Confused Document Folder

[Tomos]

I do hope this is the correct place to ask this point.

Good time to all.
I’m a little confused regarding the documents folder on my Mac book
One document folder is linked to the Apple cloud,and the other documents folder is there as listed with my name but not linked with the Apple cloud.
Can someone please explain to me the purpose of the folder that I’d named David but not linked to the cloud.
What would this document folder be used for?.
Been thinking about this document folder for a long time.
Many thanks.
David.

 

[IWT]

Hi David

Great to see you back.

I have a question for you. If you go into System Preferences > iCloud - is iCloud Drive ticked? Yes or No

If Yes; click on Options alongside it towards the right. Is "Desktop and Documents Folders" ticked?

Based on your replies, we can move on from there.

Ian

 

[Tomos]

Many thanks for reply.
Answer to both you questions are Yes.
What is the purpose of the two document folders?

 

[IWT]

Hi David

Now this is complicated. Have a very close read of this article from Apple which explains what these checked settings mean. In effect, you have asked Apple to manage/share your Desktop and Documents Folders via iCloud Drive.

Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive – Apple Support (UK)

Find out how to share your files from your Mac Desktop and Documents folders to all of your devices with iCloud Drive.

support.apple.com

The crucial thing, David, is that you should NOT turn off this facility until you have read the consequences of so doing, which is the last item in the article.

Of course, you may be entirely happy with your current arrangement; but if you decided to keep ALL your Desktop and Documents on your Mac instead of sharing, then we usually advise that you copy ALL of those items from iCloud Drive and store them completely separate from your Mac. If it were me, I'd store the copied items on an EHD.

Then if you turned off this facility, you'd likely lose these on your Mac and even the Cloud - but you could recopy them back into your Mac under Documents from the EHD.

But perhaps best of all, read the article in its entirety and come back to us before doing anything.

Best

Ian

 

[Tomos]

Thanks for the info. Can be a bit confusing.
in my folder that is names David and a image of a small house to the left of it. Ido have some information in that folder which I do a backup of. But in the Desktop folder is nil. I must have done a big mistake when I got this Mac book. If I do drag something into the desktop folder it shows on screen.
at the moment I have a clear desktop with on icons nor folders.
Bit confused.
well it’s been puzzling me for a while about that desktop folder. If I copy some of the items from my folder the one that is named David into the desktop folder do I have to have it showing on the desktop?
very sorry to be confusing. Sorry for the delay in replying to your replies don’t get email notification from forums
time for a break and a large whiskey.
big thanks.

 

[Tomos]

Ian.
im back. Been digesting all your info you passed on to me yesterday.
looking back I think I have made a bit of a confusing on setting up the documents.
this is what I did last night. I looked into the folder that is with my name and the little **. I chose some of the important files from there and put them into the desktop folder. Seems to be okay. May look into more to transfer later.
before I had the MacBook I was using Microsoft Windows and as you know the desktop are full of folders and files.
so when I changed to Mac it looked brilliant nice desktop with no folders and programs apps filling the screen. Now since this discussion with you I have one folder on my desktop that’s the folder desktop. Maybe I could hide that as time goes on.
just one more that folder with the little house and my name what’s the purpose of that folder.
Big thanks to you once again and having the time to assist me.
Thanks very much. Will let you know how I get on Have a merry Christmas as much as we can.
David. ?

 

[IWT]

Good man, David. Well done. Keep in touch. Always here to help and thank for your Christmas Greetings.

Ian