Will Apple introduce store files in cloud without sync?

[whitedragon101]

Every major cloud file service (google drive, amazon drive, dropbox) provides drive in the cloud functionality. You can upload files to a remote drive in the cloud and then download or access them again when you need them. Apple don‘t (it’s always synced with your mac). The absence of this functionality seems conspicuous and hamstrings it’s use.

What are the chances Apple will add this cloud drive functionality to iCloud?

 

[0128672]

It sounds like you have iCloud Desktop & Documents enabled so it's always synced, but you can turn that off, keep all your Macs locally, and use iCloud Drive to upload and download as needed like the other services.

See the Turn Off Desktop & Documents section:

Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive - Apple Support

Learn how to share your files from your Mac Desktop and Documents folders to all of your devices with iCloud Drive.

support.apple.com

 

[whitedragon101]

It sounds like you have iCloud Desktop & Documents enabled so it's always synced, but you can turn that off, keep all your Macs locally, and use iCloud Drive to upload and download as needed like the other services.

See the Turn Off Desktop & Documents section:

Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive - Apple Support

Learn how to share your files from your Mac Desktop and Documents folders to all of your devices with iCloud Drive.

support.apple.com

Unfortunately iCloud always pushes files to the Mac. Always. Not just Desktop and Documents.

Task. Put a large amount of files (e.g 1tb) from a network drive onto your iCloud Drive but not store on any of your devices.

Attempt using Mac -Open iCloud Drive from the finder bar create a new folder. Drag files from the network drive into this new folder. Oh dear Mac drive isn't big enough can't do it. Ok but what about a smaller number of files. Transfer 10gb to the iCloud folder. What actually happens here is they are transferred to your Mac and then synchronised/uploaded to iCloud. Cool. So now they are in the cloud time to delete from the Mac. Delete the files from the Mac and bang check your iPad or web browser and they are gone from the remote iCloud Drive. Because it all syncs always.

Attempt using iPad - Do the same thing using the files app on iPad and you hit the same two problems. Plus the files automatically get pushed to your Mac. Always.

Attempt using web browser - Do the same thing and you hit iCloud webs file size limit. Then try a smaller amount of files and they upload but yes you guessed it they are pushed to your Mac.