Saving documents on the hard drive. not iCloud

I just bought the new MacBook Pro with the touch bar and it has 256gb memory. When I save things it automatically saves them to iCloud, and there is even an iCloud folder. I don't need to use iCloud and would simply like to save everything to the hard drive, just like in the older MacBooks. Now I have a lot of files with "Out of Space" written underneath them.

Is there a way I can just save everything directly to the hard drive?

Show more Less

MacBook Pro (13-inch, Late 2016, 4 TBT3), iOS 10.2

Posted on Jan 10, 2017 9:43 PM

Me too (4207) Me too Me too (4207) Me too Reply Question marked as Top-ranking reply User level: Level 1

Posted on Jul 29, 2017 1:00 PM

I have the same question. When I followed your instructions, it gave me this message: "If you continue, items will be removed from the Desktop and the Documents folder on this Mac and will remain available in iCloud Drive." That sounds like the OPPOSITE of what I want to accomplish.

Show more Less 72 replies

Loading page content

Page content loaded

Question marked as Top-ranking reply User level: Level 1

I have the same question. When I followed your instructions, it gave me this message: "If you continue, items will be removed from the Desktop and the Documents folder on this Mac and will remain available in iCloud Drive." That sounds like the OPPOSITE of what I want to accomplish.

Show more Less User level: Level 1

I would agree when it comes to how the iCloud Drive wants to manage how I use my documents on my laptop - it's not convenient. I assume this setup is Apple's way of locking people in to using their cloud storage system, which will require that more cloud space be purchased, and that if we want "our" documents, then we have to stay in the iCloud Drive ecosystem. The idea of being able to access files from multiple devices is fine, but as far as I can see, the iCloud Drive is a "service" that is dictating how and where I want to store information. If someone has a clearer understanding of the iCloud Drive system, I would welcome your comments.

Show more Less User level: Level 8 43,464 points

If you continue, items will be removed from the Desktop and the Documents folder on this Mac and will remain available in iCloud Drive." That sounds like the OPPOSITE of what I want to accomplish.

If your turn off iCloud Drive from the iCloud preferences, NOT the Desktop and Documents folder sub-option, you should get the dialog you are looking for.

Then you'll get this dialog, which give you the option to download your files to an archive before turning off iCloud Drive.

Show more Less User level: Level 9 52,621 points

caglatry wrote:

How can I create folders on imac or mac? I want this folder to be somewhere else other than desktop or documents. (I would like to save documents under a different folder than desktop or documents - otherwise they will be automatically saved to icloud drive.)

thanks!

They will only be "automatically" saved to iCloud Drive if you have set it up to do that. If you want them saved to your local hard drive instead, then go to >System Preferences>iCloud>iCloud Drive>Options>, and turn off Desktop & Documents. Then follow the instructions to move them back into your hard drive from iCloud Drive, and you will be all set:

Turn off Desktop and Documents

When you turn off Desktop & Documents Folders, your files stay in iCloud Drive and a new Desktop and Documents folder is created on your Mac in the home folder. You can move files from iCloud Drive to your Mac as you need them, or select all of your files and drag them to the place you want to keep them.

User uploaded file

  1. From your Mac, go to Apple menu > System Preferences > iCloud.
  2. Next to iCloud Drive, click Options.
  3. Deselect Desktop & Documents Folders.
  4. Click Done.

If you turn off iCloud Drive or sign out of iCloud, you have the option to keep a local copy of your files that are in iCloud Drive. Whether you decide to keep a local copy or not, a new Desktop and Documents folder is created in your home folder. If you choose to keep a local copy, your files in iCloud Drive are copied to a folder called iCloud Drive (Archive) in your home folder. Then you have the option to move any files that were in your iCloud Desktop and Documents, back to your new local Desktop and Documents.

User uploaded file

Show more Less User level: Level 1

The problem I'm having is that when I turn of iCloud Drive (deselect the box you are referring to), all of my files disappear even though I select "save a copy". There is no iCloud Drive (Archive) that I can find with the local copy.

You indicated that you can save your files in another location before unchecking "iCloud Drive", but I have no other location I can save them to.

What I'm trying to do is turn off iCloud Drive and save my existing documents to my hard drive. None of the above instructions work to turn either save my documents to a different location prior to unchecking the iCloud Drive box in System Preferences, or to access the copy that was supposedly saved after I unchecked the iCloud Drive box in System Preferences.

Show more Less User level: Level 1

I just followed this and said keep a copy. However, I can not find an iCloud archive anywhere. All my files are now deleted and don't know how to get them back. Please help as some of the files were very important. Was just trying to save files on my hard drive and now iCloud Drive.

Show more Less User level: Level 9 52,621 points

The poster did not clearly state what the issue was, or how the size of their hard drive was related to their iCloud issues.

MessiahMusic wrote:

The fact is that the default setting on the new OS sets everything to go to the iCloud, which only has 5GB available for free, and for those of us with phones, chances are that is already full of photos etc. Thus, the very moment you try to save anything the iCloud is full.

The new OS does not set everything to go to iCloud. If you are specifically referring to Desktop & Documents, you may have simply overlooked the page where the question as to whether you want to use it or not came up. The option to not use it isn't very prominent, so it is easy to do. But it is just as easy to turn it off if you don't like it:

Turn off Desktop and Documents

When you turn off Desktop & Documents Folders, your files stay in iCloud Drive and a new Desktop and Documents folder is created on your Mac in the home folder. You can move files from iCloud Drive to your Mac as you need them, or select all of your files and drag them to the place you want to keep them.

User uploaded file

  1. From your Mac, go to Apple menu > System Preferences > iCloud.
  2. Next to iCloud Drive, click Options.
  3. Deselect Desktop & Documents Folders.
  4. Click Done.

If you turn off iCloud Drive or sign out of iCloud, you have the option to keep a local copy of your files that are in iCloud Drive. Whether you decide to keep a local copy or not, a new Desktop and Documents folder is created in your home folder. If you choose to keep a local copy, your files in iCloud Drive are copied to a folder called iCloud Drive (Archive) in your home folder. Then you have the option to move any files that were in your iCloud Desktop and Documents, back to your new local Desktop and Documents.

If you are using iCloud Photo Library, that is also your choice. I don't use iCloud Photo Library - never have. So, if you have photos in iCloud, it is because you chose to turn on iCloud Photo Library.

You must be signed into iCloud for some services, but you have complete control over what parts of iCloud you use.

If you want to save a document in iCloud Drive, then make sure you have enough storage to do so. If you are using iCloud Photo Library, it is highly unlikely that the 5GB free that you get will be enough to house that library as well as anything else you might want to store on iCloud.

Here is an overview of the various parts of iCloud that may clarify how it works for you: iCloud Deconstructed | Communities