How to Work with Desktop and Documents in iCloud

Set things up

During Sierra’s install, you’ll be asked whether to store Desktop and Documents folders in iCloud Drive. If you initially declined, you can enable it in iCloud’s System Preferences pane: click Options next to iCloud Drive and check Desktop & Documents Folders.

Access your files

Files awaiting upload or in the process of uploading show a progress indicator. Once done, there’s no real sign anything’s changed with your Desktop and Documents folders compared to El Capitan, other than them being under iCloud in Finder’s sidebar.

Use multiple Macs

If you activate syncing of Desktop and Documents on more than one Mac, their contents and changes are synced to those Macs (if online). If a Mac joins in later, its Desktop/ Documents go in a folder named after the Mac; things aren’t merged for you.

Try an older Mac

Although pre-Sierra Macs can’t sync Desktop and Documents to iCloud Drive, they can access those synced from Sierra. In Finder, pick Go > iCloud Drive. Items dragged from iCloud Drive to a pre-Sierra Mac are moved; hold Alt at the same time for a copy.

iCloud Drive on iOS

In iOS’s iCloud Drive app, you can access Desktop and Documents folders synced from Sierra. Tap a folder to open it, then tap a file to download and view (if its type is supported). Alternatively, tap the Share icon to send the item to another app for viewing or editing.

Find files online

When you’re using a non-Apple device, you can get to your files: sign in using your Apple ID at iCloud.com and click iCloud Drive. Your folders will (sometimes slowly) load. This works in Chrome on Android by checking “Request Desktop site” in the menu.