Important: Removing the Desktop and Documents folders from iCloud will delete that data.

Click Apple menu > System Preferences > iCloud.

To turn off iCloud storage of the Desktop and Documents folders: The Desktop and Documents folders have been added to iCloud drive. This article applies to Mac users with macOS 10.12 (Sierra) or higher installed. Using iCloud to store the Desktop and Documents folders has the benefit of making those files accessible on other devices that are signed in with the same AppleID, but also increases the likelihood that the user will need to pay to increase iCloud storage space. This means that the Desktop and Documents folders are using space on the user's iCloud drive. Given giants like Google is already going cloud, we certainly hope that Apple will improve its cloud service in the days ahead.A user's Desktop and Documents folders appear under iCloud instead of the local user's Home folder.

We definitely expected iCloud on Mountain Lion would bring a full backup or transfer feature onto our Macs - nope, it’s not possible yet. Check out our complete guide to backup Mac using Time Machine.Īpple surely may know how important it is, for any user, to have a backup. How to Backup Full Mac Hard Driveįortunately, every Mac comes with a built-in Time Capsule tool, which allows you to protect your whole HD for a rainy day. Do not go about buying additional iCloud storage space, only to learn that there’s no way to transfer “any” material to the cloud.

Our Macs require more than 55GB sometimes we all have songs, videos and tonnes of files and photos that can easily take over 100 GB disk space or more.Īpple must have settled for 55GB maximum space for several reasons a) Apple wants to test the waters with iCloud b) to avoid Mac users from syncing every files and folders from their Mac to the cloud.Ī lot of Mac users should know that it is not possible to upload files to iCloud. When I first learned about this, I had to question myself whether iCloud was really useful for me, in case my Mac HD is damaged in the future.Īpple’s iCloud offers free 5GB storage, and anyone can upgrade iCloud to 55GB by paying a yearly fee of $100. It’s Impossible to Backup Mac Data to iCloud AccountĪpple doesn’t allow you to move Mac’s system files or the whole hard drive (HD) to the iCloud. You can sync your documents, photos, mails and much more between your Mac and iCloud account.īut is it possible to do a full backup of your Mac data and transfer it to iCloud? The answer is, surprisingly, no. ICloud, Apple’s cloud service, has been tightly integrated with Mac OS X Mountain Lion.

Stop backing up mac to icloud