icloud drive missing in icloud settings

If you have an admin account , open the pad lock by entering the password in system preferences > iCloud > click on account details , what pop up window do you see is apple locked or disabled showing , send a screen shot ( make sure hide the your mail address before posting ) .

Right now I am clueless contact apple support , Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support

I think if you get some answers from them please post , but it seems its time to reinstall the os see this article How to reinstall macOS - Apple Support

First set up an Apple ID see this article Create and start using an Apple ID - Apple Support

And then create an iCloud account Set up iCloud on your Mac - Apple Support

Then click on finder from the dock , open system preferences > click on I cloud you will see the box of iCloud Drive - next to it is an option button , just click on it and check all the boxes of them .

Also in your screen shot , mails ,notes , safari , the very important keychain is not checked , in the question you have not asked to set up the iCloud Keychain but you should enable it ( as all passwords will be stored in the keychain access ) .

Make sure you must first create a web mail account , like gmail see this article Create a Gmail account - Gmail Help

Make sure keep Apple ID address same as gmail address .

Also when Apple ID is created , it will prompt to create questions and answers , your month / day / year of your birthday correctly .

Fill up the credentials and write down in a safe place ( diary ) , also while creating the Apple ID a rescue mail address is always required see this article About your Apple ID email addresses - Apple Support , in case if Apple ID is locked , you can recover the Apple ID account from it , so make a new web mail id and add it in your account .

And note down each Apple ID address , icloud address and their passwords ( write down them in the diary ) , they should not be lost .

Read these articles About Apple ID security questions - Apple Support

Update the birth date associated with your Apple ID - Apple Support

lsyvret wrote:

Having just lost a lot of files on an external hard drive that became damaged, I thought i would be a good idea to start using Icloud Drive... I managed to set it up easily on my phone but it doesn't seem to be available on my Macbook pro.

When I click on the Apple symbol - System preferences - Icloud, there is no option to enable 'Icloud Drive'... It just lists 'Mail, Contacts, Calendars, Reminders' Etc...

I have checked if there are any updates available for my computer, there are not- currently using MacOS High Sierra. Version 10.9.5.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to resolve this?

you select iCloud and enable ICD there - there is no separate ICD section, it is under iCloud as documented here

Set up iCloud Drive - Apple Support

LN

In the screen shot you can see , the trusted mobile number is empty , type your mobile number , in the empty field , and click on ok , a six digit code will appear on the desktop , be patient it can take 3 to 4 min , and write down in this iCloud verification code in your diary .

you have to enter the code in empty pop up that will appear on the desktop .

Then , after that again a six digit code will come through sms on mobile , if you don't enter it , and remove the process ( as you should not do ) again this will appear on mobile ( this code is not constant - its variable ) .

Enter it , you can see the box for keychain must get checked ( a small circle will rotate , be patient ) , when you click on option button the trusted mobile number should be added .

See this screen shot .

And click on ok , see these articles Set up iCloud Keychain - Apple Support

If you enter your iCloud Security Code incorrectly too many times - Apple Support

10.9.5 is Mavericks, which would explain why you don't have iCloud Drive. Check your Applications folder for the Install macOS High Sierra application. If you find it, double click on it to run the installer. Do a backup before installing, preferable 2 backups on 2 different drives.

Did you check your Applications folder as I suggested?

You are welcome.

From your first post:

currently using MacOS High Sierra. Version 10.9.5.

High Sierra is 10.13. Mavericks is 10.9.5. Go to the  menu/About this Mac to see what version your are using. iCloud Drive requires Yosemite 10.10 as a minimum.

System requirements for iCloud - Apple Support