Does Apple require me to store all my desktop files on iCloud?

chuck3400 wrote:

Does Apple require me to store all my desktop files on iCloud?

No, not at all. In fact storing files in iCloud is strictly optional.

You either manually upload files to iCloud Drive or if you have enabled Dekstop & Documents in iCloud settings it will do it for you, but you still have to manually enable it, its not on by default.

I just found out many of my files are not accessible unless I keep my cloud account up to date.

If you are already storing files in iCloud or have the Desktop & Documents option turned on in iClouf Settings, then accessing files and changes and updates ot saif files requires available iCloud space and an active internet connection.

Files that have been recently opened, should remain local and accessible without an internet connection however.

If you have enabled Desktop & Documents in iCloud and wish to turn it off, see the following support document.

click here ➜ Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive - Apple Support

and here ➜ Turn off Desktop & Documents Folders on your Mac - Apple Support

HankMossop wrote:

I was able to sync my iCloud Drive to my Mac

How exactly? The way to sync the Mac to icloud drive is to use the Desktop & Documents option as shown in the my screenshot above.

Doing anythig else, like simply dragging a file to the iCloud Drive filder in Finder would not require Dekstop & Documents to be turned on.

but can't now unless I store my full desktop and documents folders online. I have multiple computers and don't want to do this, but do want to access files I have stored in iCloud and access via Finder.

If you want files you store in your Desktop & Documents folder to automatically sync to iCloud when you make changes and save them so other devices can access any changes and updates made to the files then you need to have the Desktop & Documents option turned on.

You can of course just manually upload files to iCloud, or save them in the iCloud folder so other devices can access them without turning on Desktop & Documents.

It all depends how you want to handle your files exactly.

chuck3400 wrote:

The 2 responders here have answered your question. I don't want to store my files in the cloud. I have backup drives, SuperDuper and (maybe) Time Machine.

A couple of things.

If you choose to synch Desktop with iCloud then it's the Desktop folder and all its files - you can't pick and choose.

Picking up on something in your comment, and apologies if you already know, - iCloud is not a backup drive, it's a synchronization service. It doesn't store files, it's a reference point for synchronization. If you delete a file synched via iCloud on any synched device or on iCloud then it's deleted everwhere.

For Hank and Chuck: iCloud Drive is primarily for files that you want to synchronize with other devices. It's cool to put in just the files you're going to be using from different computers and your phone/iPad.

If you turn on Desktop & Documents, and you later want to turn that off-- it gets a little complicated.

See these:

Understanding iCloud Drive - Apple Community

Turning off Desktop & Documents from iCloud Drive - Apple Communityt

chuck3400 wrote: I'm off the grid a lot and being cut off from files is beyond annoying ("You can't access that folder. you haven't renewed iCloud...").

The idea of iCloud Drive is that iCloud mirrors the iCloud Drive folder on your Mac-- all the files remain on the Mac unless you specifically choose to offload them. I don't. So I never get any sort of "can't access" message.

People who are stuck with little storage, especially on iPhones, can choose to "optimize storage" by keeping large files at iCloud and off the device. I do that with my iPhone, so I can look at some of those files if I need to, but they don't otherwise stay on my phone. I don't use Optimize on my iPad, but I have Keynote files in iCloud Drive, for instance, available for presentations (or practice) with the iPad.

The best part of iCloud is iCloud Photos. This allows me to edit my pictures on my Mac, and to view them and share them with others using my iPad. But I only use iCloud Photos for the pictures I want to share--others are kept in Photos Libraries on my Mac that aren't mirrored at iCloud. With iCloud, you can mirror only the files and images you want.

As for security, we are all potentially vulnerable. We have to have backups that aren't internet connected. Apple seems as secure, and probably more so, than anyplace.

I was able to sync my iCloud Drive to my Mac but can't now unless I store my full desktop and documents folders online. I have multiple computers and don't want to do this, but do want to access files I have stored in iCloud and access via Finder.

Thanks, Richard. I have developed antipathy towards cloud-based everything. Especially fee-attached services. I'm off the grid a lot and being cut off from files is beyond annoying ("You can't access that folder. you haven't renewed iCloud...").

I have one MacBook for everything important and several backup drives plus Time Machine and SuperDuper so I'm well covered. Also, looking forward to AI's accelerating hacking skills I'm wondering if files anywhere in cloud storage will be safe.

Thanks very much for the links!

The 2 responders here have answered your question. I don't want to store my files in the cloud. I have backup drives, SuperDuper and (maybe) Time Machine.