iCloud Drive - Documents Folder

[maflynn]

For you seasons High Sierra veterans.

Do you store your Desktop and Documents folder on iCloud? I just did a fresh install of HS on my iMac and now I'm pondering the wisdom of using iCloud to hold my Desktop and Documents folder.

Are there any risks, or potential issues that I need to be aware of?

 

[Weaselboy]

Do you store your Desktop and Documents folder on iCloud?

Starting with High Sierra, I have ditched DropBox and now use iCloud Drive for syncing with that box checked and it works really well. What was holding me back before was iOS access, but now with the Files iOS app, that is solved.

The only feature I do not have enabled is that Optimize Mac Storage option at the bottom. With that enabled, if your local drive get close to full iCloud remove the file from your local drive and just leave a placeholder link there to DL the file if you need it. The problem there is the only place that file exists is in iCloud and it is not backed up anywhere else. I'm not comfortable with that, so have the option disabled.

The only quibble I have is I wish it allowed Documents sync without Desktop sync. I have altered some of my workflow a little because of this. If you download say a 300MB video then move it to the Desktop to work do some editing, that 300MB files starts uploading to iCloud Drive. So you need to be a little careful what you drop on the Desktop.

 

[Pine Man]

If you want to put all of your Documents into iCloud Drive that's fine as long as you have enough storage and don't have to pay for extra.

What I did was to create a new folder in Finder called My Documents and moved all of the stuff that I didn't want in iCloud Drive in there. Only the stuff left in Documents was then saved to the cloud.

It's also handy to have that My Documents folder because if you decide to close down iCloud Drive at some time in the future you'll have to download all the files somewhere before actually closing it.

 

[maflynn]

Starting with High Sierra, I have ditched DropBox and now use iCloud Drive for syncing with that box checked and it works really well. What was holding me back before was iOS access, but now with the Files iOS app, that is solved.

I have dropbox, OneDrive and now iCloud. I'm trying to streamline my data storage. While I do have a ton of OneDrive space (1TB), I really don't trust it all that much given the prior issues I've had. I think I'll see how the iCloud Drive works.

What I did was to create a new folder in Finder called My Documents

That's a really good idea, I'll consider something along those lines as well

 

[artfossil]

Starting with High Sierra, I have ditched DropBox and now use iCloud Drive for syncing with that box checked and it works really well. What was holding me back before was iOS access, but now with the Files iOS app, that is solved.

The only feature I do not have enabled is that Optimize Mac Storage option at the bottom. With that enabled, if your local drive get close to full iCloud remove the file from your local drive and just leave a placeholder link there to DL the file if you need it. The problem there is the only place that file exists is in iCloud and it is not backed up anywhere else. I'm not comfortable with that, so have the option disabled.

The only quibble I have is I wish it allowed Documents sync without Desktop sync. I have altered some of my workflow a little because of this. If you download say a 300MB video then move it to the Desktop to work do some editing, that 300MB files starts uploading to iCloud Drive. So you need to be a little careful what you drop on the Desktop.

What @Weaselboy said.

I committed to iCloud Drive and jettisoned DropBox after years of use (well, went down to the free version for a couple of apps that only sync using DropBox).

With the Files app I now have tight integration among my MBP, iMac and iPad Pro. My whole workflow is more productive and worry free.

 

[Broowin]

You might want to look at my new thread. I lost 15000 photos by putting them in a a documents file and switching off from iCloud

 

[Broowin]

If you put data in your documents folder and they are not uploaded to iCloud and you switch of from iCloud apple moves and they are potentially at risk. This happened with an iPhotos library contains many photos which was lost on my computer. I do not believe the warning they give are sufficient neither can a see any logical reason as to why they do this in the first place.

Apple have been uncooperative in offering any understanding of this problem and washed their hands of any responsibility leaving customers at risk of loosing data

 

[Pine Man]

It is important to differentiate between iCloud Drive and iCloud for a start.

If you select the option in iCloud Drive to save your Documents & Desktop to iCloud Drive that is exactly what should happen. If you later decide to turn off iCloud Drive you will receive a warning to the effect that all your data will be lost unless you copy it back to your computer before turning off iCloud Drive.

If you have elected to have your Photos saved to iCloud (NOT DRIVE) that has nothing to do with any actions you take in respect of iCloud Drive.

