Illustrated workthrough with Desktop & Documents Folders option turned on, showing file layouts in the GUI and file system. And a new version of Cirrus to do it with.
Cirrus
This free tool can now show iCloud files and folders in place, with info about upload/download errors and more. Invaluable for tackling iCloud issues.
Consistency is an overriding design principle for the human interface. However you use iCloud storage, it adopts different behaviours from those of the Finder. Apple needs to evolve the iCloud interface to improve it, and to empower the user.
New version gives control over whether files are stored locally, monitors individual files and folders, runs a test upload, and gives log access for diagnostics.
How to open an iCloud document, when macOS can’t open it until it has been downloaded: the dog really did eat my homework this time.
How does the ‘Optimize Storage’ feature work? Indeed, does it work? A look at its confusions and a couple of bugs.
When does macOS decide to download new and changed items in iCloud Drive? This steps through the process from decision to completion.
How does macOS learn of changes which have taken place in iCloud Drive, such as the uploading of files from another system? Here the process is taken apart, and points of failure highlighted.
You’ve uploaded files to your iCloud Drive on another system, but an hour or more later other systems can’t see them. Here’s a solution.
When you upload a file to iCloud Drive, the steps involved are complex. They’re outlined and diagrammed here, with pointers to how to diagnose and resolve problems.
The Eclectic Light Company 