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ImaScrapperGirl
Level 1 (4 points)
Desktops

Q: Documents file disappeared from computer when I signed up for iCloud?

My Documents file disappeared off my sidebar under Favorites on my iMac and is now only under iCloud. The Desktop did not disappear and is in both places. This makes me very anxious that it appears to have been removed from my computer. I only wanted to add space for my pictures to iCloud. I checked and my pictures are NOT even all there! The iPhoto Event folders are there, but no pictures.

 

When I uncheck Documents and Desktop (see below) from iCloud under System Preferences, it says that the documents will be "Visible in iCloud only"  Now what? I don't want them there. I want them on my desktop.

 

I want to UNDO iCloud. I don't want my documents to be only on iCloud. Just my desktop. I only use my desktop. I have an automatic b/u to an external hard drive. Plus, since my pictures did not all go to iCloud, that doesn't help me either and don't want to waste money so I just want my PhotoStream to go between my phone and computer.

 

Please help!

 

Please help!Screen Shot 2016-10-10 at 7.54.17 PM.pngScreen Shot 2016-10-10 at 7.55.02 PM.png

iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10.5)

Posted on Oct 10, 2016 5:05 PM

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ImaScrapperGirl

Q: Documents file disappeared from computer when I signed up for iCloud?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by zinacef,Helpful

    zinacef zinacef Oct 10, 2016 8:57 PM in response to ImaScrapperGirl
    Level 5 (5,471 points)
    Applications
    Oct 10, 2016 8:57 PM in response to ImaScrapperGirl

    Can you uncheck iCloud Drive, move the documents from within iCloud Drive to your Desktop and recheck iCloud Drive if needed?

  • by ImaScrapperGirl,

    ImaScrapperGirl ImaScrapperGirl Oct 10, 2016 6:15 PM in response to zinacef
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Oct 10, 2016 6:15 PM in response to zinacef

    I did that and it backed everything to an iCloud Archive file. But now the Desktop icon is gone from My Favorites and still no Documents icon. Ugh. This is so frustrating.

  • by zinacef,Helpful

    zinacef zinacef Oct 10, 2016 8:57 PM in response to ImaScrapperGirl
    Level 5 (5,471 points)
    Applications
    Oct 10, 2016 8:57 PM in response to ImaScrapperGirl

    On the iCloud website, there should be a Desktop & Documents folder.  Do you see it?

  • by ImaScrapperGirl,

    ImaScrapperGirl ImaScrapperGirl Oct 10, 2016 8:50 PM in response to zinacef
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Oct 10, 2016 8:50 PM in response to zinacef

    Somehow I signed up for the iCloud Drive.

     

    Desktop & Documents:

     

    I found a FAQ about what happens to D & D folders. The Desktop & Documents folder was on iCloud.com and under the iCloud Drive in my Finder. I turned off the iCloud Drive. Fortunately, and as suggested. I archived it before I shut it off because if you don't, it won't save back to your desktop. Yes, it is still in the iCloud which I imagine will show back up on the desktop if you reactivate iCloud Drive. Since I don't want to use iCloud for my documents I will delete them off iCloud Drive which should fix that problem.

     

    Photos:

     

    Now I can't seem to do anything with my photos. I have PhotoStream turned on on my iPhone, but it won't let me turn it on again under iCloud on my Mac. The User Name is greyed out and won't accept my password.

     

    Thanks for helping!

  • by ImaScrapperGirl,

    ImaScrapperGirl ImaScrapperGirl Oct 10, 2016 8:57 PM in response to ImaScrapperGirl
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Oct 10, 2016 8:57 PM in response to ImaScrapperGirl

    I went into Photos and rechecked PhotoStream. Photos are syncing from my phone now. Sure was a lot of work to fix this. Thanks for helping!

  • by gail from maine,

    gail from maine gail from maine Oct 10, 2016 9:11 PM in response to ImaScrapperGirl
    Level 7 (26,985 points)
    iCloud
    Oct 10, 2016 9:11 PM in response to ImaScrapperGirl

    This is what the iCloud Drive with Desktop & Document support article says about what happens to those folders when you turn on that option for iCloud Drive:

     

    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. If you add a second Mac Desktop, you'll find those files in the Desktop folder in iCloud Drive. A folder is created with the same name as your second Mac.

     

    To turn them off, follow these instructions:

     

    Turn off Desktop and Documents

    When you turn off Desktop and Documents, your files stay in iCloud Drive and a new folder is created on your Mac. You can move files from iCloud Drive to your Mac as you need them, or select all of your files and drag them to the place you want to keep them.

    1. From your Mac, go to Apple menu > System Preferences > iCloud.
    2. Next to iCloud Drive, click Options.
    3. Deselect Desktop & Documents Folders.
    4. Click Done.

     

    Here is the link to the support article: Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive - Apple Support

     

     

    iCloud Photo Library is not the same as iCloud Drive. When you turn on iCloud Photo Library, it uses your iCloud storage directly. When you turned it on, it should have started uploading your photos from your Mac to iCloud. You can see if any have uploaded by going to iCloud.com on your Mac, and then click on Photos to view your uploaded photos. Here are some support articles for iCloud Photo Library:

     

    iCloud Photo Library - Getting Started

     

    iCloud Photo Library Help - Apple Support

     

    iCloud Photo Library FAQ - Apple Support

     

     

    Make sure you have enough available iCloud Storage to store your photos in the iCloud Photo Library: >System Preferences>iCloud, you can see the bar at the bottom which will show you how much available iCloud Storage you have. If you want to upgrade you storage, click on the Manage button.

     

    Cheers,

     

    GB

  • by zinacef,

    zinacef zinacef Oct 10, 2016 9:48 PM in response to ImaScrapperGirl
    Level 5 (5,471 points)
    Applications
    Oct 10, 2016 9:48 PM in response to ImaScrapperGirl

    You're most welcome!  Glad to hear that part of your issue has been resolved.  For the other part of your issue, you seem to already be in great hands -- Gail.

     

    Good luck!