I have recently updated to MacOS Sequoia on my M2 Ultra MacStudio. I want to backup my Desktop folder and Documents folder using “drag and drop” onto an external ssd. However when I open my Home folder on the internal SSD (Macintosh HD > user > name > ) the two folders are not there. Only downloads, Movies, Music, Public, and a couple of others are there. What am I doing wrong?
Mac Studio, macOS 15.3
choonhtan wrote:
I have recently updated to MacOS Sequoia on my M2 Ultra MacStudio. I want to backup my Desktop folder and Documents folder using “drag and drop” onto an external ssd. However when I open my Home folder on the internal SSD (Macintosh HD > user > name > ) the two folders are not there. Only downloads, Movies, Music, Public, and a couple of others are there. What am I doing wrong?
https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/0c52d683-0ccd-4c56-be30-0d6ac2ab8488
Sounds like iCloud Drive got turned on...
Spin open the caret iCloud. Make changes in Finder>Settings if you do not see it(?)
look for your files there.
Set up iCloud Drive - Apple Support
Set up iCloud Drive - Apple Support
Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive - Apple ...
Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive - Apple Support
iCloud drive missing desktop and documents
What happens when you turn off iCloud Drive or sign out of iCloud
Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive - Apple Support
Recover deleted files on iCloud.com
Recover deleted files on iCloud.com - Apple Support
How to Restore Your Desktop and Documents After Disabling ...
How to find your Documents and Desktop folder contents after disabling ...
Finder>Go>Go to Folder>copy & paste:
~/iCloud Drive (Archive)
iCloud Drive (Archive) - here you should find all your files
choonhtan wrote:
I have recently updated to MacOS Sequoia on my M2 Ultra MacStudio. I want to backup my Desktop folder and Documents folder using “drag and drop” onto an external ssd. However when I open my Home folder on the internal SSD (Macintosh HD > user > name > ) the two folders are not there. Only downloads, Movies, Music, Public, and a couple of others are there. What am I doing wrong?
https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/0c52d683-0ccd-4c56-be30-0d6ac2ab8488
Sounds like iCloud Drive got turned on...
Spin open the caret iCloud. Make changes in Finder>Settings if you do not see it(?)
look for your files there.
Set up iCloud Drive - Apple Support
Set up iCloud Drive - Apple Support
Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive - Apple ...
Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive - Apple Support
iCloud drive missing desktop and documents
What happens when you turn off iCloud Drive or sign out of iCloud
Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive - Apple Support
Recover deleted files on iCloud.com
Recover deleted files on iCloud.com - Apple Support
How to Restore Your Desktop and Documents After Disabling ...
How to find your Documents and Desktop folder contents after disabling ...
Finder>Go>Go to Folder>copy & paste:
~/iCloud Drive (Archive)
iCloud Drive (Archive) - here you should find all your files
It sounds like you have turned on the Desktop and Documents option of iCloud Drive. If you have done that you should see your Desktop and Documents folders in the iCloud section of the Finder sidebar. See information in Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive - Apple Support
@ FoxFifth
Thank you for your quick response. Yes, I'm on iCloud. I have considered turning off iCloud temporarily to get the Desktop folder visible in the home folder, but the last time I did that, the icons are rearranged neatly on a grid on the right half of the screen when I turned on iCloud Drive again. This doesn't work for me as I like the scattered "order in madness" way I arrange the icons on the screen. Perhaps due to working in the creative services for too long I have developed woolliness in my neural network. I shall wait and see. Cheers.
Thank you for your suggestions. I shall explore them and see if there's a solution somewhere. Best regards.
Desktop and document folders missing from home folder
