Saving documents on the hard drive... not iCloud

Thank goodness, a sane person who thinks all of this is insane. I tried to say that in another post while trying to figure out how to use iCloud and my desktop. When I found out it wasn't possible to not use my Desktop and Documents folder in a user-friendly way and mentioned on that post that it seemed strange, I was insulted by one of the posters.

If you want to use iCloud, but not have everything uploaded, you can create a file in Home (name it what you wish) that does not have to be uploaded to iCloud, however, that means that you must move EVERYTHING in your Desktop and Documents Folders to it. Think about that. Since most of my files are in both/either of those folders it's a big move. Yes, it is as big a mess as it sounds. Thank goodness for Tembo because Spotlight can't seem to find anything.

So here is my really sad story regarding this unbeknownst-to-me move to iCloud. CenturyLink has unbeknownst-to-their-affected customers recently downgraded us from "high speed" internet of 10mb download (rarely achieved, but great for where we are) to 1.5mb (rarely achieved, and I get about .22-.32 upload speeds) without telling us. In the meantime, they were still charging us for 10mb. (But, this is another beef better suited for the BBB. We've been offered a "good-for-life" price that is more than what we were paying for the 10mb). The reason this comes up here is that while I was pulling my hair trying to figure out why my computer was working so slowly and so hard, part of the reason was that iCloud was uploading my Desktop and Documents Folders. Okay, I've had a Mac since 1998. It took years to be trained to use those folders so there are a few files there - over 30 GB's. After I figured out that I had, basically, dial-up internet and the iCloud wanted all of my file and had to buy more iCloud storage to accommodate it, I said, "Nope." It's painful enough waiting for a 5 GB website to load, I decided that I wasn't going to wait for my files to load to iCloud anymore. After I turned off iCloud it took about seven days to finally download, as in get back, MY files. What a mess.

I figure that if there was ONE System Folder, not both Desktop and Documents, that uploaded files to iCloud I'd be a happier camper and happy to pay for more iCloud storage. I guess that's the job of Box, Evernote, SugarSync, lest-we-forget Dropbox, et al.

The cloud need not be, but is the bane of my computing existence. Not everyone has access to decent internet and, therefore, has to keep information on their computers (don't even get me started on imap email). My job, firstly, does not (it's illegal) let me access the internet at work and, secondly, in the rare instance that it would be legal to access the internet, I am likely to be in an area where there is no service.

To 'farlanghn': I used to be a Mac fan, but I am becoming indifferent. Sloppy software execution, multiple cross-device issues, holding our information hostage, perilous OS upgrades - sounds like I could be using that other operating system. Darn.

Hello LAKOOK, I believe the answer you are looking for is in the discussion that I will insert at the end of my post. Read FoxFifth's solution. It worked for me. The reason that I "ranted" is that it was not working by dragging a folder from the desktop to the sidebar.

I also believe that you can do this without turning off iCloud for the Desktop and Documents Folders. If you do have it on you and want to have those files and folders on your computer rather than in iCloud you will have to manually, yes manually, move them from iCloud to your new folder. If you turn it off you have to manually move them from iCloud to your computer.

Here is the link: Re: add new folder not icloud

Hope it works for you.

I believe that you have to turn off iCloud, then download all of those files and folders that it took off your computer and put them back on your computer. When you create a folder that is for files and folders NOT going to iCloud it must be done using these steps Re: add new folder not icloud Then you can flip on the iCloud switch on for Desktop and Documents should you choose to use it. I wish I had known this before turning it on as I now have a huge mess of duplicates that I don't have time to mess with. Fortunately I have a hard drive that can handle it all (the cloud is not that useful to me). Even though I'm a newbie to these forums, I hope this helps; I've had a Mac and only a Mac since 1988.

I have the same question. When I followed your instructions, it gave me this message: "If you continue, items will be removed from the Desktop and the Documents folder on this Mac and will remain available in iCloud Drive." That sounds like the OPPOSITE of what I want to accomplish.

I just followed this and said keep a copy. However, I can not find an iCloud archive anywhere. All my files are now deleted and don't know how to get them back. Please help as some of the files were very important. Was just trying to save files on my hard drive and now iCloud Drive.

