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Wando64

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Jul 11, 2013
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THIS ISSUE IS NOW RESOLVED. Please read the entire post before answering. Thanks.

On previous versions of MacOS I used to be able to stop files optimisation which would ensure that in spite of using iCloud, a local copy of all files would be kept on my Mac.
This option seems to have disappeared in Ventura and all I can find instead is as from the attached screenshot, whereby either one keep files on iCloud (and have automatic optimisation turned on) or don't use iCloud at all.
Am I missing something?

Screenshot 2023-12-30 at 09.57.32.png


EDIT:
On another part of System Preferences there is another setting pertaining to iCloud as follows:
Screenshot 2023-12-30 at 10.08.27.png


Now I am truly confused. Turning on iCloud Drive should ensure all files are stored to iCloud. Therefore what is the other setting for? The language used used to be very simple and now is a right mess.

ANOTHER EDIT:
OK the plot thickens. Just to check things out I deselected the desktop and Document option from the first window and it accepted it without asking for confirmation.
After doing this, the option completely disappeared from the storage page of System Preferences.
Now when I go to the iCloud settings I find the familiar option to turn optimisation On or Off.
I have no idea why I had to go through this nonsense to make it appear again.
Anyway all is good now, and I hope this might help anyone facing the same issue.

Screenshot 2023-12-30 at 10.19.18.png



Final EDIT and summary:
To be clear the Dialog that threw me out is the first one of this thread. The second dialog is the one I have been familiar with from previous versions of MacOS.
The first dialog appeared only after I clicked on a button marked "Optimisation" while I was looking for the familiar Optimise Mac Storage switch (last image). This switch was nowhere to be found (it is now).
My system is now set-up as it was previous to my upgrade to Ventura (which I did months ago).
I've always had my system configured to store Desktop and Documents on iCloud but with the Optimisation switched Off so that a copy of all of my files is always kept on my local drive.
I can verify this with the Optimise Mac Storage option, which has now replaced the first dialog after the sequence of actions described in the post.
If this had not happened to me and I was reading this post I would be incredulous about the story of Dialog boxes disappearing and being replaced with other (more familiar) options. I would probably think that the user had taken a wrong turn somewhere. For this reason I have been tempted to just delete the thread, but I am firmly against people doing that as someone might have the same issue and find this useful.

Apple have really made a mess of the System Preferences on Ventura…
 
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Turning on iCloud Drive should ensure all files are stored to iCloud.

Turning on iCloud Drive and storing Desktop and Documents in iCloud Drive are two different things. That's why you have that switch in the 2nd screenshot. Conflating the two might have caused your confusion.
 
Turning on iCloud Drive and storing Desktop and Documents in iCloud Drive are two different things. That's why you have that switch in the 2nd screenshot. Conflating the two might have caused your confusion.

Thanks for replying.
While it is correct that they are different things, the dialog from the first screenshot is no longer available, so this is not the reason for the issue I have experienced.
I don’t understand why it was there in the first place, keeping in mind that A: it appeared after clicking on a button labeled “Optimisation” and B: it no longer exists.

After the sequence of actions I described in my post I can now see the normal option of turning on or off files optimisation (Last dialog in my post). This is the same option that I have been using on previous versions of MacOS.

Keep in mind that I have been using iCloud for years long before moving to Ventura and therefore this is not something I turned on recently. My system was already well and truly set-up to work with iCloud.

I only found this stuff as I was doing a heath check.
 
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