 

[maflynn]

You might want to look at my new thread. I lost 15000 photos by putting them in a a documents file and switching off from iCloud

Did you manually copy them from the iCloud drive to your Mac prior to turning off the iCloud? Bummers on the loss of those images, and in all honesty, that is one concern. When the data is on my Mac, I have full control of securing and backing up my data.
[doublepost=1515929486][/doublepost]Interesting results

So far we seem to have 66% of the voters stating they choose to keep their Desktop/Documents folders local. I wonder if that's indicative of the real world. If I were to hazzard a guess, I'd see the percentage would be even higher for those who keep those folders local.

 

[Pine Man]

that is one concern

....and that is not the only one as far as I am concerned!

I have copied all my data back from iCloud Drive and turned it off. If I need specific data to be available online I use OneDrive. All my photos, however, are still stored in iCloud (NOT DRIVE).

 

[Broowin]

Did you manually copy them from the iCloud drive to your Mac prior to turning off the iCloud? Bummers on the loss of those images, and in all honesty, that is one concern. When the data is on my Mac, I have full control of securing and backing up my data.
[doublepost=1515929486][/doublepost]Interesting results

So far we seem to have 66% of the voters stating they choose to keep their Desktop/Documents folders local. I wonder if that's indicative of the real world. If I were to hazzard a guess, I'd see the percentage would be even higher for those who keep those folders local.
View attachment 746846

Yes I had saved copies from an external hard drive whilst I cleaned it up and sorted out external drives to make copies. I had never intended for them to be uploaded to iCloud . My understanding was that any information that is in a folder attached to iCloud where there is insufficient capacity to upload is kept on the hard drive. So I did not expect them to be moved.

I have repeated the same circumstance as an experiment with a copied file only for the iPhotos library to be lost again. Whether this just applies to iPhotos libraries or not I don't know.

Apple have simply washed their hands of it and said it is entirely my responsibility and seem to be happy to allow this continue.

 

[Fishrrman]

I would NEVER "trust the cloud" (not Apple's cloud nor anyone else's) for anything of value that I have.

If it's dear to you, keep it backed up on a drive that you physically control. Or better yet, on more than one drive that you control.

But then, I'm an old curmudgeon. Check my avatar!

 

[blackdogaudio]

If you use iCloud Desktop and Documents storage, a local copy of both are stored in ~/Library/Mobile Documents on your Mac(s) and backed up if using Time Machine.

You can verify this by turning off your wifi or ethernet connection on your Mac after the initial cloud upload and download synchronization completes then open any document as you normally would from your Documents folder on this Mac or any other of your Macs using iCloud Desktop and Documents storage and your data is all there intact with no connection to the World Wide Web functioning.

 

[Broowin]

I would NEVER "trust the cloud" (not Apple's cloud nor anyone else's) for anything of value that I have.

If it's dear to you, keep it backed up on a drive that you physically control. Or better yet, on more than one drive that you control.

But then, I'm an old curmudgeon. Check my avatar!

I can only agree with you this is the irony of what happened - I had never intended for these files to be uploaded to the cloud they were there for temporary storage on what I considered to be the safest place ie a brand new hard drive?!
I was in the process of setting up an external drive and rearranging files in order to back them up.I had no idea that Apple would move them and lose them in the process. At least two other people have agreed the warning given is ambiguous and there still does not appear to me to be any logical reason why they should do this in the first place ie remove files from my hard drive and lose them.

I should also add for others information the reason I switched of connection from desktop and documents to iCloud was because it was interfering with me copying high quality audio file from the new hard drive to another new hard drive I was getting repeated error messages in that simple process which stopped as soon as I disconnected desktop and docs from iCloud.
[doublepost=1516007148][/doublepost]

If you use iCloud Desktop and Documents storage, a local copy of both are stored in ~/Library/Mobile Documents on your Mac(s) and backed up if using Time Machine.

You can verify this by turning off your wifi or ethernet connection on your Mac after the initial cloud upload and download synchronization completes then open any document as you normally would from your Documents folder on this Mac or any other of your Macs using iCloud Desktop and Documents storage and your data is all there intact with no connection to the World Wide Web functioning.