I would agree when it comes to how the iCloud Drive wants to manage how I use my documents on my laptop - it's not convenient. I assume this setup is Apple's way of locking people in to using their cloud storage system, which will require that more cloud space be purchased, and that if we want "our" documents, then we have to stay in the iCloud Drive ecosystem. The idea of being able to access files from multiple devices is fine, but as far as I can see, the iCloud Drive is a "service" that is dictating how and where I want to store information. If someone has a clearer understanding of the iCloud Drive system, I would welcome your comments.

My response about a rant was not to you, but to a different poster. It was actually an "accidental" response to a post from a previous page. Sometimes the system pretends to go to the last page but really doesn't....(eyeroll).

Anyway, just be aware, that you do not have to use the Desktop & Documents feature, and unless you have multiple Macs that you want to have Desktop & Documents sync'd, then you probably shouldn't have it turned on. I have never turned that option on. I have one Mac. I want complete control over what is on my iCloud Drive, so the only thing that gets there is stuff that I save or copy there.

Best of luck,

GB

How can I create folders on imac or mac? I want this folder to be somewhere else other than desktop or documents. (I would like to save documents under a different folder than desktop or documents - otherwise they will be automatically saved to icloud drive.)

thanks!

same as always - use the finder to create folders where ever you want them - nothing has changed except the addition of a new, iCloud capability and its use is optional

LN

Oh, I will admit there's a lot about the Mac systems I do not comprehend. Thank you for your response. My frustration has come from having been told several options I could follow to remedy my current computer problems. I've spent time on the phone with three different Apple support members, read many online articles regarding the iCloud Drive, and have a good friend that is very technically savvy with PC's and Macs, and still I find that I go down one road to find that the "answer" didn't work. Or in the case of one Mac tech support phone person, they didn't know the answer.

I'm attempting to connect all of the dots when it comes to how and where files are stored, and accessed, on today's Macs, and how to best proceed with storing (and preserving) files in the future.

Here's my story. I have a lot of family photos and videos that have been amassed over the last 10 years. In an effort to backup those items during that 10 year period, I have used a Western Digital hard drive, a 1TB Time Capsule, a 2TB Time Capsule, Dropbox, iCloud, and now the newest member to the collection is a LaCie 2TB hard drive.

And with every iPhone upgrade, yes, I have moved along many of those pictures to the larger drives on the next phone. The iPhone is another issue for another thread. It is currently only using 42 GB of an available 2 TB. And since the iPhone has used 238 GB, with only 13 GB remaining, I'll have to deal with that issue soon. But the phone is not contributing to the overall iCloud Drive/MBP space issues, as far as I can tell.

For some, that may be overkill, on backing up photos and videos on so many devices. But I very much want to preserve those photos and videos of my kids growing up. I haven't mentioned the hundreds of 8 mm and Hi-8 mm tapes I have to transfer to another format.

After much reading, and many conversations about the iCloud Drive, it would appear that I mistakenly viewed the iCloud, and iCloud Drive, as being suitable repository options for photos and videos. Along the same lines, some people would say that, like the iCloud, Dropbox should only be used to transfer files, and not for long term storage of files, photos, or videos. Others I have talked with, and articles I have read, indicate that "Dropbox is another option for storing photos". So which is it?

Sticking with just the iCloud issue, my understanding is that the iCloud is merely for syncing, or mirroring, what is on your laptop. In the case of photo storage, iCloud Drive leaves "shadow" files, as one source called them, on your laptop, while retaining the original files on the cloud.

Obviously I have not properly utilized, or understood, the syncing capabilities of the iCloud Drive, because my 2017 500 gig MBP, purchased in April of this year, is already down to 5.67 GB of remaining space. According to the System Preferences Finder pane, which I access upon looking at the Storage issues of the laptop, I have:

9.38 GB under Applications

186.45 GB under Documents

251.4 "MB" under iCloud Drive

200.66 GB under the iPhone iOS Files

672.8 "MB" under iTunes

2.58 GB under Mail

3.31 GB under Music Creation

94.06 GB under Photos

8.6 "MB" under Trash

One of my questions is, why, under "this" particular display of "Documents", are there 186.45 GB worth of photos and videos?

And why are many of those photos and videos duplicated under the "Pictures" heading?

On this screen, I am given the option to "sort through documents and permanently erase files you no longer need".

If I make an "archival copy" of what is on the cloud when given the option, what are the ramifications for the internal hard drive on the MBP? I would assume that 5 GB are not enough for the backup, is it?

