Where does iCloud import files from? And when is it completely disabled?

[Uheello]

Hello!

I'd like to know, does iCloud import files from Mac to web server from entire Mac or just from certain folders. If I make separate pictures folder (not the one Apple has provided in Mac), will those files stay untouched or will those also be imported to iCloud if it is enabled?

What folders does iCloud upload to web server?
Files from desktop?
Folders users make themselves?




EDIT: Learning more info gave me more questions and I'm not sure if making new thread is polite.

1) If I make folder next to Documents folder (to same place where Documents is), but not in there, will this folder be ignored by iCloud?

2) If I have all boxes unchecked/empty in iCloud menu (example with checked boxes) is it disabled?
By menu I mean this:
https://support.apple.com/library/AP...CloudPrefs.png


3) In this article it says that "Some features aren’t available or are listed differently in earlier OS X versions."

https://support.apple.com/kb/ph2613?locale=en_US

Does this mean some iCloud features are not available in earlier OS versions? English isn't my first language and I first read it as "some iCloud features are not listed in menu" and therefore can't be disabled manually.

So which version is right:
a) some iCloud features are not available in earlier OS X versions
b) some iCloud features are not listed in menu and therefore can't be disabled manually

I'm pretty sure it's a), but I'd still love confirmation.


4) If all boxes are empty and I have also signed out from iCloud in my Mac, it is disabled, correct?

But what if I log back in to menu in Mac - if boxes are still empty, will iCloud still be disabled or will it automatically start uploading files to web server?

My worry is, if I don't want to use iCloud and have signed out, but want to go and check something, will it be disabled or will my files still end up in web server? Or can I go and open iCloud menu without it going to grab my files I do not want to be uploaded?

5) Checking my iCloud and Apple account settings and discovered that when I enter iCloud from my Mac, there are no files (and I have not uploaded any either), but when checking iCloud from icloud.com, it says there is 10.5 MB documents. So is this some sort of filler that means nothing?

Mac mini, OS X El Capitan (10.11.6)

 

[Phil A.]

The only folders iCloud will sync with your mac and therefore upload (assuming you turn it on) are Desktop and Documents (and subfolders of those two)

 

[Uheello]

The only folders iCloud will sync with your mac and therefore upload (assuming you turn it on) are Desktop and Documents (and subfolders of those two)

So anything on Desktop is uploaded?
If I make my own My Documents folder next to Documents, will that be untouched?

EDIT: one more out of curiosity: if I have all iCloud boxes unchecked, but log into iCloud it from Mac's menu, it is still not enabled and won't be uploading to web server, right?
The boxes have to be checked for it to be enabled?

 

[MaxusHastings]

Correct

Anything you place in "Documents" will be uploaded, the same with desktop (if you turned it on).

 

[Uheello]

Correct

Anything you place in "Documents" will be uploaded, the same with desktop (if you turned it on).

One more out of curiosity: if I have all iCloud boxes unchecked, but log into iCloud it from Mac's menu, it is still not enabled and won't be uploading to web server, right?
The boxes have to be checked for it to be enabled?

 

[Uheello]

Due to making new thread being likely impolite towards forum rules, I edited my first post.
New questions from word "EDIT"

 

[ApfelKuchen]

One more out of curiosity: if I have all iCloud boxes unchecked, but log into iCloud it from Mac's menu, it is still not enabled and won't be uploading to web server, right?
The boxes have to be checked for it to be enabled?

Not sure what you mean by "Mac's menu."

iCloud Drive on your Mac is controlled in System Preferences > iCloud. If something is checked (or un-checked) there, that's how iCloud will behave (for your Mac).

The only other way to "log into iCloud" from your Mac is via the iCloud.com web page. That web page DOES NOT control your Mac - it displays the information that is present on Apple's servers.
[doublepost=1487020821][/doublepost]

So anything on Desktop is uploaded?
If I make my own My Documents folder next to Documents, will that be untouched?

It may be easier to speak of this in terms of "outside" or "inside," rather than "next to."

