Updated September 2026: in 2021 I used OneDrive as my main cloud and a basic iCloud plan as a second copy, and wished folders in iCloud could sync directly with OneDrive on my Mac. I have rewritten it into advice on using iCloud Drive and OneDrive side by side.
OneDrive held my main files and photos, and I kept important files in iCloud as a secondary backup. The problem was that folders in iCloud Drive could not be synchronised directly with OneDrive. I had to copy files manually between them, and it was easy to lose track of which copy was current.
Can iCloud Drive and OneDrive sync with each other?
Not directly. Each service syncs its own folder on the Mac with its own cloud. Neither offers a built-in option to mirror the other. Third-party tools can copy between them, but they add complexity and can create conflicts if both copies are edited.
Is it a good idea to use both?
Yes, if each has a clear job. Problems come from keeping the same working files in both places. A simple rule avoids that: one service holds working files, the other holds archived copies or specific folders.
How can you divide the roles?
- OneDrive: working documents, especially Office files you share or edit on other devices.
- iCloud Drive: Desktop and Documents sync for Apple-only use, and files you open on iPhone and iPad.
- A backup tool: Time Machine or similar for a full, separate copy.
How do you keep a second copy without manual copying?
Use a backup, not a second sync service. Time Machine to an external or network drive keeps versions of everything automatically. A second cloud copy for critical files can be updated periodically, for example monthly, rather than kept in constant sync.
How do you tell which copy is current?
Keep working files in one place only, and give archived copies a date in the folder name, such as "Tax 2025 archive March 2026". When you open a file, you then know whether you are looking at the live version or a snapshot.
What should you avoid?
Turning on iCloud Desktop and Documents sync and OneDrive's Desktop and Documents backup at the same time. Both will try to manage the same folders, which can cause confusion or duplicate files. Choose one for those folders.
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