When I set up my new Air, I must have checked a choice that I didn't want - or don't want to show - local Desktop and Documents folders - which I do. Is there anyway to undo that choice or to create these folders. I have tried simply creating them but the system tells me that the name is already taken.
I don't want/need everything in the cloud.
Thanks
David
MacBook Air, macOS Sierra (10.12.6), 13-inch 8Gb/256Gb
You must have enabled the "Store in iCloud" option that you would get to from the menu bar's Apple icon > About This Mac > Storage tab > Store in iCloud
Ref: macOS Sierra: Store your desktop and documents in iCloud Drive - Apple Support
Teserax was incorrect in the setting.
In iCloud System Preferences, look in the iCloud Drive Options. Is Desktop & Documents Folders enabled?
That will display the Desktop and Documents folders inside iCloud Drive. Your files are synchronized to iCloud Drive; however, nothing has changed the location of your files. The Finder just shows them in iCloud Drive instead of in your home.
If you turn it off, you must then drag the files out of the iCloud Drive folders into the newly created (but empty) Desktop and Documents folders. When you disable it, it will warn you that the files will only be available on iCloud Drive.
When you move them, it will warn you that the files will no longer be available on iCloud Drive.
Nothing will actually move. The OS will just play tricks with Hard Links.
But to reiterate, nothing was actually moved out of your home folder Desktop and Documents folders. They still exist but Finder hides them and shows them in the iCloud Drive.
Thanks Barney-15E,
Yes, in the iCloud Drive Options, Desktop & Documents Folders are enabled.
To be frank, I find iCloud (and the world of multiple connectivities) intimidating, not robust, and time consuming. It seems that Mac's aren't for the rest of us (well, me) anymore. So, your detailed solution, for which I am grateful, has me worried that some other odd (to me) behaviour will emerge.
For example, if the files are already on my local Documents (it's just that Finder shows them in iCloud Documents), what files are there to drag from iCloud folders into empty Documents folders? And having disabled it, what useful functionality have I lost? My multiple devices are Air, Pad and Phone.
Although this is a System Preference, the users (other than Admin (me)) have local Documents and Desktop folders that show up in Finder. What am I missing?
Sorry to bumble on but, as I said, I am nervous.
David
To understand the magic behind it, google "hard links." They are references that point to where the actual data resides on the disk. A hard link to a file looks exactly like the original file (because it is).
Except for special circumstances, all files stored on iCloud Drive have copies stored on your Mac in your user Library/Mobile Documents/ folder. This folder holds the files you drag into iCloud Drive or files stored in iCloud Drive from a mobile device.
Your Desktop and Documents folders currently still exist where they were, along with all the contents.
When you disable Desktop & Documents in iCloud Drive, hard link of all the files will be moved to iCloud Drive's backing store location.
When you drag them from the iCloud Drive folders, hard links are moved back into your now empty home folder Desktop and Documents folders. Nothing is actually moved on disk.
iCloud Drive is just a place on the internet where you can store files so you have access to them from some other device. If you don't have any other devices, or you don't intend to need access to a file from your local Library or other internet café, then you don't need iCloud Drive enabled at all.
Although this is a System Preference, the users (other than Admin (me)) have local Documents and Desktop folders that show up in Finder. What am I missing?
It is a system preference for a per-user feature. Each other user would have to sign into their iCloud account and enable the feature.
The feature was enabled for you because you skipped through the setup assistant without reading the pages. It told you it was going to enable Desktop & Documents in iCloud Drive and was defaulted to on. You could have disabled the feature before it was implemented, just like your other users.
Just to clarify
"The feature was enabled for you because you skipped through the setup assistant without reading the pages. It told you it was going to enable Desktop & Documents in iCloud Drive and was defaulted to on. You could have disabled the feature before it was implemented, just like your other users."
I set up every user and did not 'skipped through the setup assistant without reading the pages'. Not that daft.
The feature for all other users as they had no need for iCloud Drive storage (single devices)
I enabled it for me because I wanted another place where files would be and so serve as an 'automatic' backup of my data. (I paid for 200 Gb storage). I am used to Dropbox where D&D are still visible along with all the Dropbox folders and data though held in its 'cloud'. (Full backups are CCC)
I switched to Apple for integration. I did not expect D&D to become invisible locally. D&D are missing from iCloud Drive Save... dialogue
So, the answer to your question is no. What has happened is I didn't get what I expected. I want cloud stored files that are naturally locally visible in Documents or Dropbox folder. I should not have to manipulate hard links and forgo a cloud-local link (visible).
Probably, I should have stuck with Dropbox, though it has its faults. Unless it has changed to Apple's cloud paradigm. This may need a hard reset. Preserving my emails will be the biggest challenge (another beef - hiding them in ~/Library which I haven't been able to find in data recovery drives).
My head is not empty or careless. It got blindsided. What I thought I was signing uo for wasn't what Apple had planned for me, So that's it - naivety and lack of system insight.
What is the BFD of the Desktop and Documents folders showing up in iCloud Drive instead of in your Home folder?
It works exactly like it did before, but it shows up in a different location in the Sidebar.
You don't have to do anything different except look about an inch lower in the Sidebar.
Cmd-shift-O and cmd-shift-D still work.
Saving files into Documents or Desktop still works.
What is so difficult about the folders showing up somewhere else?
It looks like you activated the storage on iCloud of Document&Desktop. Check in the iCloud settings please:Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive - Apple Support
I checked that. It's off.
I created other user accounts. They all have local Desktop and Document folders. Only Admin (me) doesn't.
So, when you went through the Setup Assistant, you disabled Desktop & Documents but it still enabled the feature?
No local Desktop or Documents folder
