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How to Backup my iCloud Drive folders to a local external HD ?

Hi.

All my files are in iCloud ( iCloud Drive ) , I'm mainly using my iMac.

How can I Backup my iCloud Drive folders to a local iMac external HD ?

As no folders is stored locally in my iMac.

I want a local copy updated and automatically backup to use.

Thanks

iMac 21.5″

Posted on Feb 23, 2023 12:41 AM

Reply
8 replies

Feb 23, 2023 8:14 AM in response to muguy

Thanks for that.

I want a simple situation to achieve.

  1. All files and folders and data - in iCloud and sync between my Apple devices via iCloud Drive. ( I did not elected to optimize )

This is the situation now.

  1. In addition , Keep the Data locally in my iMac to use 3rd party backup software like CCC …
  2. Any advice to make it happened will be appreciated.

Feb 23, 2023 7:47 AM in response to rony-z

iCloud is primarily a synchronization service. Any file in iCloud is also on your device. However, if you elected to optimize files (in settings), then some files may have been offloaded into iCloud only.


when you make a Time Machine backup, anything on your computer backs up — including files that sync with iCloud. However, Time Machine, or other, backups cannot back up files not on your Mac. So, if you have optimize so that files are only on iCloud? You need to download all of the files first before backing up

How to Backup my iCloud Drive folders to a local external HD ?

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