How iCloud Drive Works on Mac, iPhone & iPad (Full Syncing Explained)
Video Overview & Insights
Have you ever wondered how iCloud Drive actually works โ or why files appear, disappear, and reappear across your Apple devices?
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In this in-depth video, I explain how iCloud Drive syncs files between a Mac, iPhone, and iPad, what happens when you turn features on or off, and how deleting, sharing, and organizing files really works behind the scenes.
For reference, this tutorial uses:
Is there a way to make iCloud sync with an external SSD instead of the internal SSD? I use iCloud for tons of raw 4K videos with a professional camera but I donโt want it opening into the local SSD all the time on my Mac mini.
โข macOS Ventura (13)
โข iOS 16
Thank you so much. I am in the process of switching completely to Mac products and it feels like I have been going down a rabbit hole to find someone who thoroughly covers all of the possible scenarios of different Apple products. I have subscribed. My search is over for the guidance I needed.
โข iPadOS 16
Youโll learn how to:
I think your information is wrong & incomplete. The concept of " i cloud " , a corporate invention, is a corporate scam to steal money from individuals. That's all it is. Why would anyone consider the iCloud product? (Conartist).
โข Enable and configure iCloud Drive on a Mac
โข Understand Desktop & Documents syncing
Good idea but too damn expensive.
โข Access iCloud Drive from any web browser
โข Share and stop sharing files and folders
AND THE THING THAT MAKES ME MOST UNHAPPY IS THAT ALL THIS WILL CHANGE DURING THE NEXT UPDATE. THAT SUXXXXXX.
โข Recover deleted files using Finderโs โPut Backโ feature
โข Avoid common syncing mistakes with multiple cloud services
But, can I open my bucket and pour it onto a different computer like if your dad died at 96 and left you his computer at home?
This video is ideal for beginners โ and for anyone who wants a clear mental model of how iCloud Drive actually behaves.
00:00 | Welcome Back
Boot camp for boomers glad they can rewatch at 10 % playback and take notes, right?
00:39 | What Is iCloud Drive?
01:23 | iCloud Drive Settings on Mac
Apple has officially got the most convoluted system ever made for backing up files
02:44 | Finder Preferences for iCloud Drive
05:43 | iCloud Drive on iPhone & iPad
But your desktop is in icloud drive? So why would I need to drag anything into iCloud drive?
06:19 | Accessing iCloud Drive from a Browser
06:50 | File Size & Type Limitations
Your information is really good, however you go way to fast do you have a beginner level, i mean slow step bt step. Being a senior, technology is moving at righting speed Iโm still in the Stone Age as far as technology is conferenced
07:28 | Are Apple Photos in iCloud Drive?
09:00 | One Cloud Sync Rule (Desktop & Documents)
Right, so my issue is not making things from the Mac appear in iCloud, but making things from iCloud appear on the Mac. Currently, all my docs are in iCloud and I want them to live on my local drive as well. But how do I do that? The documents used to be on my Mac as well as in iCloud, but I had a full wipe done as part of diagnosing regular crashing. Since then, the documents have only appeared in iCloud. The person who did the wipe seemed to think this was quite normal, but I don't like it!
12:53 | Saving Pages Files to iCloud Drive
14:20 | Saving Word Files to iCloud Drive
Thanks!
15:46 | Desktop & Documents Sync Explained
17:33 | How File Deletion Works
When you turned off Desktop & Documents from both Mac 1 & Mac 2, and delete the files from Desktop (iCloud), and Re-create some files in Mac 2 and enable Desktop & Documents in Mac 2, how come we see the Mac 1's Desktop files in both - Mac 1 is turned off still right? isn't it supposed to store only the files from Mac 2?
19:31 | Finder โPut Backโ Feature
20:27 | Sharing Files & Folders
Is there way to keep a MacBook Air M2 and a Mac mini M4 in sync using iCloud?
23:29 | Stopping Sharing
24:30 | Folders You Canโt Share
Great tutorial
Nicely delivered and explained
Thanks so much
U r the best
24:30 | Customizing Finder Toolbar
25:53 | File Path & Finder Tools
needed this info thank you so much
27:00 | iPhone & iPad Downloads Folder
29:19 | Turning Desktop & Documents Off
Update: On Sequoia, Preferences aren't there anymore. You choose Finder>Settings>Sidebar. This has tripped me up on numerous occasions where Preferences are referenced. Apple strikes again :-)
32:31 | Creating Files After Sync Is Disabled
34:45 | Turning iCloud Drive Off Completely
Really useful video despite 2 years published. A long time search how to connect my files on Mac with iCloud. Thank you!
