iCloud Setting up new macbook with same documents/downloads

[neljelpoo]

I use iCloud for documents and desktop on my MacBook Pro 16” 2019 and have just picked up a 2021 M1 Pro 14” MacBook Pro.


I am wanting my setup my 14” MacBook Pro as a new setup instead of using migration assistant to copy everything across because the only thing I want to copy over is Documents and Downloads from my old laptop.


I have backed everything up, and the one thing I want to avoid is uploading everything back up to iCloud because it will take a long long time.



If I load up my 14” as a brand new laptop, I’ll see my 16” documents and desktop on iCloud. What happens if I have 2 computers both using iCloud for documents/desktop? Do I get

1. 2 x Documents/desktop folders (one being a copy/or number 2)
2. 14” documents/desktop replacing 14” one
3. Maybe both laptops will use the same documents/desktop folder? (But what happens if I suddenly reformat my 16” MacBook and the files get deleted?)

Ultimately I want to reset my 16” MacBook Pro and use it for another reason but I want to make sure I don’t lose my files on iCloud when I reformat it.


I know I can just copy documents/downloads from my 16” and paste it into my 14” and upload everything back onto icloud. The only ‘issue’ is spending hours/days to re-upload the 200gb+ back onto iCloud from the new 14”.


Any suggestions or recommendations?

Thank you all so much in advance!