This is probably what you mean:

User > Documents
User > My Documents

If so, then yes, the files you put into "My Documents" would not be uploaded.

The key point here is that, if you enable iCloud Drive for the Documents folder, anything you place inside the Documents folder will be synced/uploaded to iCloud.

So, if you did this:

User > Documents > My Documents

Then anything you put into My Documents would also be uploaded. (Note that, due to the way I diagrammed this, "Documents" and "My Documents" are next to each other).

 

[Uheello]

Not sure what you mean by "Mac's menu."

When you log into iCloud from Mac, not from website. This window:
https://support.apple.com/library/A.../PUBLIC_USERS/133314/S0008_MaciCloudPrefs.png
Sorry, don't know how to call it.

iCloud Drive on your Mac is controlled in System Preferences > iCloud. If something is checked (or un-checked) there, that's how iCloud will behave (for your Mac).

The only other way to "log into iCloud" from your Mac is via the iCloud.com web page. That web page DOES NOT control your Mac - it displays the information that is present on Apple's servers.
[doublepost=1487020821][/doublepost]

It may be easier to speak of this in terms of "outside" or "inside," rather than "next to."

This is probably what you mean:

User > Documents
User > My Documents

If so, then yes, the files you put into "My Documents" would not be uploaded.

The key point here is that, if you enable iCloud Drive for the Documents folder, anything you place inside the Documents folder will be synced/uploaded to iCloud.

So, if you did this:

User > Documents > My Documents

Then anything you put into My Documents would also be uploaded. (Note that, due to the way I diagrammed this, "Documents" and "My Documents" are next to each other).

YES! Thank you, this is what I needed to know.
[doublepost=1487029197][/doublepost]

Not sure what you mean by "Mac's menu."

iCloud Drive on your Mac is controlled in System Preferences > iCloud. If something is checked (or un-checked) there, that's how iCloud will behave (for your Mac).

The only other way to "log into iCloud" from your Mac is via the iCloud.com web page. That web page DOES NOT control your Mac - it displays the information that is present on Apple's servers.
[doublepost=1487020821][/doublepost]

It may be easier to speak of this in terms of "outside" or "inside," rather than "next to."

This is probably what you mean:

User > Documents
User > My Documents

If so, then yes, the files you put into "My Documents" would not be uploaded.

The key point here is that, if you enable iCloud Drive for the Documents folder, anything you place inside the Documents folder will be synced/uploaded to iCloud.

So, if you did this:

User > Documents > My Documents

Then anything you put into My Documents would also be uploaded. (Note that, due to the way I diagrammed this, "Documents" and "My Documents" are next to each other).

Do you have any idea what could cause that 10.5 MB when I enter iCloud from my Mac, there are no files (and I have not uploaded any either), but when checking iCloud from icloud.com, it says there is 10.5 MB documents. Some sort of filler that means nothing?

I may have at first uploaded a calendar that had one day change in it - could that cause this much data?

 

[ApfelKuchen]

You can have iCloud Drive enabled, even if you don't have the Documents and/or Desktop enabled. You could also be saving documents from your iOS devices to iCloud, even if iCloud Drive is not enabled. Presuming you have an iOS device, go to Settings > iCloud > Storage > Manage Storage to see what's going on.

No, Calendars wouldn't show up as "documents" in your iCloud storage. However, if you are using an iCloud.com email address, that can take up space.

 

[Uheello]

You can have iCloud Drive enabled, even if you don't have the Documents and/or Desktop enabled. You could also be saving documents from your iOS devices to iCloud, even if iCloud Drive is not enabled. Presuming you have an iOS device, go to Settings > iCloud > Storage > Manage Storage to see what's going on.

No, Calendars wouldn't show up as "documents" in your iCloud storage. However, if you are using an iCloud.com email address, that can take up space.

I unchecked all boxes in iCloud so that means it is disabled? I also signed out. Maybe it uploaded something before I did it then.
No iOS device.
Never used that email either.

Guess only way is to enable iCloud again, sync it and see it actually shows what files I have there this time. And maybe lets me delete them.