iCloud Drive - Stop Syncing Files back to all Macs

iCloud isn't a backup system, it is a syncing system, so it downloads whatever data is stored there to each computer and device signed in with the same Apple ID. There is no way to selectively download. It is an all or nothing sync.

RKGB wrote:

Ok so at the moment its not much use for extra storage space on a 128gb MacBook Air as the files have to sync on the MacBook then. What good is that? Perhaps a feature in the future then?

iCloud has been around since 2011 (longer if you count MobileMe etc), Apple have shown no interest so far in 'online backup' as you describe it, don't rely on that changing anytime soon. MobileMe/ .Mac did have a backup app, but it was ripped out of Apple's online services.

RKGB wrote:

only way to sync music would be to put the iTunes Media Folder in the cloud drive folder and set the tunes prefs to match.

That will still exist on your Mac & it sounds like a bad idea to me.

What you may need is an Apple Music or Match subscription if you want to listen to music via streaming with options to cache files locally. I'm not sure if it suits everyone but you should investigate it.

I'd also suggest you look at a real online backup solution instead of trying to to 'bend iCloud to your will', it rarely works out well.

I like this…

http://arqbackup.com/

Many others exist Mozy, Backblaze, SpiderOak, CrashPlan…

So what you are saying is that buying a terabyte of iCloud space is absolutely pointless for laptop users...

Justidude wrote:

So what you are saying is that buying a terabyte of iCloud space is absolutely pointless for laptop users...

It certainly seems that way.

I suspect there may be a few cases where a user may be able to use more space in iCloud than their Mac/ iOS device can hold but that may only be a few people, not everyone. It really depends on what you are storing.

P.S. the comments you edited out would actually make the situation worse - making iCloud free or unlimited in size would mean more users fill iCloud beyond what their devices can store. What you appear to want is a system that allows 'selective data sync'. Ask Apple for that…

http://apple.com/feedback/

Frankly there are some better choices for users who are willing to look beyond what Apple offer, https://www.dropbox.com/help/175

Sadly I utilize those other options as well but none of them offer the integration that the iCloud could if done properly. I am relegated to disabling iCloud Drive any time I need to download something so it will get rid of the backed up data on my hard drive. I don't think end users should be forced to entrust their information to yet another third party just because Apple neglected to implement a feature to prevent auto sync...

I don't think end users should be forced to entrust their information to yet another third party just because Apple neglected to implement a feature to prevent auto sync...

iCloud Drive is meant for your working documents (Keynote presentations, Numbers spreadsheets,..), not for your large media collections - music, photos, videos. For your terabytes of photos, videos, music does apple offer specific cloud solutions - use iCloud Photo Library, iTunes Match, or Apple Music. These services can be used in a way that they store the large media only in iCloud and you download them, if need be.

iCloud drive is simply a different kind of product. It's purpose is to have a central storage to keep all your important working documents in sync across all your devices - you create a document on one mac and magically it will be ready for use on your other Macs.

The documents are synced back to the Mac, so Time Machine can continually make a backup and you can always access it locally. It is meant to be used for documents that you always need to access, even if your Mac is offline.

J I don't think end users should be forced to entrust their information to yet another third party just because Apple neglected to implement a feature to prevent auto sync...

Neglected to implement a feature that prevents the very purpose of the service?

As mentioned, iCloud, like not or not, is a syncing service. An auto-sync service.

It's what it does. It is not off-device storage. There are other companies offering that service out there.

Apple does openly solicit feedback on all they do.

Please offer your point of view here >>> http://www.apple.com/feedback/

MacOS Sierra has an "Optimized Storage" option that will sync all contents of your iCloud storage to your mac unless you don't have enough space. At that point it will only download the most used files, and keep the rest in iCloud until you need it. That way you can have a much larger iCloud than physical disk space.

That way you can have a much larger iCloud than physical disk space.

But you have no control at all over the selection of files that will be optimized, and how much storage will be kept free.

If you cannot ensure, that you always will have a fast and reliable internet connection, it is very risky to rely on the "Optimize" scheme. You may find yourself with access to important documents, if you do not keep a copy of your cloud documents on an external drive for such an emergency.