Are you looking to disable the iCloud Desktop & Documents feature on your Mac? This guide will walk you through the process, ensuring that you understand each step thoroughly. By the end of this guide, you’ll be able to easily disable iCloud Desktop & Documents on your Mac.
Steps to Disable iCloud Desktop & Documents on Mac
- Go to the Apple Menu and select System Preferences.
- In the System Preferences panel, click on iCloud.
- Locate and click on iCloud Drive, then click on the Settings button next to it.
- To disable iCloud Documents and the Desktop on your Mac, uncheck the box next to “Desktop & Documents Folder”.
- Confirm your choice by clicking on “Shut Down” when prompted.
Once you have disabled the iCloud Desktop & Documents feature, your files will no longer be stored locally on your Mac. Instead, they will be stored in iCloud. This can be a cause for concern, as it may initially appear that you have lost your files. However, fear not! Follow the next set of steps to retrieve your files from iCloud and restore them to your local Mac.
How to Retrieve Files from iCloud to your Local Mac
- Open Finder on your Mac and navigate to “iCloud Drive”.
- Locate the “iCloud Drive Documents” folder.
- Open a new Finder window and navigate to the local “Documents” folder on your Mac.
- Select each file in the iCloud Drive Documents folder and manually drag and drop them to the local Documents folder on your Mac.
- Repeat the same process for the “Desktop” folder, transferring the content from iCloud’s “Desktop” to your local Mac’s “Desktop”.
Be aware that this process can take a while, depending on the number and size of your files. If you have a large number of files, it may take several days to complete the transfer. Additionally, ensure that you have a stable and fast internet connection throughout this process.
It’s important to note the difference between copying and moving files to and from iCloud Drive. Copying a file means that it will be stored both in iCloud Drive and locally on your Mac. Moving a file to or from iCloud means that it will only be saved either in iCloud or locally on your Mac. Pay attention to this to avoid any file loss or confusion.
FAQs about Disabling iCloud Desktop & Documents on Mac
1. What devices support disabling iCloud Desktop & Documents?
Disabling iCloud Desktop & Documents is supported on Apple devices.
2. Can I disable iCloud Desktop & Documents on both macOS and iOS?
Yes, you can disable iCloud Desktop & Documents on both macOS and iOS.
If you have any further questions, feel free to leave them in the comments section or contact us directly. Remember to always have a backup of your files before making any changes to your iCloud settings. We hope this guide has been helpful in assisting you to disable iCloud Desktop & Documents on your Mac!