I would like to make sure that I have transferred all of the photos and videos to an external hard drive before deleting anything. But yet I do not wish to keep transferring "duplicate" files of pictures and videos to external storage drives.

Why are there photos and videos under Documents on this pane? Have I not properly designated where photos and videos are to "go"? Shouldn't they end up under Pictures? And yet, the file size between Documents and Pictures are not the same, even though both areas have a lot of the same photos and videos in them.

Staying with the Storage reader, under System Information for this Mac, I have a reading of:

200.66 iOS Files

186.45 of Documents

94.06 of Photos

Should I be trying to off load the iOS files of the phone onto an external hard drive?

What type of duplication is going on between the photos and videos that are under Documents, with those that are under Pictures? There are obviously duplicates.

I do not understand how the iCloud Drive can "mirror" your laptop without filling up the laptop internal hard drive.

What I have started to do is offload photos from the 2017 MBP to the LaCie hard drive, with the plan to erase the photos from the MBP's internal hard drive once that process is complete. At least that should free up 94 GB.

After that I am planning to turn off the iCloud Drive, unless I can find a person, or an article, that can clarify how to use the system. The fact that I see others "having the same question" on so many of these discussion boards, regarding iCloud Drive and many other issues, tells me that Apple's goal to streamline their various products, for ease of use by the masses, does not always translate.

I appreciate any insights, or links to articles, that folks would like to provide. I really would like to become more versed with Mac products, but with kids and work, there's not always time to immerse oneself in all things Mac. And then when I attempt to, I find way too many "experts" offering advice that may, or may not, be applicable. Thanks in advance.

Thank you Gail for the information. This may be one of those newbie computer questions, but since I cannot find anyone online that has answered it yet, I will ask it here. If I create a "new" folder on my MBP, to transfer the contents of my current "Documents" folder (at 186 GB in size), won't I need to have internal hard drive space, for that new folder, that is equal in size to the current file in Documents?

That is, if I am looking to preserve, on my laptop - not on the iCloud Drive - what is currently stored in the Documents folder (photos and pictures), before I ultimately turn off the iCloud Drive?

Hi GB--you seem very knowledgeable--can I follow-up with a question on this?

If I try to make a file on the computer it seems that no matter where I put it, it ends up in the iCloud--i.e. I can't seem to make a local file...everything seems to be defaulting to the iCloud...so how do I do what you recommend, above?
Thanks for your kind advice,
L

I understand that you need to make changes to system preference as you mention above to stop saving to icloud. I am a newbie to mac so cannot, even with reading articles and this convo, understand how to create a file on my hard drive to start moving docs from the cloud! I am great on windows, but this is not intuitive. Can you please walk me through creating a file folder on my hard drive? Many thanks!

Hello Gail. This is the second time this has happened to me in that I find a post and look for replies but they are not there. Then when I am done with my "rant" as you will call it, suddenly there are a large number of replies.

I do apologize for my post that you will see somewhere here. You do have some great information on how iCloud works, even though it doesn't make it any more logical. I do wish I could have found your post before going through what I went through this winter. Creating that file prior to everything being taken to iCloud would have saved hours, days, of frustration.

It my post there is a suggestion for just that, how about a folder that lets us upload the files we want in the cloud. Even if there was choice of either "Desktop" or Documents."

Also, it is important to note that the file created must not be on the Desktop or in Documents and that you have to go to "Home" to create it. If there had been a dialog box prior to turning on iCloud explaining what was about to happen to my files and folders in Desktop and Documents, and that I could create a folder to keep that from happening, well, I'd be happier. And, I'd like to have faith in my OS of choice once again.

I will read through your posts as you do have a lot of great information there. Perhaps the answer to the question that I had several hours ago is there!

Thank you.

I just bought the new MacBook Pro without Touch Bar and I have tried doing this but with my old MacBook Pro I was able to save to either iCloud or to my laptop. I do not want to delete my iCloud off of my laptop but I also do not want to pay more for my iCloud storage just to save my documents from keynote. I am a college student and am going to be saving a ton of work and this is why I bought the 256gb thinking it would run the same way as my old MacBook Pro. Any suggestions?

Where is the MacBook Pro hard drive to make a special folder? I am afraid to turn it off, make a copy and then it is not there. I too am out of space and very confused as to where my documents are saving.