How can I move a file from my Downloads Folder to iCloud Drive and delete it from the original Downloads Folder without deleting it from iCloud Drive? It seems that deleting it from Downloads also deletes it from iCloud Drive. I'm trying to move that particular file out of the Downloads Folder because it needs to be secure and not just sitting there wide open in a folder on my iMac.
iMac 27″, macOS 10.15
Correct. iCloud only syncs files in iCloud Drive by default. The only other locations that sync are desktop and the documents folder (and, only if enabled). Nothing else syncs. The downloads folder does not sync from a Mac. However, downloads on an idevice do sync with iCloud. You can see what is syncing at iCloud.com/files.
I did move the file into iCloud Drive but, when I went back and deleted the original file, it deleted it in iCloud Drive. How can I move it into iCloud Drive and delete the original without deleting it in iCloud Drive?
How do I enable my desktop/documents folder for sync in iCloud?
Unless you have the entire downloads folder in iCloud Drive, moving the file then deleting it should be possible (I do it all the time).
System Settings > Apple ID > iCloud > iCloud Drive. Once enabled, anything on your desktop or in the documents folder will sync with iCloud.
iCloud Drive is enabled on my iMac. Maybe I'm missing something here. If I understand you correctly, Downloads are not synced to iCloud. Do I just need to move the file in question to another location on my iMac for it to sync to iCloud? Then I can delete the original file without it also being deleted in iCloud? Is that the way it works?
I downloaded a file from one of my apps, and my iMac automatically put it in my Downloads Folder. I moved it to Documents so it would sync with iCloud which it did. When I deleted it from the Downloads Folder, however, it also deleted it from Documents and iCloud. My goal is to have it stored in a Private Place on my iMac. Is that not possible?
That’s not an expected behavior. Perhaps you’re making an alias and not a copy? Are you drag and drop from downloads to documents? Deleting a file in one directory should not affect another file. I’m trying to understand also how a file that you moved stays in the original folder. Eg. From downloads to documents.
Hello! It seems as the Downloads folder is on iCloud not on your Mac. Can you attach a screenshot of the sidebar of finder?
Correct. Downloads are not synced to iCloud Drive. You would need to move the file into iCloud Drive (or onto your desktop/documents folder if you have those enabled for sync in iCloud).
Thanks very much for your help. I'll work on it and get back to you with my results. Hope I can do this right.
Saving a file to iCloud Drive and deleting the original file on my iMac
