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So I'm on iCloud drive and I can see the folder with my desktop files, but I cannot download them. I went to settings recover files but i cannot see the desktop files. If i can see them on the iCloud drive itself, is there a way to download them back to my computer? thanks jay
iMac, iOS 4.3.2
If you are seeing the Desktop & Documents folders in iCloud, then that means that you have that option turned on in iCloud Drive. If you want to turn off that option so that they are put back on your Mac and show in your Finder instead of in iCloud Drive, then you need to follow the instructions below:
Turn off Desktop and Documents
When you turn off Desktop & Documents Folders, your files stay in iCloud Drive and a new Desktop and Documents folder is created on your Mac in the home folder. You can move files from iCloud Drive to your Mac as you need them, or select all of your files and drag them to the place you want to keep them.
> System Preferences > iCloud.If you turn off iCloud Drive or sign out of iCloud, you have the option to keep a local copy of your files that are in iCloud Drive. Whether you decide to keep a local copy or not, a new Desktop and Documents folder is created in your home folder. If you choose to keep a local copy, your files in iCloud Drive are copied to a folder called iCloud Drive (Archive) in your home folder. Then you have the option to move any files that were in your iCloud Desktop and Documents, back to your new local Desktop and Documents.
From this support article: Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive - Apple Support
Best,
GB
If you are seeing the Desktop & Documents folders in iCloud, then that means that you have that option turned on in iCloud Drive. If you want to turn off that option so that they are put back on your Mac and show in your Finder instead of in iCloud Drive, then you need to follow the instructions below:
Turn off Desktop and Documents
When you turn off Desktop & Documents Folders, your files stay in iCloud Drive and a new Desktop and Documents folder is created on your Mac in the home folder. You can move files from iCloud Drive to your Mac as you need them, or select all of your files and drag them to the place you want to keep them.
> System Preferences > iCloud.If you turn off iCloud Drive or sign out of iCloud, you have the option to keep a local copy of your files that are in iCloud Drive. Whether you decide to keep a local copy or not, a new Desktop and Documents folder is created in your home folder. If you choose to keep a local copy, your files in iCloud Drive are copied to a folder called iCloud Drive (Archive) in your home folder. Then you have the option to move any files that were in your iCloud Desktop and Documents, back to your new local Desktop and Documents.
From this support article: Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive - Apple Support
Best,
GB
This doesn't work for me...I checked and desktop and documents is not selected....yet my desktop data disappeared and now my "notes" are gone also...and when i go to iCloud drive there is no download button...only an upload button...Apple must fix this or iCloud is in for a rainy, rainy day...
So, you are not saying that your Desktop data appeared in the iCloud Drive folder?
If they are in the folder, as the article I posted indicated, you can retrieve them from an Archive folder on your Mac if you saved them. See the last paragraph that I bolded and italicized.
Notes are not a part iCloud Drive. They are in iCloud. Do you see your Notes in iCloud?
Best,
GB
Gail,
Yes, I found them in the home drive, but I cannot imagine why they disappeared off the desktop, particularly since I didn't have desktop marked. And yes, I see the notes on iCloud, but that's not where I need them and I fail to see why they were moved from my computer. Do you understand this?
Thanks,
Jay
Notes are sync'd via iCloud. If they aren't showing up on your Mac, then you should check >System Preferences>iCloud>Notes, and make sure that Notes are turned on. If they are, turn them off and then back on to see if you can kickstart the sync.
You can also try signing out of iCloud in System Preferences, and then sign back in again. This can clear up things that are not syncing correctly.
Also, on your Mac, make sure that you have "All iCloud" selected in the Folders on your sidebar. If you have "All on My Mac" selected, then you won't see them.
Best,
GB
If you enable iCloud Drive in the Finder Sidebar by going to Finder/Preferences/Sidebar/Favorites, you should be able to drag the files to your computer and they will download.
Found the sidebar and the favorites, but fail to see how I can from that point drag them back to my computer. And I fail to see why they moved from my computer.
Gail,
Got it. Thanks a bunch.
You are most welcome, Jay 🙂
Best,
GB
recovering files from iCloud
