My iMac doesn't let me copy files or folders to the desktop. When I drag a file or folder to the desktop I get a circle with a line through it and the file or folder returns to where it originally came from. What makes this happen and
how can I fix this?
Hi richard_a_o,
Thanks for getting back to us with the additional information. Is this happening when trying to move specific files and folders to your Desktop or is it happening when trying to move any files and folders? Let's also check to make sure the permissions for the files and folders have been set to Read & Write following the steps here:
Change permissions for files, folders, or disks on Mac - Apple Support
You may also want to consider resetting the permissions of your home folder following the steps here:
Resolve issues caused by changing the permissions of items in your home folder - Apple Support
To further isolate potential causes, do you have another user account on your iMac that you could test this behavior with? If not, here's how you can create another user account for testing:
How to test an issue in another user account on your Mac - Apple Support
Let us know what happens from here.
Take care.
iCloud Drive files
Use these steps to copy documents from your Mac, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, iCloud.com, or PC. If you need help with any third-party data that is stored on iCloud, contact the app developer directly. Third-party data might use your iCloud storage, even if you can't see the details.
Copy files on your Mac
- Open the app that you used to create the document, then choose File > Open.
- Click iCloud in the top-left corner of the Open dialog.
- Open the document you want to copy, then hold down the Option key and choose File > Save As.
- Choose where you want to save the document, then click Save.
If you use OS X Yosemite or later, you can copy your files from the iCloud Drive folder in Finder.
If you use OS X Mountain Lion or later, open Preview and TextEdit files stored in iCloud from the iCloud list in the Open dialog.
On my computer, iMac 12.2, High Sierra v. 10.13.6, your helpful reply does not work...I can't even put a new folder on the desktop. That function in the menubar is grayed out...when I try to drag a file from my download folder to the desktop it displays a circle with a line through it, an then jumps back to where it originated from. I've downloaded a fresh copy of Mac OS three times thinking something is missing in the software, but it still does not work. It's really got me stumped...
Thanks for the helpful ideas...I reset all the permissions on my "Home" folder and restarted my computer. Then I tried dragging a file from my download folder to the desktop. The file would not stay on the desktop but returned to the download folder. There was still the circle with the slash through it when I was dragging the file to the desktop. So the problem hasn't been resolved. I'm wondering if this is a "system" issue rater than a "home" folder issue. Any ideas or comments about what to try next?
I created a new user account and created a file with TextEdit. I downloaded a folder onto the desktop which was prohibited in my account. I put the new file in my documents folder, and then dragged it out onto the desktop. So it looks like everything is ok in the new user account. Which means that the problem is in my user account only. Now how to find the problem in my account? Thanks for all your help so far...
I don't understand how to access files in iCloud...I tried to "save as" a file to the desktop but that option was not allowed...so how and where can I change this?
I used the safe mode on my user account. It did not change the way files or folders were prohibited from the desktop...
Problem moving files and folders to the desktop.
