iCloud Drive in macOS Hero

Using iCloud Bulldoze, your Mac can sync the information in your Desktop and Documents folders between all your Apple devices. It's handy, but it takes up iCloud storage space and might have privacy implications. If you've previously enabled this feature, here's how to turn it off.

To disable this characteristic, you'll need to visit Organization Preferences. On your Mac, click the Apple icon in the elevation-left corner of the screen and choose "System Preferences" from the bill of fare that appears.

Open System Preferences from Apple Menu on Mac

In System Preferences, click "Apple tree ID."

Open Apple ID from System Preferences

In the "Apps on this Mac using iCloud" list, locate "iCloud Drive" and click the "Options" push next to information technology.

Click Options from iCloud Drive

In the "Documents" tab, uncheck "Desktop & Documents Folders" to disable synchronizing the contents of your Desktop and Documents folders over iCloud.

Uncheck Desktop and Documents Sync

In the small-scale pop-up window that appears, click "Turn Off."

Disable Desktop and Documents Sync

Click the "Done" push button to save your settings. Y'all can now shut the System Preferences window.

Tap Done to Save Options

After that, you'll see a new pop-up window reminding you that iCloud won't delete or automatically move the contents of your Documents and Desktop folders in iCloud. You lot'll need to either manually move the files back to your Mac or delete them yourself, depending on your preference.

Click "Show in Finder" to see the Documents and Desktop folders stored in iCloud Drive.

Click "Show in Finder"

If you want to move the iCloud data back to your local Mac, you tin can practice this hands by using a simple drag gesture. Open either one of the Desktop or Documents folders in iCloud and utilise the Control+A keyboard shortcut to select all data. And so drag the selected items to the "Desktop" or "Documents" folders in the sidebar.

(If you use the traditional copy-and-paste keyboard shortcuts, y'all'll have to come back to the iCloud Drive folder to delete the files later on yous've copied them over.)

Drag iCloud Drive Data to Local Folders

iCloud Drive will enquire yous whether you're sure that you lot want to remove the data from iCloud Bulldoze (The data volition no longer be available on other devices.). If that's OK, click the "Move" push.

Move Data Out of iCloud Drive

One time all the data is moved back to your local Mac (and you're sure that you have everything), y'all can delete the Desktop and Documents folders from the iCloud Drive. Merely be sure to double-check that you've copied everything that you lot need first.

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How to Reenable Desktop and Documents Sync Afterwards

If you change your mind and want to reenable this characteristic at a later date, become to System Preferences > Apple tree ID and click the "Options" button beside "iCloud Drive" in the list. Place a check marker next to the "Desktop and Documents Folders" option.

macOS also reminds you lot about this characteristic during the setup procedure, then yous can reenable this feature the next time y'all update your macOS software.

Desktop and Documents Sync Prompt During Set Up

When you lot enable this on a different computer, macOS volition create a new sub-folder in your iCloud Drive with the proper noun of your current calculator, which will make things easier to runway.

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