How to set up and use iCloud Drive in macOS Sierra

With the arrival of macOS Sierra, of which there are currently numerous betas for developers and also some public betas (in fact it is the time that we are being able to experiment with the largest number of betas), iCloud Drive is one of the many novelties of this new operating system that is taking a lot of strength for any Mac user. Even more so if you also have some other device from the Cupertino company with which to synchronize data and / or documents.

iCloud Drive allows any document or file, as well as information and application settings, to be hosted in the cloud, so that we will have easy access to our information from all devices that we use in our day to day. One of the great novelties of macOS Sierra is that it allows us to host all the information on our desktop as well as in the Documents folder, without them disappearing from the physical device and being stored in the cloud.

In this way, we have the assurance that our files are safely stored in Apple's private cloud, without the problem of not being able to access them. if we do not have internet at that time.

Although iCloud Drive it looks like dropbox in some respects, like the recently added Drag and Drop, performs automatic syncs as backups of each of our devices that are not possible in any other cloud. Thanks to the new improvements and changes in macOS Sierra, we can enjoy (in the public betas it is working quite well) these benefits that this new utility brings us.

Then you we explain step by step how you should configure your computer so you can enjoy this new feature on your own Mac:

• First we must access System preferences, where we find the settings dedicated to iCloud.

• Once there, be sure to check the checkbox where a blue cloud appears where it says «iCloud Drive«.
• Press on Options, on the right, to configure how you want this function to work on your Mac.
• All applications that save documents or some type of information in iCloud will appear. You just have to check the box those applications that you find useful to save your information. You can modify this later, adding or removing applications as you need at any time.

• Below is a very useful option called Optimize Mac storage, which is used to insert the less used information on your Mac, hosting it in iCloud to have more local space on your computer.

Next, your files that are both on your desktop and in the Documents folder they will start uploading automatically to your Drive. This process may take a while, depending on the number of files that exist. Once done, you are ready. Now you can access an automatically created folder in the Finder called iCloud Drive where you will find and manage all your documents.

It is important to note that this process is fully reversible and configurable. If we want this option not to be activated in any of the devices we have, it is only necessary to deactivate the iCloud Drive option in System Preferences - iCloud (if it is a Mac) or in Settings - iCloud (if it is a terminal with iOS software ) of any of them.

Synchronized documents can also be viewed on any iPhone or iPad device, thus having everything at your fingertips. This added advantage that Apple provides us with this new software is quite a progress towards improving our organization and ease of access to all the documents we need.

If you have not yet dared to test public beta (I personally think that it is already quite stable and it would not cause any danger to install it and enjoy it), it is estimated that the new macOS Sierra will be officially released sometime this Fall.