can i store files on my macbook pro hard drive without having it backup to the icloud?
can i store files on my macbook pro hard drive without having it backup to the icloud?
Question marked as
Top-ranking reply
Yes. (although be aware the Macs can sync data with iCloud rather than backup data to iCloud.)
If you don't turn on iCloud Drive as described in Set up iCloud Drive - Apple Support then no files on your Mac will sync with iCloud.
If you do turn on that option, then only files that you save to the iCloud Drive folder on your Mac will sync with iCloud.
If you turn on the Desktop and Documents option then those files will sync. See: Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive - Apple Support
If you have any or all of those options turned on and want some files NOT to sync to iCloud, save (or move) them to a folder that is not synced with iCloud (i.e., a folder that is not in iCloud Drive on your Mac).
If you have any or all of those options turned on and want to turn them off, see either the "What happens when you turn off Desktop and Documents" or the "What happens when you turn off Desktop and Documents" section of Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive - Apple Support
Note that all of the above is about iCloud Drive but there are other syncing options such as iCloud Photos: Set up and use iCloud Photos - Apple Support
If any of the above is not completely clear to you, please reply with more questions (don't change any of your iCloud settings that you don't understand).