That may have worked if I had time machine on. As I have tried to explain I was re arranging my backup disc in order to tidy up my files having purchased a brand new iMac and have a new external hard rive.

I did repeat what happened using a copied iPhotos library ie switched desktop and docs to iCloud put an iPhotos library in my docs which was not uploaded to included . switched of desktop and docs from iCloud received the same ambiguous warning followed by a message telling me that an archive folder would be created which it did but it did not contain the iPhotos library searching my computer confirmed to was lost.

 

[mikzn]

I have dropbox, OneDrive and now iCloud. I'm trying to streamline my data storage. While I do have a ton of OneDrive space (1TB), I really don't trust it all that much given the prior issues I've had. I think I'll see how the iCloud Drive works.
That's a really good idea, I'll consider something along those lines as well

Am on Sierra on my main MBP and iOS 10.3.3 on iphone and ipad.

I have been using iCloud drive since Sierra for projects and Events when I want to have the most current documents available and be able to access even when I don't have the MacBook with me. So far it's been great and have never lost a file and don't seem to get the version conflicts that used to happen on El Cap (ie Keynote asking which version to keep)

I don't use the Desktop and Documents option and have disabled that for the reasons stated by "Weasel Boy" and others. For Example: My default "documents folder" has the Microsoft User Data folder and that is over 25 gig not something I want to sync and not something I want to loose on an iCloud mixup - 10+ years of email and attachments and other documents.

I am really impressed with iCloud drive so far and use it daily to keep on top of any "in progress" documents / folders. I still use Dropbox for connecting and sharing with others - especially cross platform / non Mac users.

Once I finish a project I move the files / folder back to archive it in my work documents folder (MBP) and don't use iCloud for long term storage of any files or Media.

I have a ton of Keynote files and presentations and having iCloud drive is great for tweaking a presentation on a plane with iPad / iPhone and then later pulling it up on the MBP with all the updates already synced and ready on what ever device is easiest to use.

On the negative side big file changes and additions can bog everything down on a slow wifi - like at a hotel etc.

 

[fiveainone]

Starting with High Sierra, I have ditched DropBox and now use iCloud Drive for syncing with that box checked and it works really well. What was holding me back before was iOS access, but now with the Files iOS app, that is solved.

The only feature I do not have enabled is that Optimize Mac Storage option at the bottom. With that enabled, if your local drive get close to full iCloud remove the file from your local drive and just leave a placeholder link there to DL the file if you need it. The problem there is the only place that file exists is in iCloud and it is not backed up anywhere else. I'm not comfortable with that, so have the option disabled.

The only quibble I have is I wish it allowed Documents sync without Desktop sync. I have altered some of my workflow a little because of this. If you download say a 300MB video then move it to the Desktop to work do some editing, that 300MB files starts uploading to iCloud Drive. So you need to be a little careful what you drop on the Desktop.

Are you able to share links to specific files like Dropbox now? I briefly read something about iCloud being able to share links. That would be my only thing for still using Dropbox.

 

[bopajuice]

I have dropbox, OneDrive and now iCloud. I'm trying to streamline my data storage. While I do have a ton of OneDrive space (1TB), I really don't trust it all that much given the prior issues I've had. I think I'll see how the iCloud Drive works.


That's a really good idea, I'll consider something along those lines as well

What issues have you had with OneDrive? I am using it to store work related files and sync them up across my laptop and desktop. Mainly video, audio and word documents.

Ive only noticed little things. Like if you have a space in front of a folder label it won't sync. Or if you drag a folder from your OneDrive folder onto the desktop, the files appear in the trash on the other computer. Stuff like that? So far I have not lost any files.

 

[blackdogaudio]

I can only agree with you this is the irony of what happened - I had never intended for these files to be uploaded to the cloud they were there for temporary storage on what I considered to be the safest place ie a brand new hard drive?!
I was in the process of setting up an external drive and rearranging files in order to back them up.I had no idea that Apple would move them and lose them in the process. At least two other people have agreed the warning given is ambiguous and there still does not appear to me to be any logical reason why they should do this in the first place ie remove files from my hard drive and lose them.

