iCloud drive moving files off local desktop

[babylonlarry]

Have a new mac mini on Catalina. I went to attach a file from desktop and found that icloud drive had moved it off my local desktop. I do not want any apps relocating the files I put somewhere. I've used dropbox for many years with no sense of "invasion". I deselected everything in system preferences except "find my" and moved all the icloud drive folders back to local desktop. How do I ensure that my files are not reorganized by any "apple agents"?

 

[monokakata]

Here's one thing to look at: make sure that in the iCloud settings window "Optimize Mac storage" is unticked.

Once you tick that (maybe it's the default; can't remember) than what you've experienced is going to happen.

 

[posguy99]

Have a new mac mini on Catalina. I went to attach a file from desktop and found that icloud drive had moved it off my local desktop. I do not want any apps relocating the files I put somewhere. I've used dropbox for many years with no sense of "invasion". I deselected everything in system preferences except "find my" and moved all the icloud drive folders back to local desktop. How do I ensure that my files are not reorganized by any "apple agents"?

By not checking the box that says to put Documents and Desktop into iCloud. I disremember the wording of the setting since I'd of course never use it.

 

[Taz Mangus]

System Preferences→Apple ID→iCloud→iCloud Drive→Options.... Documents tab, uncheck Desktop & Documents Folders.

 

[babylonlarry]

Thanks all for the reply. I've got so many devices that Dropbox wants me to upgrade, I did and trust them to "do no harm".

 

[monokakata]

Thanks all for the reply. I've got so many devices that Dropbox wants me to upgrade, I did and trust them to "do no harm".

Good choice. I've never had any Dropbox problems whatsoever in many years.

I only use iCloud when I'm forced to.

 

[posguy99]

Good choice. I've never had any Dropbox problems whatsoever in many years.

When Dropbox went to their "social" file sharing and decided to replace their app on macOS with the Electron monstrosity, I tossed them on the heap.

 

[monokakata]

I don't know anything about Electron. It's some kind of add-on? I use Dropbox in the simplest possible way, and I'll repeat that in that form, it's been perfect. Just plain old Dropbox. Shared folders on my Macs, my iPhone, my iPad. Nothing else. Of course I use the paid version, so maybe that's part of it.

 

[posguy99]

I don't know anything about Electron. It's some kind of add-on? I use Dropbox in the simplest possible way, and I'll repeat that in that form, it's been perfect. Just plain old Dropbox. Shared folders on my Macs, my iPhone, my iPad. Nothing else. Of course I use the paid version, so maybe that's part of it.

Dropbox replaced their native app with an Electron app last year. It was a mess. It is still a mess. I had been a subscriber for years and did not renew. They are this >.< close to malware now.

I like my data, so I won't use iCloud until Apple demonstrates competence in Internet services. I'm not holding my breath. Plus it's not compatible with anything outside the ecosystem without hacks even if Apple were competent.