Michael Spencer
Level 2 (266 points)
Apple TV

Q: What is iCloud Desktop in simple words?

I have to admit that I feel like a complete dunce with this iCloud desktop thing. I really appreciate the notion of having my Documents folder and Desktop available from my iPhone, but I'm seriously confused and I am far from a beginner.

 

I have plenty of space on my iMac and lots of memory on iPhone (128g) so space isn't an issue.

 

So is it the case that instead of looking for documents locally that now everything is on the web? And as I have an upgraded iCloud account it's not even close to big enough so how to I tell what's where?

 

Then I go over to About This Mac and click on storage and I am totally confused as to what it is trying to show me.

 

So I was hoping someone could explain the concept? When i need to share documents I have been using Dropbox. But Apple's approach seems too opaque and ham-fisted. I just feel like I'm giving up control of my computer and since I've been sitting at a Mac for 30 years it's unsettling.

 

There are plenty of explanations on iCloud and your mac, on your iPhone, etc. But nothing explaining the Big Picture.

iPhone 6s Plus, iOS 9.3.1

Posted on Oct 10, 2016 10:31 AM

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Michael Spencer

Q: What is iCloud Desktop in simple words?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by gail from maine,

    gail from maine gail from maine Oct 10, 2016 10:37 AM in response to Michael Spencer
    Level 7 (26,985 points)
    iCloud
    Oct 10, 2016 10:37 AM in response to Michael Spencer

    If you are referring to iCloud Drive (which is not the same as iCloud Desktop), then it is a sharing service that will make all documents and files that are stored in the drive available on any device or computer that is signed into the same iCloud account with iCloud Drive turned on. To see the contents of the Drive you would click on the iCloud Drive icon, or select it from the Finder on a Mac.

     

    As for storage, the storage you are looking at (based on the Path you provided) lists the amount of memory that everything you have on your Mac is taking up.

     

    Cheers,

     

    GB

  • by think.different,

    think.different think.different Oct 10, 2016 10:59 AM in response to Michael Spencer
    Level 3 (958 points)
    Desktops
    Oct 10, 2016 10:59 AM in response to Michael Spencer

    The files are still stored locally, unless you have also turned on the Optimised Storage options. In this sense it is just like dropbox, the files ore on your mac but also in the cloud.

     

    If you go to turn on Optimised Storage, About This Mac > Storage > Manage > Store in iCloud, then this will mean that some files may then be only in the cloud when your macs space gets low – not great as these files will not be backed up to TM or any cloned drives you have set up.

  • by gail from maine,

    gail from maine gail from maine Oct 10, 2016 6:05 PM in response to Michael Spencer
    Level 7 (26,985 points)
    iCloud
    Oct 10, 2016 6:05 PM in response to Michael Spencer

    Take a look at these two articles. They explain both the Desktop & Documents concept as well as the Optimize Storage functionality:

     

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

     

    Free up storage space on your Mac - Apple Support

     

    Best of luck,

     

    GB