Why can't I move files from Pages iCloud subdirectory to another directory on the hard drive?

Question

Why can't I move files from Pages iCloud subdirectory to another directory on the hard drive?

I have worked on files in Pages on an iPad, and now wish to move them onto my Mac, not keeping them in iCloud. I expected the usual message "do you wish to move...." but nothing: just won't move them at all.

I find there is often some niggling little detail like this that makes the use of an iPad less than "just works". If anyone from Apple is reading this, please note.

If any users have experienced the same and found a solution, I'd be grateful for help. I'm using the older MBP.

MacBook Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.6), 2.8 GHz Intel core 2 duo; 8GB RAM

Posted on Mar 16, 2017 6:40 AM

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Answer 1

chuck_3rd

Community Specialist

Mar 17, 2017 6:46 PM in response to Peter Blackburn

Good afternoon Peter Blackburn,

Thanks for your question. I understand you wish to move a file that you currently have in Pages on your iPad to your Mac. What version of iOS and Pages are you running on your iPad? If you have the most recent version of iOS on your device, there are a number of ways to get the files onto the Mac.

Enable iCloud Drive - this would be the easiest way to move multiple files from iCloud to your Mac.
Download files from www.icloud.com
Use AirDrop - if the files reside locally on the iPad, you can use AirDrop to copy them to the Mac.
Email a file from iPad or www.icloud.com

Take a look at the resources below to determine which option will work best in your situation.

Use iWork with iCloud Drive

Pages for iOS (iPad): Use iCloud with Pages

Pages for Mac: Move a Pages document

iCloud Drive FAQ

Share content with AirDrop on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

Take care.

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Answer 2

Barry

Level 9

60,041 points

Mar 17, 2017 7:48 PM in response to Peter Blackburn

Hi Peter,

You might try this:

CAUTION: I have NOT tested this, so I suggest opening a new document, modifying it on at least two of your devices, then testing with that document and you MBPro.

Open the file on your MBPro.
Press and hold the Option Key and go File > Save As...
After selecting Save As, release the option key.
Choose a new, local location for the file, change the filename if desired, then click Save.
Check the ocation in a Finder window to confirm the saved file's presence on your Mac, then Quit Numbers (Numbers > Quit Numbers, or press command-Q)
Deleting the file from iCloud should, at this point remove the iCloud copy from access by all synced devices without affecting your locally saved copy.

Regards,

Barry

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Answer 3

VikingOSX

Level 10

124,166 points

Mar 18, 2017 5:48 AM in response to Peter Blackburn

If you physically have those Pages documents on your iPad, then you will have to use iTunes to move them to your Mac.

Open iTunes. Locate your iPad icon on the toolbar, and click that. You will then be presented with the Summary page for your iPad. Click Apps under Summary in the left column. Scroll to the bottom where it says File Sharing. If there is a Pages icon present, click on that and it will show documents that physically reside on your iPad. You can drag/drop these onto your Desktop, or click the file icon, and use the Save to... button.

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Answer 4

May 13, 2017 11:58 AM in response to chuck_3rd

Thank you very much for your reply. Please accept apologies for only replying now. I have had the computer fixed in the meantime, and this may account for the fact that it now works as I would have expected: I can drag the file from the iCloud window to another window on my internal drive.

Thanks to the others too who posted. These are all solutions to use in future if the same issue returns.

pqb

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