iCloud & iCloud Photos · iCloud Drive basics
Will I lose my iCloud files if I erase or sell my Mac?
Short answer: Files fully uploaded to iCloud are safe — erasing the Mac doesn't touch your account. Anything only on that Mac, including iCloud files still uploading, is at risk: check uploads finished, back up the rest, sign out of iCloud, then erase.
Files that have finished uploading to iCloud are safe — erasing the Mac doesn't touch your iCloud account, and they'll appear on your other devices and any new Mac. What's at risk is anything that exists only on that Mac: files outside iCloud Drive, and iCloud files that haven't finished uploading.
Before erasing:
- Check iCloud Drive has finished uploading — see telling a file has uploaded.
- Back up everything else, for example with Time Machine.
- Sign out of iCloud, then erase.
If Storage Studio moved items to an external drive, bring back what you need or keep the drive — see what happens to moved files.