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Proper location of Desktop and Documents?

My Desktop and Document folders are in my iCloud drive. I notice only because today my iCloud storage is now full. I am not aware of having made any big additions to either folder, but now they are taking up room in iCloud.


Is there someplace else on my hard drive where I can place either or both?

Mac mini, macOS 13.4

Posted on Aug 15, 2023 4:03 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Aug 15, 2023 4:07 PM

If the Desktop & Document option for iCloud Drive is turned on, those folders are moved from the Home folder on your Mac to the iCloud section of the Finder sidebar.


If you want to turn off the Desktop & Documents option of iCloud Drive, see the following from Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive - Apple Support


Turn off Desktop and Documents

  1. From your Mac, choose Apple menu  > System Settings. In macOS Monterey or earlier, choose Apple menu  > System Preferences. 
  2. Click Apple ID, then click iCloud.
  3. Next to iCloud Drive, click Options.
  4. Deselect Desktop & Documents Folders.
  5. Click Done.


What happens when you 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.

3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Aug 15, 2023 4:07 PM in response to R_55a

If the Desktop & Document option for iCloud Drive is turned on, those folders are moved from the Home folder on your Mac to the iCloud section of the Finder sidebar.


If you want to turn off the Desktop & Documents option of iCloud Drive, see the following from Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive - Apple Support


Turn off Desktop and Documents

  1. From your Mac, choose Apple menu  > System Settings. In macOS Monterey or earlier, choose Apple menu  > System Preferences. 
  2. Click Apple ID, then click iCloud.
  3. Next to iCloud Drive, click Options.
  4. Deselect Desktop & Documents Folders.
  5. Click Done.


What happens when you 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.

Aug 15, 2023 4:07 PM in response to R_55a

You probably added the Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive, which allows you to share your files from your Mac Desktop and your Documents folder to all of your devices. Take a look at the "Turn off Desktop and Documents" of the Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive - Apple Support article to find out how to disable it and free up iCloud storage.

Proper location of Desktop and Documents?

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