Get iCloud Drive back in your Finder sidebar

Why it happens

Finder lets you choose which places show in its sidebar, and iCloud Drive can get unticked like any other item. If iCloud Drive itself is switched off on your Mac, Finder has nothing to show, so the tickbox disappears too. Your files are safe in iCloud either way.

How to fix it

1. Click the Finder icon in the Dock so Finder is in front.

2. Choose Finder > Settings from the menu bar, click Sidebar at the top, and tick iCloud Drive under iCloud.

   Finder›Settings…›Sidebar›iCloud Drive

3. No iCloud Drive in that list? Open System Settings, click your name (Apple Account), then iCloud, then Drive, and turn on Sync this Mac. Then go back to Finder's Sidebar settings and tick it.

   Apple Account›iCloud›Drive›Sync this Mac

Still not fixed?

1. If the sidebar is hidden altogether, choose View > Show Sidebar in Finder, or press Control-Command-S.

   Finder›View›Show Sidebar

2. If the iCloud section is collapsed, hover over the word iCloud in the sidebar and click the small arrow next to it to open it.

3. Folders someone shared with you appear inside iCloud Drive once you've accepted the invitation. Open it from the sidebar, or use Go > iCloud Drive (Shift-Command-I).

4. If your name isn't at the top of System Settings, you're not signed in to iCloud. Sign in at the top of System Settings with your Apple Account, then turn on iCloud Drive.

5. If iCloud Drive won't switch on or stays empty after a restart, check apple.com's system status page, then contact Apple Support.