I recently updated macOS High Sierra software on my Mac and it suddenly shared the desktop items with my MacBook which also runs on macOS High Sierra. They both use same network and linked to same iCloud. in system preferences/sharing, no box is ticked. I would like to stop sharing the desktop please.
macOS High Sierra (10.13.6)
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.
- From your Mac, go to Apple menu
> System Preferences > iCloud.
- Next to iCloud Drive, click Options.
- Deselect Desktop & Documents Folders.
- Click Done.
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.
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.
- From your Mac, go to Apple menu
- Next to iCloud Drive, click Options.
- Deselect Desktop & Documents Folders.
- Click Done.
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.
Dear Alex,
I followed your instructions. When I deselected the "desktop & document" folder in icloud drive on iMac a warning appeared: " If you continue, items will be removed from the desktop and documents folder on this Mac and will remain available on icloud drive". I don't want my current desktop to be removed from this computer. Any suggestions?
Many thanks. Ferenc
Sorry Alex,
i read more carefully your advice. If I understand it well, all my currents documents will be removed from the Mac desctop, but I could drag them beack from icloud drive. Can you guide me on how can I drag back documents from icloud drive to the Emptied desktop? Thank you.
Thank you for your guidance. Problem solved.
Desktop shared between computers
