Back up with iCloud

One of the simplest ways to back up your Mac is with iCloud Drive and iCloud Photos. Together these protect:

Note: For more comprehensive coverage, consider Acronis True Image.

To check that your desktop and documents are being backed up:

  1. Click Apple menu > System Preferences.
  2. Click Apple ID followed by iCloud on the left.
  3. Ensure iCloud Drive is ticked.
  4. Next to iCloud Drive, click Options.
  5. Ensure that Desktop & Documents Folders is ticked.
  6. Click Done.

To check that your photos are being backed up:

  1. Open the Photos app.
  2. Click Photos menu > Preferences.
  3. Click iCloud.
  4. Ensure that iCloud Photos is ticked.

Consider combining iCloud with a local disk backup using Time Machine.

Testing it

In the same way that it’s wise to test your smoke alarms, you might want to do a drill now and then to be sure your iCloud backups really are working. The best way is to check the iCloud website, which gives you a direct view of your iCloud storage, as opposed to the local data on your Mac:

  1. Visit icloud.com and sign in with your Apple ID.
  2. Choose iCloud Drive and check that a document you’ve created recently is present.
  3. Go back and choose Photos, and check that your most recent photo or video is present.

Any doubts?

Helping my customers keep their information safe is one of my top priorities. If you’re in the North Oxford, Kidlington or Woodstock areas and have any doubt about whether your data is being comprehensively backed up, please visit my home page to get in touch.