I have an iMac. Apple puts everything in iCloud drive. How can I avoid having to pay Apple for more storage? explain inside?

Unplug your Internet connection. Use flash drives for exchanging information between computers and the Internet.

I have never used iCloud drive becuase I don’t have a need to sync files from my computer to my phone. However I believe it’s as simple as:
System preferences>iCloud
Switch iCloud drive to OFF.

You do not have to save your files on iCloud. iCloud is simply an additional service, if you want cloud storage.

If you want to save files onto the hard drive, you can. When you are saving files, there is a destination folder that you can choose, you just choose one that is on your hard drive as opposed to iCloud. iCloud storage is just a default, you most certainly do not have to save everything to iCloud.

Apart from that as @RedDeerGuy1 has suggested, use usb memory sticks to transfer information from computer to computer.

Here is a screenshot for what I mean

I wonder if Steve Jobs ever realized that by bringing computers to people who lacked the skills to build their own system, he was creating the same sorts of problems he claimed he PC had…

You’re going to want to turn iCloud off. But before you do, you should copy some of the stuff in your iCloud over to the external hard drive then unplug the drive from your computer. The reason for that is that if iCloud handles drives anything like iTunes handled my old iPod, it wouldn’t surprise me if it erased all local copies of the files you have in the cloud, but it can’t erase files from a drive that is totally disconnected.

@NerdyKeith That “if” part is a little dicey considering we are talking a feature that is enabled by default. Personally, I prefer things like that to be opt-in rather than opt-out.

@jerv The if part, was in reference to the OPs preferences of what they intend to do. iCloud is nothing more than a destination drive for saving files.

Apple wants to promote this service so they have it set as the default. But you do not have to use it. You can either choose a different destination drive. Or alternatively, it can be turned off in the systems preferences (as you were suggesting yourself).

@NerdyKeith Well, you can turn it off and not use it if you have more computer skills than should be required for a system designed for and marketed towards those without computer skills.

@jerv Are you trying to suggest that the task of turning off iCloud is too difficult? I really don’t see how it’s difficult at all, it’s a very straight forward process. Apple’s website even offers step by step directions for such tasks.

But my first suggestion is an even easier option. Just a matter of clicking a different folder, then from then on the computer will save your files to the last selected folder or drive.

But just to throw out here macs have always been viewed as the computer of choice for designers and video editors.

Even so, you are making it sound more difficult than it really is. Pretty straight forward stuff really.

I should have said that iMacs are marketed for designers and editors. As in Mac computers developed after 2006. The ad you linked is pretty old.

@NerdyKeith Not exactly. I’m thinking it’s something that could’ve been handled better than just turning it on unannounced and making you dig a little when it misbehaves. Then again, I’m one of those that considers having a feature forced on me to be a sign of either poor design, bad marketing or shady ethics anyways, so I’m bound to have a different opinion of “on by default” stuff that forces me to go through effort to turn off instead of just behaving as-desired from the beginning (like asking during initial system setup) than those who cheerfully accept whatever they are offered.

Over the years, I have found that “default save directory” settings tend to change themselves spontaneously or otherwise be unreliable. It’s nice when it works, but my experience is that there is always (at least) one application that “didn’t get the memo” and puts stuff in the old location. Making the old location thoroughly and utterly inaccessible has historically been more reliable for me. Your video link about disabling iCloud entirely seems like a far better solution than your initial suggestion.

Oh, and most of the designers I know do 3D work that would bog an iMac’s laptop-grade GPU hard enough to make a PC that does the job twice as fast for one-quarter the price preferable, so I assume you are talking about those who deal strictly in 2D stuff like YouTube clips or page layout where iMacs would actually do okay rather than anyone into CGI or CAD/CAM that iMacs really don’t have the chops for.

@jerv I get where you are coming from. From Apple’s perspective the rationale behind having iCloud on by default would be that they are giving you all the available features by default. Then if you don’t like them, either don’t use them or turn them off. I suppose its like bluetooth in a way, either you don’t use it or you turn it off.

I get your point about the default save directory. I just felt that it would be an easier option for someone who wants a more user friendly way of doing things. But point taken.

When I mentioned design, I was actually talking about using applications for the Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash etc). The latest iMacs tend to handle these quite well. I have never attempted to do CGI animation on my Mac, but I can tell you from experience they can handle 3D graphic design perfectly well. I’m not going to speculate on CGI, because its not an area I have delved into to be honest.

Another point to make is that a lot of designers do prefer the mac interface for design applications. But it is a preference issue too. Obviously not every designer is going to choose mac over pc.

As a gamer who likes high framerates and a machinist who has better things to do with my time than waiting for a model to render, I’m a bit fussier about my GPUs than most people. The bottom-tier 27” iMac has a GPU slightly less powerful than many $100 mid-grade video cards like the one I have in my home PC. I guess it depends on how demanding one is, and I demand more than any iMac can deliver.

@jerv Oh yes, Macs are not geared for gaming. Personally, I have no interest in PC gaming. I use gaming consoles, mobile gaming and the Apple TV.

First I want to thank you all for your suggestions!! I did not realize iCloud drive was optional. I know it is the default storage. All my documents, photos and iTunes, applications and emails are stored in iCloud drive.

I am doing a back up now to my external hard drive. If I have this correct, then after the back up I will disconnect the external hard drive and THEN turn off iCloud drive? All backed up and disconnected. Now I will turn off iCloud drive?

@si3tech Yes, that will be fine. Your computer should not interfere with an external drive by simply turning off iCloud. But it’s best to disconnect the external drive anyway just in case.

Hope your Mac is working more to your liking after you implement those steps. Best of luck,

@si3tech Yep. You got it. And as @NerdyKeith out, disconnecting the external drive really is a “just in case” safety measure. It shouldn’t interfere even if you leave it connected, but the difference between “shouldn’t” and “won’t” is big enough that it’s best to play it safe.

Just make sure you got everything out of the iCloud copied to your external drive and then double-check before going to the next step. (~Not that I’ve ever made that mistake….)

I seem to be fine now after doing a reverse backup from external HD. You are really a bunch of super guys! (gals too of course!)

@si3tech You’re welcome, glad we could help :)

Don’t use iCloud if you do not have to.