iCloud Drive is Apple’s cloud storage service that allows users to store and sync files such as documents, photos and videos between different Apple devices. It also offers the ability to share files with others and collaborate on documents in real time.
Have you tried the storage service, but you no longer want to use it? Then you can easily disable iCloud Drive on your iPhone, iPad or Mac. Your files will then no longer be stored online, but locally on your devices.
Disable iCloud Drive
- Open  ▸ System Settings on your Mac
- Navigate to your name (Apple ID)
- Choose ‘iCloud’
- Click on ‘iCloud Drive’
- Turn off the ‘Sync this Mac’ option
- Choose ‘Save copy’
On an iPhone or iPad, this can be done via Settings â–¸ your name â–¸ iCloud â–¸ iCloud Drive â–¸ enable the option ‘Sync this [apparaat]’ off â–¸ confirm switching off. If necessary, also save a copy of the files on your iPhone or iPad if the software asks for this.
Keep a copy of files
On a Mac, it is important that you keep a copy of the files in iCloud. If you don’t do this, the files will be deleted from your Mac and you will no longer be able to use them. This is not possible on an iPhone or iPad because access to iCloud Drive is always online and hardly any files are permanently stored locally.
Syncing stops
Once you turn off iCloud Drive, file syncing between your Apple devices will stop. This means that you can no longer access your files on your iPhone or iPad if they are stored locally on your Mac. Of course you can use other cloud storage services such as Google Drive or the European pCloud.
Clear files from iCloud
If you turn off iCloud, you will notice that syncing with this device will stop, but the files will still be stored in iCloud. You can then delete this via the iCloud website. Log in with your Apple ID, go to ‘Drive’ and choose ‘Browse’. Then place the mouse pointer on the folder you want to delete and click on the three dots to delete it. Repeat this for all folders.