How to Disable iCloud Sync for Desktop and Documents Folders on Mac

iCloud is a cloud storage and computing service developed by Apple Inc. It allows users to store data such as photos, videos, documents, and music on remote servers for download to iOS, macOS, or Windows devices. One of the features of iCloud is the ability to sync your Desktop and Documents folders across all your devices. While this can be convenient for some users, others may prefer to disable this feature for various reasons. In this article, we will discuss how to disable iCloud sync for Desktop and Documents folders on Mac.

Why Disable iCloud Sync for Desktop and Documents Folders?

There are a few reasons why you may want to disable iCloud sync for your Desktop and Documents folders. One of the main reasons is to save storage space on your iCloud account. If you have a lot of files and folders on your Desktop and Documents folders, it can quickly eat up your iCloud storage. Disabling iCloud sync for these folders will prevent them from being backed up to iCloud, freeing up space for other important files.

Another reason to disable iCloud sync is to prevent accidental deletion of files. If you delete a file from your Desktop or Documents folder, it will also be deleted from your iCloud account. This can be problematic if you accidentally delete an important file and it gets permanently deleted from all your devices.

How to Disable iCloud Sync for Desktop and Documents Folders

Disabling iCloud sync for your Desktop and Documents folders is a simple process. Follow these steps to turn off iCloud sync:

1. Open System Preferences on your Mac.
2. Click on the “Apple ID” icon.
3. In the sidebar, click on “iCloud”.
4. Uncheck the box next to “Desktop & Documents Folders”.
5. A pop-up window will appear asking if you want to keep a copy of your Desktop and Documents folders on your Mac. Click on “Keep a Copy” if you want to keep the files on your Mac. If you click on “Delete from Mac”, the files will be removed from your Mac but will still be available on iCloud.

Stop iCloud Backup for Desktop and Documents Folders

If you have already enabled iCloud backup for your Desktop and Documents folders, you can stop it by following these steps:

1. Open System Preferences on your Mac.
2. Click on the “Apple ID” icon.
3. In the sidebar, click on “iCloud”.
4. Click on “Manage” at the bottom of the window.
5. Select “Backups” from the list of options.
6. Find your Mac in the list and click on “Show Details”.
7. Uncheck the box next to “Desktop & Documents Folders”.

Turn Off iCloud for Desktop and Documents Folders

If you want to completely turn off iCloud for your Desktop and Documents folders, follow these steps:

1. Open System Preferences on your Mac.
2. Click on the “Apple ID” icon.
3. In the sidebar, click on “iCloud”.
4. Uncheck the box next to “iCloud Drive”.
5. A pop-up window will appear asking if you want to keep a copy of your Desktop and Documents folders on your Mac. Click on “Keep a Copy” if you want to keep the files on your Mac. If you click on “Delete from Mac”, the files will be removed from your Mac but will still be available on iCloud.

By following these steps, you can easily disable iCloud sync for your Desktop and Documents folders on your Mac. This will help you save storage space and prevent accidental deletion of important files. Have you disabled iCloud sync for your Desktop and Documents folders? Let us know in the comments.