{"id":"icloud.desktop-folders-named-after-my-other-mac","url":"/faq/icloud/desktop-folders-named-after-my-other-mac","category":{"id":"icloud","title":"iCloud & iCloud Photos"},"subcategory":{"id":"desktop-and-documents","title":"Desktop & Documents in iCloud"},"question":"Why does iCloud Drive have Desktop and Documents folders named after my other Mac?","alt_questions":["Desktop - MacBook folder in iCloud","Two Desktop folders iCloud Drive","Documents - other Mac name iCloud","turn on desktop documents on second mac"],"short_answer":"When a second Mac turns on Desktop & Documents, macOS puts that Mac's existing files into folders named after it (Desktop – Mac name) so nothing gets mixed up. Sort them into place and delete the empty folders.","answer_markdown":"When you turn on **Desktop & Documents Folders** on a second Mac that already has its own files, macOS keeps them apart instead of mixing them: the second Mac's existing files go into folders named like **Desktop – Mac name** and **Documents – Mac name** inside the shared Desktop and Documents.\n\nNothing is lost. Look through those folders and move files where you want them, then delete the empty folders. After that, both Macs share one Desktop and one Documents.","answer_html":"

When you turn on Desktop & Documents Folders on a second Mac that already has its own files, macOS keeps them apart instead of mixing them: the second Mac's existing files go into folders named like Desktop – Mac name and Documents – Mac name inside the shared Desktop and Documents.

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Nothing is lost. Look through those folders and move files where you want them, then delete the empty folders. After that, both Macs share one Desktop and one Documents.

","answer_text":"When you turn on Desktop & Documents Folders on a second Mac that already has its own files, macOS keeps them apart instead of mixing them: the second Mac's existing files go into folders named like Desktop – Mac name and Documents – Mac name inside the shared Desktop and Documents.\n\nNothing is lost. Look through those folders and move files where you want them, then delete the empty folders. After that, both Macs share one Desktop and one Documents.","tags":["desktop and documents","two macs","icloud drive"],"related":[{"id":"icloud.files-missing-from-desktop-after-turning-on-icloud","question":"Why did my Desktop files move after I turned on Desktop & Documents in iCloud?","url":"/faq/icloud/files-missing-from-desktop-after-turning-on-icloud"},{"id":"icloud.what-is-desktop-and-documents-folders-in-icloud","question":"What does the Desktop & Documents Folders option in iCloud Drive do?","url":"/faq/icloud/what-is-desktop-and-documents-folders-in-icloud"},{"id":"icloud.why-are-there-duplicate-file-2-copies-in-icloud-drive","question":"Why do I see copies like \"file 2\" in iCloud Drive?","url":"/faq/icloud/why-are-there-duplicate-file-2-copies-in-icloud-drive"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"Why does iCloud Drive have Desktop and Documents folders named after my other Mac? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"When a second Mac turns on Desktop & Documents, macOS puts that Mac's existing files into folders named after it (Desktop – Mac name) so nothing gets mixed up. Sort them into place and delete the empty folders.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"iCloud & iCloud Photos","path":"/faq/icloud/"},{"name":"Why does iCloud Drive have Desktop and Documents folders named after my other Mac?","path":"/faq/icloud/desktop-folders-named-after-my-other-mac"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/desktop-folders-named-after-my-other-mac","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Why does iCloud Drive have Desktop and Documents folders named after my other Mac?","alternateName":["Desktop - MacBook folder in iCloud","Two Desktop folders iCloud Drive","Documents - other Mac name iCloud","turn on desktop documents on second mac"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"When you turn on Desktop & Documents Folders on a second Mac that already has its own files, macOS keeps them apart instead of mixing them: the second Mac's existing files go into folders named like Desktop – Mac name and Documents – Mac name inside the shared Desktop and Documents.\n\nNothing is lost. Look through those folders and move files where you want them, then delete the empty folders. After that, both Macs share one Desktop and one Documents.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/desktop-folders-named-after-my-other-mac"}}]},"fragment":"
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iCloud & iCloud Photos · Desktop & Documents in iCloud

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Why does iCloud Drive have Desktop and Documents folders named after my other Mac?

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Short answer: When a second Mac turns on Desktop & Documents, macOS puts that Mac's existing files into folders named after it (Desktop – Mac name) so nothing gets mixed up. Sort them into place and delete the empty folders.

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When you turn on Desktop & Documents Folders on a second Mac that already has its own files, macOS keeps them apart instead of mixing them: the second Mac's existing files go into folders named like Desktop – Mac name and Documents – Mac name inside the shared Desktop and Documents.

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Nothing is lost. Look through those folders and move files where you want them, then delete the empty folders. After that, both Macs share one Desktop and one Documents.

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