@nematode You write: "If you check the box, all of the files will be downloaded from the cloud and restored back to your computer." and all the icloud files will be downloaded to the local desktop and hard drive. I don't see that option. I originally deleted the files from icloud and they disappeared from the local desktop. I restored them (except for a couple that said they could not be restored "at this time" but I got them back from Time Machine. My question is how can I keep all the files on my desktop when I turn off the icloud "Desktop and Documents" backup in the icloud preferences? When I check the box, it warns that all past desktop and documents will be removed from the local desktop and saved on icloud. I just want to have all my files local and turn off icloud for everything. I tried downloading the folders and files with the cloud icon next to them, but I don't know if that will do the trick. When I saw your comment "If you check the box, all of the files will be downloaded from the cloud and restored back to your computer." I thought there was something I could do in icloud to download the files, but the download icon is not active. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I despise the iCloud default.