How do I find iCloud files on my Mac (SuperDuper question)

Software
1

I am setting up a new machine and haven’t thought about this in a long time. Running Ventura.

I have files synching to iCloud and have downloaded them to my laptop so they are local too. (I’m 99.999% sure this is a true statement.)

I’m now setting up Super Duper as a backup and it will backup local iCloud files. I would like to confirm this is happening. The problem is that I have no idea where to look on my laptop for my iCloud files. My files are NOT stored on the Desktop or Documents folders (which are also synched to iCloud).

I’m thinking these files are buried somewhere but if I look at them, it will simply show that their are within the iCloud Drive path structure.

I feel I’m missing something obvious.

2

They are in your home library in a folder named “Mobile Documents”.

3

Thanks. I found it.

However, now I’m looking at my external drive. Any ideas how to access that same folder on an external drive?

4

I use Carbon Copy Cloner. When I go to my cloned drive I cannot find this folder until I show invisibles. You can toggle this with command-shift-period

Let me know if this works. I working off my long ago memory of doing this. :grinning:

1 Like
5

Interesting. This helped although I now have a lot of digging to do. It just brought up a lot of stuff that doesn’t make sense.

6

I looked into this at one point, comparing what shows up in Terminal and what shows up in the Finder, and as best I can remember:

  • top-level folders “on” your iCloud Drive are in the Mobile Documents folder;

  • files in those folders are where you’d expect;

  • files you put the top level of your iCloud Drive – eg by just dropping them onto the iCloud Drive icon in Finder – are not in fact there. They are in a sub folder of your iCloud Drive folder – but for the life of me I can’t remember what it’s called, and I’m on mobile atm so can’t check

1 Like
7

They are in com~apple~CloudDocs