You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

💡 Did you know?

⏺ If you can't accept iCloud Terms and Conditions... Learn more >

⏺ If you don't see your iCloud notes in the Notes app... Learn more >

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Can I eliminate specific folders from iCloud backup on my Mac Pro 16 inch?

Can I eliminate specific folders from iCloud backup on my Mac Pro 16 inch?

MacBook Pro with Touch Bar

Posted on Jan 25, 2021 6:52 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jan 25, 2021 9:11 AM

If you have iCloud Drive Desktop and Documents turned on and there are folders that you do not want to sync, you can move them out of the Desktop and Documents folders. One option is to open a Finder window, use the Finder "Go" menu and click Home on it and then create a new folder in the Home folder. You can then use Finder and drag folders that are currently syncing to iCloud from their current location to the new folder.


Also note that Apple offers iCloud Backup for iPhones and iPads but not for Mac computers.


It is possible to sync data from a Mac to iCloud if you turn on those options (e.g., iCloud Photos, iCloud Drive including the Desktop & Documents option). Syncing has some of the benefits of a backup (and the benefit of being offsite) but is not the same as a backup. Major differences include the fact that not everything on your Mac can be synced and the fact that if you delete something, accidentally or otherwise, there is only a limited time period (30 days in most cases) during which it can be recovered.


Also see: https://support.apple.com/mac-backup


And more information on syncing in:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204264

and

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201104

1 reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jan 25, 2021 9:11 AM in response to seawolf1

If you have iCloud Drive Desktop and Documents turned on and there are folders that you do not want to sync, you can move them out of the Desktop and Documents folders. One option is to open a Finder window, use the Finder "Go" menu and click Home on it and then create a new folder in the Home folder. You can then use Finder and drag folders that are currently syncing to iCloud from their current location to the new folder.


Also note that Apple offers iCloud Backup for iPhones and iPads but not for Mac computers.


It is possible to sync data from a Mac to iCloud if you turn on those options (e.g., iCloud Photos, iCloud Drive including the Desktop & Documents option). Syncing has some of the benefits of a backup (and the benefit of being offsite) but is not the same as a backup. Major differences include the fact that not everything on your Mac can be synced and the fact that if you delete something, accidentally or otherwise, there is only a limited time period (30 days in most cases) during which it can be recovered.


Also see: https://support.apple.com/mac-backup


And more information on syncing in:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204264

and

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201104

Can I eliminate specific folders from iCloud backup on my Mac Pro 16 inch?

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.