Silly question: how do I disable desktop/documents folders from iCloud sync WITHOUT deleting all files from my computer?

[felixen]

I'm running out of space in iCloud and since iCloud Drive doesn't let you manually sync specific folders in your documents or desktop folders, I decided to unsync the whole lot via Settings > iCloud > iCloud Drive. However, if I untick desktop and documents in here, my Mac removes all files from my computer locally and only keeps them in iCloud. Super strange. How do I keep my files locally but stop syncing them to iCloud?

 

[sgtaylor5]

Create two folders in your username folder: LocalDesktop and LocalDocuments.

Copy all files and folders from your Desktop and paste them into your LocalDesktop folder.

Copy all files and folders from your Documents folder and paste them into your LocalDocuments folder.

The idea here is to get your files out of the iCloud folders. When you are sure that everything is copied properly to these alternate folders, you can delete and empty the trash of the contents of the iCloud folders.

* work slowly and carefully - don’t hurry. *

Once this is all done, you can turn off Documents and Desktop in iCloud Settings. When you see the Desktop and Documents icons switch from under iCloud to the upper section, you can move your files back to their normal folders.

 

[felixen]

Create two folders in your username folder: LocalDesktop and LocalDocuments.

Copy all files and folders from your Desktop and paste them into your LocalDesktop folder.

Copy all files and folders from your Documents folder and paste them into your LocalDocuments folder.

The idea here is to get your files out of the iCloud folders. When you are sure that everything is copied properly to these alternate folders, you can delete and empty the trash of the contents of the iCloud folders.

* work slowly and carefully - don’t hurry. *

Once this is all done, you can turn off Documents and Desktop in iCloud Settings. When you see the Desktop and Documents icons switch from under iCloud to the upper section, you can move your files back to their normal folders.

Thanks, that makes sense. I will do that

 

[sgtaylor5]

Glad I could help.

 

[allan.nyholm]

I've read about a .nosync folder and filename extension that be set to have some folders or files even, locally and not sync up with iCloud - thus having them locally.