iCloud Drive as a backup with local files intact

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Level 1

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iCloud Drive as a backup with local files intact

Here was the problem: when I used iCloud Drive and Desktop/Documents the iCloud Drive deleted the actual documents in my Documents folder and copied them to the iCloud; that's peachy, but (a) I want a backup copy, not just a copy on Apple's servers, and (b) I could not access my files without internet, and (c) Time Machine has nothing to backup, because it's all in the Cloud.

Here was my solution:

1: put my files in a folder (or several) in my homefolder

2: use Automator to Copy Finder Items (copy the folder/s I just put in homefolder) to the Documents folder; Automator does this automatically so I do not need to remember to do it

This

gives me my original files on my Mac
backs them up to the iCloud Drive
allows Time Machine (should I decide to backup to an external drive) to find the originals and back them up

Voila ! Problems solved.

PS: in Automator you create a new Folder process, then select "Get specified Finder Items", then select "Copy Finder Items" . . . I'm not being sufficiently descriptive here but my attention span has expired

iMac 21.5″ 4K, macOS 13.4

Posted on Aug 1, 2023 5:10 PM

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Answer 1

FoxFifth

Level 10

472,263 points

Jul 12, 2024 8:16 AM in response to LydsakaJJ

Access the local copy of iCloud by using the iCloud section of the Finder sidebar (below the Favorites section of the sidebar). If you have the Desktop & Documents option of iCloud Drive, your Documents folder will have been moved from the Favorites section to the iCloud section.

If they aren't shown there, go to the Finder > Settings (or Preferences) menu (at the top of the screen) and click Sidebar at the top of the Settings/Preferences window and put a checkmark in front of those items.

Note that Finder will show local copies and will also show iCloud files that don't have a local copy. If you have the Optimize option turned off, you should have local copies for everything. You can tell which are local and which (if any) or not by looking at the icons in the Finder column as described in the "View iCloud status" section of Get file, folder, and disk information on Mac - Apple Support

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Answer 2

FoxFifth

Level 10

472,263 points

Aug 1, 2023 6:58 PM in response to doninsbca

Or just don't turn on "Optimize Mac Storage" in Apple menu > System Preferences (Or Apple menu > System Settings in Ventura).

If that setting is not turned on, there is always a local copy of iCloud Drive including Desktop & Documents.

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Answer 3

Jul 12, 2024 6:44 AM in response to FoxFifth

A year late to the thread but incase anyone sees and can help…. this might sound like an obvious question, but where is this local backup stored? Still on desktop and local documents folder? Or are the ‘downloadable’ iCloud versions still visible in those locations?

For context, I decided to use iCloud again, because I want to access my files on a second MacBook, more so than a back up. It synced my files to the cloud, but the of course when I deselected desktop and documents, everything vanished from desktop etc. I only later discovered that turning off ‘optimise storage’ option should keep a local back up. I’m wondering if there is now no local copy due to having only deselected ‘don’t optimise storage’ after initially syncing to iCloud. To my knowledge there is pleanty of HDD space, so should it have kept local copies even with optimise storage selected?

Help appreciated!

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iCloud Drive as a backup with local files intact

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