Eric Thompson
Level 1 (24 points)
Mac OS X

Q: Documents both iCloud and Local?

My understanding was that turning on the Documents and Desktop option would copy those files/folders to iCloud while also retaining them on my Mac. When I turned it on, they no longer appear to be on my Mac, only on iCloud. What am I doing wrong?

macOS Sierra (10.12)

Posted on Sep 21, 2016 5:42 AM

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Eric Thompson

Q: Documents both iCloud and Local?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by becky_s22,Helpful

    becky_s22 becky_s22 Sep 21, 2016 6:04 PM in response to Eric Thompson
    Community Specialists
    Sep 21, 2016 6:04 PM in response to Eric Thompson
    Hi Eric,

    Thanks for using the Apple Support Communities! You aren't doing anything wrong; the behavior you are describing is correct and expected. When you turn off the Desktop and Documents option, the files are retained in iCloud Drive. You can then move them to another location on your Mac if you so wish. You may find the information outlined in the following article helpful:
     

    Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive - Apple Support


    Regards

  • by Eric Thompson,

    Eric Thompson Eric Thompson Sep 21, 2016 6:04 PM in response to becky_s22
    Level 1 (24 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 21, 2016 6:04 PM in response to becky_s22

    Thanks Becky - so the files are actually deleted off the Mac when they are first copied up to the iCloud Drive? So, the have actual copies that reside on the Mac, they need to then be copied back to the Mac? I thought from my reading that they could be on the Mac and on the iCloud both and synced together - but apparently not?

  • by braden85,Helpful

    braden85 braden85 Sep 21, 2016 6:50 PM in response to Eric Thompson
    Community Specialists
    Sep 21, 2016 6:50 PM in response to Eric Thompson
    Hi Eric,

    That is correct. They will be synced between your Mac and iCloud, but only so long as you have the Desktop and Documents option enabled. When you disable it, the files have to be moved to a single location, in this case iCloud Drive. From there, though, you can easily move them back to your local Desktop or Documents folder, or anywhere else on your Mac. They just won't be synced with iCloud Drive anymore once they are moved. 

    Cheers.

  • by Eric Thompson,

    Eric Thompson Eric Thompson Sep 21, 2016 7:02 PM in response to braden85
    Level 1 (24 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 21, 2016 7:02 PM in response to braden85

    I have the option enabled, there is no longer a Documents folder showing up in my User folder on my Mac - only in iCloud. If I try to drag the Documents folder on iCloud into my User folder in my Mac, it will not copy. If I try to make a new folder in my User folder called Documents, it tells me that that name is already in use. Is there still a Documents folder residing on my Mac that has now been made invisible by Sierra?

  • by alex_h1,

    alex_h1 alex_h1 Sep 21, 2016 7:32 PM in response to Eric Thompson
    Community Specialists
    Sep 21, 2016 7:32 PM in response to Eric Thompson
    Hi Eric,

    That is expected; so long as you have the option enabled, those folders will be located in iCloud, as outlined in the previously linked article:
     

    Turn on Desktop and Documents

    Turn on Desktop and Documents on every Mac that you want to use with iCloud Drive.

    1. From your Mac, go to Apple menu  > System Preferences > iCloud.
    2. Make sure that iCloud Drive is turned on.
    3. Next to iCloud Drive, click Options.
    4. Choose Desktop & Documents Folders.
    5. Click Done.

    In Finder, your Desktop and Documents folders move out of Favorites and into the iCloud section of your sidebar.

     

    Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive - Apple Support
     

    Regards

  • by Eric Thompson,

    Eric Thompson Eric Thompson Sep 21, 2016 8:19 PM in response to alex_h1
    Level 1 (24 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 21, 2016 8:19 PM in response to alex_h1

    So,  with the Option turned on to use the iCloud for Desktop and Documents, the documents are stored ONLY on the Cloud and not locally on my Mac?

  • by braden85,

    braden85 braden85 Sep 21, 2016 8:29 PM in response to Eric Thompson
    Community Specialists
    Sep 21, 2016 8:29 PM in response to Eric Thompson
    Hi Eric,

    Thank you for using the Apple Support Community. Given the nature of your questions and your current configuration, you may be better served by reaching out to Support for more direct assistance:
     

    Contact Apple Support


    Regards