Find out how to share your files from your Mac Desktop andDocuments folders to all of your devices with iCloud Drive.
When you store your Desktop and Documents folders in iCloud Drive, you can access files from your Macon all of your devices. That means you can start a document on your Desktop, then work on it later from your iPhone or iPad and oniCloud.com. Everythingautomatically stays up to date everywhere.
Before you begin, just make sure you’ve set up iCloud on your iPhone or iPad and you’ve set up iCloud on your Mac.
Turn on Desktop and Documents
Turn on Desktop and Documentson every Mac you want to use with iCloud Drive.
From your Mac, choose Apple menu System Settings. In macOS Monterey or earlier, choose Apple menu > System Preferences.
Click Apple ID, then click iCloud.
Under Apps Using iCloud, click iCloud Drive.
Below iCloud Drive, checkthatSync this Mac is turned on.
Turn on Desktop & Documents Folders.
Click Done.
If you want to store your files in iCloud Drive and another cloud storage service, you can keep copies of your files in both, but you can't keep folders from a third-party cloud service in iCloud Drive. You can keep your other cloud service folders in a different place on your Mac, such asthe home folder.
If you're already using a feature from another cloud provider that syncs or manages your Desktop and Documents folders, you'll need to turn it off to use Desktop and Documents.
Find your Desktop and Documents files on all your devices
When youadd your Desktop and Documentsto iCloud Drive,all of your files will move to iCloud and any new files you create will be automatically stored in iCloud too. Then you can find your fileson all of your devices.
Your files will be uploaded to iCloudeach time your device connects to the internet. Depending on your internet speed, the time it takes for you to see your files onyour other devicesmay vary.
On your Mac
You can find your Desktop and Documents folders in the iCloud section of the Finder sidebar. If you add a second Mac Desktop, you'll be able to find those files in the Desktop folder in iCloud Drive. Look for a folder with the same name as your second Mac. You can also use Spotlight to search for specific file names.
On your iPhone or iPad
You can find the files inthe Files app. You can use any compatible app to access and edit your files directly on your iPhone or iPad.
Find out how to use the Files app
On iCloud.com
Sign in to with your Apple ID.
Go to iCloud Drive.
Double-click the Desktop or Documents folder.
If you want to use the file or make edits, just click the Download button
to download it. When you've finished making edits, upload the file to iCloud Drive to see the latest version everywhere.
Store your files in iCloud and save space on your device
The files you keep in iCloud Driveuse your iCloud storage. As long as you haveenough space in iCloud, you can store as many files as you like.
You can delete files to free up space in iCloud if needed. When you're usingiCloud Driveand delete a file on one device, it will be deleted on every device you're signed in to with that Apple ID. You can find deleted files in the Recently Deleted folderinthe Files appor oniCloud.comfor 30 days. After that, they'll be removed.
Find out more about how to manage your iCloud storage
Turn off Desktop and Documents
From your Mac, choose Apple menu System Settings. In macOS Monterey or earlier, choose Apple menu > System Preferences.
Click Apple ID, then click iCloud.
Under Apps Using iCloud, click iCloud Drive.
Turn off Desktop & Documents Folders.
Click Done.
What happens when you turn off Desktop and Documents?
When you turn off Desktop & Documents Folders, your files stay in iCloud Drive and a new Desktop and Documents folderis 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.
What happens when you turn off iCloud Drive or sign out of iCloud?
If you turn off iCloud Drive or sign out of iCloud, a new Desktop and Documents folder will be created in your home folder. You also have the option to keep a local copy of your files that are in iCloud Drive. If you keep a local copy of your files that are in iCloud Drive, they will be copied to a folder called iCloud Drive (Archive) in your home folder. You can move any files that were in your iCloud Desktop and Documents to your new local Desktop and Documents.
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