume this is because somehow they are getting there from my iPad or iPhone but not from my computer. Is it correct that that is how they get there?

Thanks again for your help.

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Answer 3

Demo

Level 10

166,501 points

Oct 10, 2012 4:26 AM in response to Barbara Hunt

Barbara Hunt wrote:

One more question: I see that my contacts and calendars are there in iCloud, but they are not entirely accurate. I would assume this is because somehow they are getting there from my iPad or iPhone but not from my computer. Is it correct that that is how they get there?

As far as I know this is correct. You would have to be running Lion 10.7.5 to sync contacts and calendar events from the Mac.

If you don't use any apps that take advantage of syncing files across devices such as Pages, Keynote and Numbers, then whether you use iCloud or not is up to you. Remember though that Find My iPad does work with iCloud if that matters to you.

You may have read through both of these but just in case you haven't ....

http://www.apple.com/support/icloud/

http://help.apple.com/icloud/

Most of this is going to be applicable if you are running Lion or Mountain Lion but you can scan over it anyway.

You might want to post a question or two in the iCloud on my iOS device forum of the ASC as well. There are a few very active participants in that forum who really know their stuff. You will see their usernames in the Top Participants in the Community box on the right.

https://discussions.apple.com/community/icloud/icloud_on_my_ios_device

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Answer 4

Barbara Hunt Author

Level 1

40 points

Oct 10, 2012 7:34 AM in response to Demo

Thanks very much for all of your assistance. It has been very helpful.

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Answer 5

Demo

Level 10

166,501 points

Oct 10, 2012 7:42 AM in response to Barbara Hunt

You're welcome. Like I said, you can get better information about iCloud in the site that I referenced for you above. Winston Churchill (yes ... That is his username) is quite knowledgeable about all things iCloud and he is a wealth of information on iCloud if you need more help.

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