I've encountered some confusion while trying to manage my files using iCloud. I have a large folder of photos and videos (let's call it Folder A) that I moved from an external hard drive to my Desktop. After that, I backed up my Desktop to iCloud, so I'd expect Folder A to exist both on my Mac and in the cloud, right? However, I'm noticing that the cloud icon keeps appearing next to Folder A and its subfolders. I've clicked it multiple times, and while the files eventually download, the icon always comes back. I'm puzzled as to why it seems like Folder A primarily exists in iCloud instead of my desktop. I want to ensure that Folder A is securely stored in both locations at all times because I'm worried about losing my files. Is there something I'm missing? I transitioned from Windows to Mac, and I'm still getting used to things after years of using a different system.
1 Answer
What you're experiencing is normal for iCloud Drive. Its design is intended to save space on your Mac by offloading local files that haven't been accessed recently, meaning it's not actually storing all your files on your hard drive. It's essential to know that iCloud is not a traditional backup solution. To create backups, you should use Time Machine, which comes built into macOS. That way, you'll have a more reliable backup of your files.
Ugh, I really dislike that feature! So does it mean that the files only exist in iCloud? What happens if I rename or move them on my laptop?