{"id":"icloud.files-missing-from-desktop-after-turning-on-icloud","url":"/faq/icloud/files-missing-from-desktop-after-turning-on-icloud","category":{"id":"icloud","title":"iCloud & iCloud Photos"},"subcategory":{"id":"desktop-and-documents","title":"Desktop & Documents in iCloud"},"question":"Why did my Desktop files move after I turned on Desktop & Documents in iCloud?","alt_questions":["Desktop files disappeared iCloud","Where did my Desktop go after iCloud?","Documents folder moved to iCloud Drive","desktop and documents now under icloud in sidebar"],"short_answer":"Turning on Desktop & Documents Folders moves those folders into iCloud Drive, so Finder lists them under iCloud in the sidebar. Your files are still there; they now sync and may become online-only with Optimize Mac Storage.","answer_markdown":"Turning on **Desktop & Documents Folders** moves those two folders into iCloud Drive, so Finder now lists them under **iCloud** in the sidebar instead of under your home folder. Your files are still there — open Desktop or Documents from the sidebar's iCloud section.\n\nFrom then on they sync to iCloud and your other devices, and with Optimize Mac Storage some files may become online-only. If you'd rather keep them local, see [turning Desktop & Documents off](/faq/icloud/what-happens-if-i-turn-off-desktop-and-documents-in-icloud).","answer_html":"

Turning on Desktop & Documents Folders moves those two folders into iCloud Drive, so Finder now lists them under iCloud in the sidebar instead of under your home folder. Your files are still there — open Desktop or Documents from the sidebar's iCloud section.

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From then on they sync to iCloud and your other devices, and with Optimize Mac Storage some files may become online-only. If you'd rather keep them local, see turning Desktop & Documents off.

","answer_text":"Turning on Desktop & Documents Folders moves those two folders into iCloud Drive, so Finder now lists them under iCloud in the sidebar instead of under your home folder. Your files are still there — open Desktop or Documents from the sidebar's iCloud section.\n\nFrom then on they sync to iCloud and your other devices, and with Optimize Mac Storage some files may become online-only. If you'd rather keep them local, see turning Desktop & Documents off.","tags":["desktop and documents","icloud drive","finder"],"related":[{"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.what-happens-if-i-turn-off-desktop-and-documents-in-icloud","question":"What happens to my files if I turn off Desktop & Documents in iCloud?","url":"/faq/icloud/what-happens-if-i-turn-off-desktop-and-documents-in-icloud"},{"id":"icloud.why-do-my-desktop-files-have-cloud-icons","question":"Why do files on my Desktop have cloud icons?","url":"/faq/icloud/why-do-my-desktop-files-have-cloud-icons"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"Why did my Desktop files move after I turned on Desktop & Documents in iCloud? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"Turning on Desktop & Documents Folders moves those folders into iCloud Drive, so Finder lists them under iCloud in the sidebar. Your files are still there; they now sync and may become online-only with Optimize Mac Storage.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"iCloud & iCloud Photos","path":"/faq/icloud/"},{"name":"Why did my Desktop files move after I turned on Desktop & Documents in iCloud?","path":"/faq/icloud/files-missing-from-desktop-after-turning-on-icloud"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/files-missing-from-desktop-after-turning-on-icloud","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Why did my Desktop files move after I turned on Desktop & Documents in iCloud?","alternateName":["Desktop files disappeared iCloud","Where did my Desktop go after iCloud?","Documents folder moved to iCloud Drive","desktop and documents now under icloud in sidebar"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Turning on Desktop & Documents Folders moves those two folders into iCloud Drive, so Finder now lists them under iCloud in the sidebar instead of under your home folder. Your files are still there — open Desktop or Documents from the sidebar's iCloud section.\n\nFrom then on they sync to iCloud and your other devices, and with Optimize Mac Storage some files may become online-only. If you'd rather keep them local, see turning Desktop & Documents off.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/files-missing-from-desktop-after-turning-on-icloud"}}]},"fragment":"
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iCloud & iCloud Photos · Desktop & Documents in iCloud

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Why did my Desktop files move after I turned on Desktop & Documents in iCloud?

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Short answer: Turning on Desktop & Documents Folders moves those folders into iCloud Drive, so Finder lists them under iCloud in the sidebar. Your files are still there; they now sync and may become online-only with Optimize Mac Storage.

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Turning on Desktop & Documents Folders moves those two folders into iCloud Drive, so Finder now lists them under iCloud in the sidebar instead of under your home folder. Your files are still there — open Desktop or Documents from the sidebar's iCloud section.

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From then on they sync to iCloud and your other devices, and with Optimize Mac Storage some files may become online-only. If you'd rather keep them local, see turning Desktop & Documents off.

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