can't delete documents or desktop folders from iCloud

Question

Level 1

21 points

can't delete documents or desktop folders from iCloud

I had synced my documents and desktop to iCloud on my MacBook Pro some time ago. Later, I deselected Desktop and Documents Folders in the iCloud options (in system preferences). Now in Finder, when I select the Documents folder on the hard drive, it says "Documents - Local (same for Desktop). I see the Desktop folder in iCloud, but not the Documents folder. I'm not able to delete the Desktop. I would like to confirm that my stuff is no longer on the cloud. Any suggestions are appreciated.

MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015), macOS Sierra (10.12.3)

Posted on Feb 9, 2017 11:40 PM

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Answer 1

Dec 14, 2017 9:39 PM in response to jengrant1

Here's what you need to do:

1. Create a new Desktop and a new Documents folder on your Mac, but change the name slightly (Desktop1 and Documents 1, for example).

2. Move all of your Desktop items and all of your Documents to the new folders on the Mac.

3. Go to >System Preferences>iCloud>iCloud Drive>Options, and turn off the Desktop and Documents option.

4. Go to iCloud.com via a browser and delete the items from the Desktop & Documents folders on iCloud.

Once you have done that, you can re-create the Desktop and Documents folders without the "1" (as in the example), if needed (I'm not sure whether the Mac automatically re-creates the "regular" folders once you turn off the option, so you may or may not have to do that). Then move the items from the "1" folders to the "regular" folders. Then you can delete the "1" folders from the Mac, and you will have the same setup as you had prior to turning on the Desktop & Documents option in iCloud Drive Options.

Cheers,

GB

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Answer 2

Oct 3, 2017 7:24 AM in response to knowy83

From my MacBook's Finder window, I deleted the empty Desktop folder from iCloud Drive and then immediately emptied the trash before the folder had time to reappear in iCloud Drive. The folder did not reappear.

After a few seconds iCloud refreshed and the Documents folder was deleted from my iOS device as well!

I then followed the same steps to delete the empty Documents folder.

Cheers! 😁

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Answer 3

knowy83 Author

Level 1

21 points

Feb 10, 2017 8:50 PM in response to Eric Root

Eric,

Thanks for the response. I was messing around in my iCloud folder on the web and deleted the Desktop folder that was visible there. I was restricted from deleting it from in Finder's iCloud folder. That pretty much solved the problem. Needless to say, Desktop and Documents are no longer labeled as "Desktop - Local" or "Documents - Local" in Mac HD/Finder anymore.

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Answer 4

knowy83 Author

Level 1

21 points

Feb 11, 2017 6:30 AM in response to gail from maine

Hey Gail from Maine, thanks for your response. I am compelled to give answer, even though I got it resolved. I guess the difference between iCloud in Finder and iCloud on the web is, on the web, you have more control over deleting certain folders, especially system folders that you might have synced with iCloud.

When I tried to delete the Desktop folder in iCloud within Finder, a prompt came up saying, "“Desktop” can’t be modified or deleted because it’s required by macOS." In iCloud on the web, it was just a matter of right clicking on the Desktop folder itself and deleting. And that was it, no longer synced and displayed as "Desktop - Local" in Finder. I have enough space on my HD and external (plus Time Machine), so I don't really need to sync to the cloud. 😉

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Answer 5

Feb 11, 2017 11:40 AM in response to knowy83

Thanks for posting back with the clarification. I guess Finder doesn't want to delete a folder that is really the domain of iCloud Drive.

You probably already know this, but the Desktop and Documents option is only a single option for iCloud Drive (one that I do not use). However, if you have files that you would like to access on other computers or other iOS devices, iCloud Drive is perfect for that. That is basically all I use it for, but it is nice to be able to open Word documents or other items I have created or moved into iCloud Drive via my computer when I am using my phone and the Mac isn't handy!

Cheers,

GB

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Answer 6

knowy83 Author

Level 1

21 points

Feb 11, 2017 9:58 PM in response to gail from maine

Yea, I realize that. I guess I would just rather throw a document (or a few) that I'm working on in the cloud and work on them from there, as opposed to an entire folder. For me, it simplifies things. #Minimalism. 😉

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Answer 7

Dec 14, 2017 2:42 PM in response to gail from maine

When I tried the path you mention, I got a message that scared me so I am afraid to click yes... here's the 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.

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Answer 8

Dec 14, 2017 2:44 PM in response to knowy83

I tried deleting desktop and documents on iCloud and got 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. So now what? I don't want my Documents folder on iCloud... just my Desktop. Grrr, having nothing but problems. I don't want the files removed from my Mac, just removed from iCloud. Please be really specific in the answer. Thanks.

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Answer 9

Dec 15, 2017 8:58 PM in response to jengrant1

You are most welcome! 🙂

Can you tell me if you had to create a new "regular" Desktop and a new "regular" Documents folder once you turned off the option in iCloud? Or did they get re-created in your Finder automatically?

Glad you are all set now!

Cheers,

GB

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Answer 10

Eric Root

Level 10

685,191 points

Feb 10, 2017 5:20 PM in response to knowy83

Copy the files from iCloud Drive to a folder other than Documents and the Desktop. Go to System Preferences/iCloud/iCloud Drive/Options and turn off syncing. Rearrange the files as desired.

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