Some helpful resources:
Set up iCloud Drive
Ex
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204025
Access and manage your files in iCloud Drive
Unwatchableโฆ guy still uses the most word filler I am an idiot word of โawes***eโ which was already old in 1982 to show us all how hip he is. Get some imagination and a real vocabularyโฆ.. UNWATCHABLE
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201104
Set up and use iCloud for Windows
I learned a lot from your video. One topic you didn't cover is: what if I want to make files available to my husband who has a different Apple ID? We used to share one Apple ID, which was very convenient, except -- that we were both getting each other's (i)Messages, so that we couldn't tell who was sending messages to whom. Anyway, we would like to be able to share the 2TB storage that we're paying for but which is only applicable (AFAIK) to one Apple ID. Can you explain more about sharing iCloud across Apple IDs? Thank you!
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201391
THE MOST IMPORTANT APP ON YOUR MAC! - Getting started with The Finder!
Top Video. One question: How you get the color of the finder-folders in the sidebar (blue) different to the color of the iCloud drive-folders (green-like) in the sidebar?
https://youtu.be/T2M3i652IUM
BACKUP YOUR MAC! - IN-DEPTH look at Apple Time Machine and many ways to save and recover your files!
VERY helpful! Mooochas gracias! ๐ฎ
https://youtu.be/LXl4QkrsxHQ
Understanding iCLOUD PHOTOS - Syncing iPhones, iPads, and Apple Computers IN-DEPTH
Very clear explanations for a new Mac user.
https://youtu.be/59Yjdbh1Q88
How to UPGRADE your iCloud Storage! - Beginners Guide of HOW and WHAT to purchase!
A very clear, helpful and informative video.
https://youtu.be/gclDTqviQUI
#joelfeld #learnwithjoel #iCloud #iCloudDrive #apple #cloud #filesync
On my iPad , I select a folder, click on share but I canโt find the options โWho can accessโ, neither can I find โPermissionsโ. Do I need to change some settings?
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What if you ARE moving large video files from iPhone to Windows 11 laptop? Iโm having the hardest time.
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Half way through video I decided dich Apple products.
More User Perspectives
Why does it have to be so complicated?
@anncothromoir1018Excellent tutorial! My second time refreshing my memory!
@kkay2000You go too fast and too many options , maybe cut the videos in subjects. Like first. How to work on pictures on iPad or clod
@albakambouris8067Thank you for your very informative videos. I think, after 12 years, Iโm finally seeing how iCloud Drive actually works ๐ณ. Subscribedโ
@DulciladyIโm sure the correct answe is a hard drive in the sky
@lesliewhicker7409If something needs a 38 minutes video to explain it maybe it's too complicated. Apple is prided on being user friendly but this experience has been anything but. Thanks for the video bc now I have a prayers chance of using this correctly.
@DemureDelight8055Love the Intel adverts!
@steves5172brilliant explanation Joel, thank you!
@jonkers2007If you have an external hard drive and itโs on the desktop and your desktop/documents tab is clicked on in iCloud does that mean your external drive and all its contents are now in iCloud?
@KelliDBHI think it is not safe to use it. Hacker could hack n steal your data or photos. Correct me if i am wrong..
@Jwalker0075You should check out Mac OS 13 Ventura. Ventura takes users (long time Mac users) into a whole different world............a "world" that I most certainly do not like! To put it bluntly Ventura (and I Sonoma) is a confusing, convoluted and frustrating mess! I believe Apple put some young whiz kid in charge of creating a whole new and different operating system and "whiz kid" had a field day playing around but without any thought or consideration for the people who would have to actually "use" this system. I say "if it ain't broke don't fix it".
@rogerbeltz2370I just love apple because it is so simple.
@Sealsn00-bc1izHow do I Stop iCloud From Dumping old Files I don't want anymore onto my; New Computer as in Fresh instal of Monterey after Sonoma Reek'd-Havoc on my whole system.
@zakaroonetwork777I want to be able to use icloud on my Windows machine. When I try to install it I get error messages about my "Outlook" being out of date an hence iCloud cannot be installed. I have contacted Apple support and they have not been able to fix it. I tried uninstallying outlook and reinstalling a new version and still does not work. This is nuts.
@gregsaiter3768Great video Joel - really explained a lot of things clearly. It might be just me, but could you perhaps explain why iCloud Drive only allows desktop and documents? When I used Google Drive, I synced my videos, photos and downloads folders too. Why are they not able to be selected?
@utilitarianThank you. I understand cloud storage(icloud, Onedrive, GoogleDrive etc) some more now. I am old guy who follows the old ways of physical storage .
@YingLui305How about apps that donโt have an option to be backed up into the cloud or drive? Or what about files within those apps? Can we select those to backup automatically?
@sef2273Oh so just save it all on ICloud Drive. This is way simpler than it seemed. Can easily do school essays on iPad now. Just delete one drive and save them to ICloud Drive then theyโll be on my mac. Thank you so much
@hoodedr6Is there any option for optimise iphone storage like optimize Mac storage? Suppose something I upload through Mac into iCloud then it should appear and access through iPhone iCloud also locally on iPhone without internet. something like automatic download iCloud files on iPhone similar to Mac. e.g. All the iCloud files should be stored locally automatically..
@sagarmahajan6512