Sign in to iCloud to access your photos, videos, documents, notes, contacts, and more. Use your Apple ID or create a new account to start using Apple services. Question: Q: Can I force iCloud Drive to download all of my files? I recently purchased a new MacBook Pro running High Sierra. I store all of my files in iCloud so when I set up my new Mac, all of my files are available. Dec 27, 2018 If you use iCloud Drive often, especially on your iPhone or iPad, then having fast access to it on your Mac can be a big help. You can certainly open your iCloud Drive from Finder or from iCloud.com, but if you want to access it with a click, there’s a better way. Here’s how to add an iCloud Drive shortcut to your Mac desktop or Dock.
iCloud Drive Desktop and Documents sync has been a game changer in terms of Mac users having the same stuff on all computers. Dropbox is probably more reliable and flexible, but it requires that you have a workflow of saving stuff into your Dropbox folder, and some Mac users just don’t want to do that; they want to put stuff in the Desktop and Documents folders that come on the computer, and call it a day.
iCloud Drive Desktop and Documents (which I’ll just call iCDD) takes care of that for them. And then, when they buy a new computer, rather than restore from a Time Machine backup (which is what I’d still recommend), they can just sign into their iCloud account and have access to all of their stuff, much like on their iPhone.
But what about the Downloads folder? Apple makes clear they expect what’s in your Downloads folder to be temporary, to be moved to elsewhere, or deleted. But that’s not how I roll, and many other people don’t either. Stuff accumulates there and I might want it regardless of what computer I actually downloaded it on.
Download Documents From Icloud Drive To Mac
If you want a synchronized Downloads folder, do this:
- Open iCloud Drive
- Make a Downloads folder in it
- Put that Downloads folder in your sidebar (it will look like a regular folder, rather than a circle with a downward pointing arrow)
- Move everything in your existing Downloads folder to the new Downloads folder
- Remove the old (circular) Downloads folder from your sidebar by dragging it out, or by unchecking it under Finder -> Preferences -> Sidebar
- Open Terminal, and type:
sudo rm ~/Downloads; ln -s ~/Library/Mobile Documents/com~apple~CloudDocs/Downloads/ ~/Downloads - Enter your computer password (which you won’t see as you type)
If you’re not comfortable using Terminal, instead set each of your browsers, in their Preferences, to use your new Downloads folder instead of the one in your Home folder.
Repeat the above on each of your computers.
How to download photos and videos from the Photos app
If you want to save a copy of your photos and videos from the Photos app to your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch with iOS 10.3 or later or iPadOS, or your Mac with OS X Yosemite 10.10.3 or later, follow these steps.
On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch
- Go to Settings > [your name].
- Tap iCloud, then tap Photos.
- Select Download and Keep Originals.
On your Mac
- Open the Photos app.
- Choose Photos > Preferences.
- Select iCloud, then click Download Originals to this Mac.
On your PC
If you're using a PC, you can set up iCloud for Windows and download a copy of your photos and videos from iCloud Photos.
Learn what happens when you delete a photo from iCloud Photos.
How to download photos and videos from iCloud.com
If you want to save copies of your photos and videos from iCloud.com to your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or your Mac or PC, follow these steps.
On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch
Icloud Drive Download Windows
- Open the Photos app.
- Tap Select, then tap a photo or video. Tap more than one to select multiple photos or videos, or tap Select All to select your entire library.
- Tap More in the lower-right of your screen.
- Choose Download, then tap Download to confirm.
On your Mac or PC
Icloud Drive Download
- On iCloud.com, click Photos and select a photo or video. Hold the command key on your Mac or control key on your PC to select multiple photos or videos.
- Click and hold the download icon in the upper corner of the window. If you want to download your photo or video as it was originally captured or imported, choose Unmodified Original. For JPEG or H.264 format — including edits, and even if it was originally in HEIF or HEVC format — choose Most Compatible.*
- Click Download.
Full tilt poker fur mac download. Learn what happens when you delete a photo from iCloud Photos.
How to download photos and videos from Shared Albums
You can download copies of photos and videos in Shared Albums to your own library. https://treeant930.weebly.com/blog/mac-app-store-xcode-download-location. Learn more about how to use Shared Albums.
On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch
- Open the Photos app, then go to the Albums tab.
- Scroll down to Shared Albums and select an album.
- Tap the photo or video, then tap .
- Choose Save Image or Save Video.
On your Mac
- Open Photos, then select a Shared Album from the left-hand menu.
- Select the photo or video.
- Control-click > Import.
What happens when you delete photos or videos
Remember, when you delete a photo from iCloud Photos, it also deletes from iCloud and any other device where you're signed in with the same Apple ID — even if you turned on Download and Keep Originals or Download Originals to this Mac. If you choose to download your originals, this also impacts your device storage. Learn more about how to manage your device storage. You can also learn how to AirDrop your photos and videos to another device.
Learn more
- Discover the best ways to take and manage your photos.
- See how to transfer photos and videos from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
- Learn how to manage your iCloud storage.
- See how to archive or make copies of the information you store in iCloud.