How to fix MacBook desktop not syncing properly with iCloud?

Question

How to fix MacBook desktop not syncing properly with iCloud?

I use both an iMac and a Macbook Pro. Both are set up to synch with iCloud - and they show identical storage details/file sizes etc.

BUT - the Macbook desktop has 6 documents on the desktop that are not on the iMac desktop!

When I try to delete them they just come back!!

If I try to move them I can only do this when the Macbook is disconnected from wifi - and as soon as I turn on wifi they come back!

How do I get rid of these 6 documents and get back to both desktops that are on the same iCloud drive being the same please?!!

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Desk top iClouds not in synch

MacBook Pro (2017 – 2020)

Posted on Jul 19, 2025 05:30 AM

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Answer 1

Aug 2, 2025 08:52 AM in response to Chris from Romsey UK

I'm to sure that I'm getting the details correctly. But different Mac, connected to the same iCloud account, will have different Desktop folders. That's so each computer user can have their own stuff on their desktop, but they can still have access to the other desktop. If both choose to sync their Desktop and Documents folders, then both sets will appear in iCloud Drive.

Can you address those possibilities in the way you describe the problem? (I have only one of my Macs sharing its Desktop, so my experience here is limited, I'm afraid…)

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