Working with iCloud Drive on Mac

iCloud users can store files on the web, manage photos, contacts, or notes, among other things. iCloud Drive is part of iCloud. iCloud Drive allows people to access, edit, and store all kinds of files. The files are stored online. This will update them on any device with iCloud Drive if there is an internet connection.

iCloud users need an internet connection and a free Apple ID. iCloud is aimed at users of a Mac, iPhone and/or iPad. The program is therefore standard on the Mac.

iCloud cannot be used without an Apple ID. You must therefore be logged in to the Mac with an Apple ID. If you are logged in, iCloud is also turned on. The various parts of iCloud still need to be turned on or off. Check if you are logged in as follows:

• Click the Apple logo at the top left of the screen.
• click on System Preferences.
• click on Apple ID (macOS 10.15 Catalina or later) or iCloud (macOS 10.14 Mojave).
• If your name is at the top of the window, you are logged in.
• If not, but do you have an Apple ID? Then click in the field behind ‘Apple ID’.
• Enter the email address associated with the Apple ID.
• click on Next one.
• Enter the corresponding password.
• click on Next one.
• A verification code may arrive on one of your Apple devices. On that device, click/tap Allow.
• The code appears on the screen. Enter the verification code on your Mac.
• Enter the Mac password if prompted and click OK.
• Decide if you want to merge Contacts, Calendars, and Safari with iCloud. We click merge.
• Decide if you want to set up Find My Mac. Read the explanation in the window for this. We click Allow.

iCloud may be on the computer, but iCloud Drive may not be turned on yet. Check that like this:

• Click the Apple logo in the top left.
• click on System Preferences.
• click on Apple ID (macOS 10.15 Catalina or later) or iCloud (macOS 10.14 Mojave).
• Put a check in iCloud Drive, if not already checked..
• Click behind ‘iCloud Drive’ on Options.
• Choose which data you want to keep in iCloud Drive automatically. For example, put a check in front of ‘Desktop’ and ‘Documents’ folder if you want to put these folders including content in iCloud.
• click on Ready.
• Click on the circle with a cross in the top left to close the settings window.

In the cloud service iCloud Drive, the user can store and view all kinds of files. Open a file like this:

• Open the Finder. To do this, click the smiley face icon on the Dock .
• In the Finder window, click iCloud Drive.
• Double click on a file to open it.

Folders are useful for organizing files. Create a new folder like this:

• Open the Finder.
• Click on the left side of the window iCloud Drive.
• Click in the menu bar on Archive.
• click on New map.
• Type the name of the folder and press the Enter key.
• The folder has been created. Double click on the folder to open it.

To store a file online with iCloud Drive, simply put the file (or a copy of it) in the iCloud Drive folder in the Finder. Copy a file or folder from the Finder as follows:

• Open the Finder.
• Click the file or folder you want to copy.
• Click in the menu bar on Change.
• click on Copy ‘XXX’. Where XXX stands for the name of the file or folder.
• In the Finder on the left, click iCloud Drive.
• Click in the menu bar on Change > Paste part.

The file or folder is in its old location on the computer, as well as in iCloud Drive.

Move files to another folder in iCloud Drive like this:

• Open the Finder.
• Click on the left side of the window iCloud Drive.
• Click in the menu bar on Archive > New tab.
• An additional tab opens in Finder. Both tabs allow you to browse different folders in the Finder. In the second tab, navigate to the file you want to put in iCloud Drive.
• Click on the file to be moved and hold down the mouse button.
• Drag the file to the iCloud Drive folder tab.
• The tab lights up and opens. Now put the file in the folder and release the mouse button.

The file is now in the selected folder.

Delete files you don’t want to keep from iCloud Drive. This frees up space for other files.

• Open the Finder.
• Click on the left iCloud Drive.
• Right click on the desired file.
• Click in the menu on Move to Trash.

The file has been deleted everywhere, including online. The deleted file will be in your Mac Trash and online for 30 days in the Recently Deleted folder.

Do you still want to keep a deleted file? Then restore the file as follows:

• In the Dock, click the Trash icon .
• Right click on the file.
• click on put back.

The file is now back in the iCloud Drive folder.