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Level 1

20 points

Does Time Machine Backup My iCloud Drive?

I've been Googling around all day and have been surprised at being unable to find the answer to a rather simple, and vital, question.

I'm about to take the plunge and move my Desktop and Documents folder to iCloud Drive, meaning that they won't be on my Fusion Drive any more. So that means that I will move from (a) having the original of my files on my Fusion Drive and backups on my external Time Machine drive to (b) having a single copy in my iCloud Drive.

I'm a tad nervous about that, which got me to wondering if Time Machine in some way backs up the contents of my iCloud Drive as well as all the stuff resident on my Fusion Drive, and whether the accidental deletion of an iCloud Drive file can be recovered from by going back a day or two in Time Machine.

I ask because I'm sure I'm not the only person concerned about having no Time Machine backups of the stuff they have moved to iCloud Drive.

Posted on Apr 2, 2017 1:52 AM

Best reply

LACAllen

Level 8

43,416 points

Posted on Apr 2, 2017 11:10 AM

In a roundabout way, yes.

The files in your iCloud drive folder are also mirrored locally. Time Machine backs up this local folder.

If you look at the contents of this folder, you will see it is a copy of your iCloud drive folder. This is the actual folder backed up by Time Machine.

Note that this Library folder is a hidden folder, so you need to hold the OPTION key down in Finder to see it.

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23 replies

Eric Root

Level 10

684,057 points

Apr 2, 2017 2:31 PM in response to bricknell

The only time it won't is if you are using macOS Sierra, have Documents and Desktop syncing with Optimization selected.

LACAllen

Level 8

43,416 points

Apr 2, 2017 6:38 PM in response to bricknell

Hey, it happens.

Glad you're up and running...

Eric Root

Level 10

684,057 points

Jul 29, 2017 12:26 PM in response to Lost in Asia

They should be somewhere on your hard drive unless you are using macOS Sierra, have Documents and Desktop syncing with Optimization selected.

Aug 3, 2017 10:15 AM in response to Eric Root

If Optimization is selected, does that mean that the iCloud drive is or is not mirrored in the Mac hard drive? Mine says Optimized. I want to be sure that the Documents file is mirrored.

Sep 21, 2017 6:32 AM in response to deepey

I also have this problem. Rather than just backing up what is on my HD, it's also downloading everything from iCloud. This is both time consuming and pointless, but I can't see a way of disabling.

Jan 7, 2018 8:02 AM in response to LACAllen

Thank you for the answer.

I wonder why people are reporting that their iCloud download indicator is so active during time capsule backup...

Eric Root

Level 10

684,057 points

Jan 8, 2018 12:03 PM in response to bricknell

Eric Root

Level 10

684,057 points

Jan 8, 2018 12:04 PM in response to 999haunts

You are welcome. Since you have plenty of space on the Mac, I would uncheck Optimization.

Does Time Machine Backup My iCloud Drive?