I should also add for others information the reason I switched of connection from desktop and documents to iCloud was because it was interfering with me copying high quality audio file from the new hard drive to another new hard drive I was getting repeated error messages in that simple process which stopped as soon as I disconnected desktop and docs from iCloud.
[doublepost=1516007148][/doublepost]

That may have worked if I had time machine on. As I have tried to explain I was re arranging my backup disc in order to tidy up my files having purchased a brand new iMac and have a new external hard rive.

I did repeat what happened using a copied iPhotos library ie switched desktop and docs to iCloud put an iPhotos library in my docs which was not uploaded to included . switched of desktop and docs from iCloud received the same ambiguous warning followed by a message telling me that an archive folder would be created which it did but it did not contain the iPhotos library searching my computer confirmed to was lost.

My original post was moreso a comment about this feature working flawlessly without data loss but it assumes the user would not interrupt the initial data sync.

I fully understand where you are coming from...and I do think Apple should tweak their system with a pop-up perhaps to notify users that they shouldn't interrupt the initial file transfer when a device is first told to sync data to the cloud or one with a large amount of data being transferred without backing up prior. I don't think that's unreasonable in the least as they've clearly not anticipated your scenario.

 

[mikzn]

I would NEVER "trust the cloud" (not Apple's cloud nor anyone else's) for anything of value that I have.If it's dear to you, keep it backed up on a drive that you physically control. Or better yet, on more than one drive that you control.
But then, I'm an old curmudgeon. Check my avatar!

I agree . . .

I just assume iCloud files can evaporate with no advance notice and no option to retrieve them, because they probably will at some point.

And then plan your file storage and hard drives accordingly

 

[blackdogaudio]

I just assume iCloud files can evaporate with no advance notice and no option to retrieve them, because they probably will at some point.

And then plan your file storage and hard drives accordingly.

You should always have more than one backup as ultimately there is no safe or guaranteed backup.

I don't consider cloud storage as a backup. It's simply for convenient file access from any device I possess at the time.

 

[maflynn]

What issues have you had with OneDrive? I am using it to store work related files and sync them up across my laptop and desktop. Mainly video, audio and word documents.

Documents not syncing, Excel not being able to access the spreadsheets online, on my iPad, I'm not able to see my documents, even after re-logging in. Its not consistently doing it, but it happens enough that I'm not a big fan of OneDrive

 

[maflynn]

Let me add a complaint about OneDrive.

It seemed as far as I can tell the syncing of my OneDrive data has gone wrong. I had a number of spreadsheets updated last week and now when I needed to see those updated numbers and add on to them, I only see 12/31/2017 versions. I'm very upset and I'm now giving OneDrive the heave ho. I'm moving my documents to the iCloud. I'm also seeing if my latest backup has a newer version.

I'm not a happy camper however.

 

[Broowin]

I agree . . .

I just assume iCloud files can evaporate with no advance notice and no option to retrieve them, because they probably will at some point.

And then plan your file storage and hard drives accordingly

What makes it worse is they have fobbed me off without attempting to understand what happen at least to me or even consider that they could look at their system. I guess this would be an admission of responsibility and thus would not do it.

they have ignored my last letters to them.

 

[Pine Man]

If you put data into iCloud drive then decide to close it down you are warned that all data in iCloud should be downloaded or it will be lost.

You put your photos in there and didn't remove them before closing iCloud drive. Correct me if I am wrong.

On that basis how is it Apples fault that you lost your photos?

 

[Broowin]

A I do not believe the warning is clear which I believe is self evident since it did not stop me from clicking the button , others have agreed this


B I have received no sensible explanation as to why there's a necessity to remove files from my hard drive that have never been uploaded to iCloud

Are you happy that apple can remove files from your hard drive for no obvious reason?


C there's a subsequent message that states an archive file will be created which was done but did not contain the files. Surely they could have transferred the links to that file but they didn't


D information given about using iCloud states that if there is insufficient space excess documents will be stored on the computer until such time as there is available space. This also makes it less obvious that files will be removed.

Given that if I had accidentally erased the files it would have taken hours given their size (ie approx 100gb )and I would have been able to retrieve them from trash This was an instant loss without recourse . I do not believe they should allow this situation to arrise.


I should also say it took them two weeks of futile communication before they said that they would not take any responsibility and would not attempt to retrieve the files. That delay jeapourdised chances of retrieving the information. I think they had not as anticipated this situation and did not want to admit this.