For versions Monterey and Past

Step 1: Click on the Apple icon in the upper left corner of your Mac's screen.

Step 2: Select System Preferences... from the dropdown menu.

Step 3: Click on iCloud in the Preferences window.

Step 4: Click on Options next to iCloud Drive.

Step 4: Un-tick the box next to Desktop & Documents Folders.

Step 5: Click on Done in the bottom right corner of the window.

Restoring your files

Nothing is deleted from iCloud Drive, so your files are safe, but to restore these two folders and put them back the way they were, you have to download the Desktop and Documents folders from iCloud. This process can take some time depending on the number of files.

Step 1: Open a Finder window and select iCloud Drive in the sidebar.

Step 2: Open the iCloud Documents folder and press Command+A then Command+C to select and copy everything.

Step 3: Open the Documents folder on the Mac’s disk and press Ctrl+V to paste everything in. All the files and folders will then download.

For versions Ventura and forward.

Step 1: From your Mac, choose Apple menu > System Settings.

Step 2: Click Apple Account. In macOS Sonoma or earlier, click Apple ID.

Step 3: Click iCloud.

Step 4: Under Saved to iCloud, click Drive. In macOS Sonoma or earlier, under Apps Using iCloud, click iCloud Drive.

Step 5: Turn off Desktop & Documents Folders.

Step 6: Click Done.

Step 7: What happens when you turn off Desktop and Documents.

When you turn off Desktop & Documents Folders, your files stay in iCloud Drive and a new Desktop and Documents folder is created on your Mac in the home folder. You can move files from iCloud Drive to your Mac as you need them or select all of your files and drag them to the place you want to keep them.

Contact Support

If you have any questions, please feel free to give us a call at (800) 750-4777, or you can email us at [email protected] or open a chat in the bottom right corner of our main website or HIP Office!