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Old screenshots suddenly appeared on my desktop.

Today I have suddenly had very old screenshots, images and folders show up on my desktop for reasons I can not understand.


It seemed to have happened between 2:30pm and 5:10pm this afternoon when I was not using my computer. (No one else has access or was home to use it.)


Some items also have the cloud with the down arrow on it (see picture.)


I put these in the rubbish bin ages ago and believe I deleted them. (I do so about every 1-3months). These photos are from over a year ago.


The only think I can think that might have triggered this is that I started up a Mac Book Pro that I haven't used in about a year.


I looked at it again today and the same photos that are on my iMac are also on my laptop.


I no longer want them on either computer so how do I get rid of them once and for all?


Thanks. :)

iMac 21.5″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Nov 7, 2021 11:32 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Nov 8, 2021 5:42 PM

Hello BjornstadFægir4744,


Welcome to the Apple Support Communities. From your post, screenshots are appearing on your Desktop that have been deleted. We'll explain and provide some guidance on how to remove them.


Based on the cloud icon from your photo, that means they are downloading them from iCloud which is also why you are seeing them on your laptop as well. You mentioned not turning that computer on in a while. Most likely the screenshots synced to iCloud and are now syncing to your iMac.


If you delete them again by dragging them to the Trash, they should also remove from the other devices as iCloud Drive and Desktop and Documents sync changes: Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive


If you prefer, from the same link, it also shows how you can change the settings of that feature to prevent the items on Desktop and Documents from syncing to your other computers.


Best regards.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Nov 8, 2021 5:42 PM in response to BjornstadFægir4744

Hello BjornstadFægir4744,


Welcome to the Apple Support Communities. From your post, screenshots are appearing on your Desktop that have been deleted. We'll explain and provide some guidance on how to remove them.


Based on the cloud icon from your photo, that means they are downloading them from iCloud which is also why you are seeing them on your laptop as well. You mentioned not turning that computer on in a while. Most likely the screenshots synced to iCloud and are now syncing to your iMac.


If you delete them again by dragging them to the Trash, they should also remove from the other devices as iCloud Drive and Desktop and Documents sync changes: Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive


If you prefer, from the same link, it also shows how you can change the settings of that feature to prevent the items on Desktop and Documents from syncing to your other computers.


Best regards.

Old screenshots suddenly appeared on my desktop.

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