Document and Desktop Sync With Multiple Macs

[sfwalter]

If I currently have two Macs in which I want to sync with Documents and Desktop will I have two copies of my Documents and Desktops on iCloud Drive?


Basically I want to have one Documents directory on iCloud Drive shared between two Macs is that possible?

 

[cdcastillo]

I really do not know if this applies to you, but maybe you could use "Folder Sync" app from the Mac App Store to keep several folders on your macs mirrored

 

[sfwalter]

I really do not know if this applies to you, but maybe you could use "Folder Sync" app from the Mac App Store to keep several folders on your macs mirrored

I want to use a cloud service for automatic synching between devices. I can use dropbox, but since I'm already paying for iCloud I would prefer to use it.

 

[chabig]

Apple has answers:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT206985

 

[techwarrior]

If I currently have two Macs in which I want to sync with Documents and Desktop will I have two copies of my Documents and Desktops on iCloud Drive?

Basically I want to have one Documents directory on iCloud Drive shared between two Macs is that possible?

That is exactly how it works.

All of the Desktop and Documents on the first Mac will be moved from ~/Desktop and ~/Documents to a hidden folder (something like ~/Library/Mobile Documents/), place a new finder Sidebar link to these "hidden" directories and files, and upload everything to iCloud. Then, when you activate it on the second Mac, it will do the same, including downloading anything from iCloud that you don't have on the second Mac. Eventually, the two will have identical directories and files in these locations, with a copy on iCloud.com as well.

Two tips. let the first one complete its sync before you activate it on the second. Basically, check the web folders to see if they seem to reflect the stuff on your first Mac. Maybe even let it run overnight to be sure. Then, when you activate on the second one, it will upload and download until everything is in sync. The process can take time, I recently did this for a Mac I restored from backup (new SSD) and it took an hour or two for downloads to complete.

 

[sfwalter]

When I did the dust Mac

That is exactly how it works.

All of the Desktop and Documents on the first Mac will be moved from ~/Desktop and ~/Documents to a hidden folder (something like ~/Library/Mobile Documents/), place a new finder Sidebar link to these "hidden" directories and files, and upload everything to iCloud. Then, when you activate it on the second Mac, it will do the same, including downloading anything from iCloud that you don't have on the second Mac. Eventually, the two will have identical directories and files in these locations, with a copy on iCloud.com as well.

Two tips. let the first one complete its sync before you activate it on the second. Basically, check the web folders to see if they seem to reflect the stuff on your first Mac. Maybe even let it run overnight to be sure. Then, when you activate on the second one, it will upload and download until everything is in sync. The process can take time, I recently did this for a Mac I restored from backup (new SSD) and it took an hour or two for downloads to complete.

When I synced my first Mac I saw that it created a directory under iCloud Drive called "Documents - iMac". iMac is the name of my machine. Based on that I thought when I enablled Documents synching on the second Mac it ouwld create a second Documents folder such as "Documents - MBP".

So when I sync my second Mac will it go under "Documents - iMac"?

 

[techwarrior]

Not sure I follow, where do you see the Documents - iMac?

I am using this on two Minis. One at work, one at home with different names on both machines. On both, I have an iCloud container on the Finder sidebar that contains iCloud Drive, Desktop and downloads folders, no qualifier. On iCloud.com, there are the usual folders for Keynote, Numbers, et and Desktop and Documents, again no qualifier.

Also, in Finder, the iCloud Drive folder contains a Documents and Desktop folder, with no qualifier.

On my systems, everything in these iCloud folders are 100% in sync on both machines and on iCloud.com.

 

[MBAir2010]

i used the "pages" app a lot.
a single document can be read, edited and saved on the iPad, mini and macbook air.
this world for all pages documents.
images i drew on an iPad could go to all devices through "folder".
all using the iCloud and running sierra or later.

i hope this helps