How to Store Mac Downloads in iCloud Drive Automatically – Guide
Apple’s iCloud is a cloud storage solution that offers online storage for photos, messages, music and other data. It can also be used to back up an iPhone, making it easy to sync data when switching devices. The first 5 GB of space is free; after that, users can pay a monthly fee for 50 GB (£0.79/$0.99), 200 GB (£2.49/$2.99) or 2 TB (£6.99/$6.99). Plus, iCloud storage can be shared with family members for even more value.
ICloud makes working from home simpler, providing a secure backup for your files and enabling you to access them on any device.
Discover how to keep your documents in sync across all of your Macs, iPad and iPhone with iCloud. We also have articles on other iCloud features, such as syncing photos and music, and backing up your iPhone.
Create a new downloads folder on iCloud Drive
Create a new folder on your iCloud Drive from your Mac and name it “Downloads” for easy access. Ensure the folder is not buried as a subfolder.
You can transfer your Downloads folder contents to iCloud Drive, allowing you to automatically download older files and avoid starting from scratch. However, if you’d prefer a fresh start with iCloud Drive, this step can be skipped.
To quickly transfer all your files from the old Downloads folder to the new iCloud Drive folder, simply go to the Downloads folder, click on the List View icon at the top, select all items by clicking on the first one and holding down Shift while clicking on the last one, then copy and paste them into iCloud Drive.
Change browser settings
To make sure your downloads are stored in the right place, change your browser settings. In Safari, go to Preferences in the menu and select the General tab. Then, choose the Location of file download option and select your iCloud Drive folder from the drop-down menu.
Chrome users can access their iCloud Drive folder by clicking the Menu icon, navigating to Settings, and selecting Show advanced settings. At the bottom of the page, they’ll find a Downloads option which they can click Change to select their iCloud Drive folder.
Close your browser’s preferences and settings, then download an image or link to ensure it is functioning correctly.
Create new shortcuts
It’s time to update your Mac’s Downloads shortcuts. To start, open the Finder and take a look.
Mac users running macOS Sierra should drag their Downloads folder to the iCloud Drive section of the sidebar, alongside their Desktop and Documents. OS X users should drag it to Favorites.
Create a shortcut to your iCloud Drive Downloads folder in your dock for easy access to synced files from other devices. The shortcut will update live, so you can quickly access the most up-to-date versions of your files.
Final note
This guide explains how to store Mac downloads in iCloud Drive automatically. If you have any questions, please reach out for help. Share the article with your friends to show your appreciation.
