How to make an iCloud sharing folder in Mac Finder sidebar

Something from notching?

macOS Monterey introduces a small but useful improvement for those of us who collaborate with others using iCloud and Apple productivity apps – but you may not have noticed it is there.

A new Shared folder view in iCloud

The enhancement consists of a new Shared folder that’s made available in the iCloud section of the Finder sidebar.

Look inside the folder (which you may need to enable before you do) and you’ll find any file (document, image, whatever) that you are sharing or is being shared with you by others using iCloud. You’ll also find any Pages, Numbers, Keynote documents you are collaborating with others on using the built-in sharing of those apps.

It’s not just a catch-all space for those files. The Shared folder will also display information concerning those files, including:

• Invitation Status.
• Who last modified the file.
• Additional sharing-related metadata to help you manage your shared files.

This is all quite useful if you use iCloud to collaborate, though may become fairly crowded if you do so regularly.

How to enable the Shared folder in Sidebar

To enable the Shared folder so it will appear in your Sidebar, follow these steps:

• Open Finder>Preferences.
• Choose the Sidebar tab.
• Enable the Shared item using the checkbox.

In future you’ll see the Shared folder appear (or disappear) in your Sidebar. This small but welcome feature should help improve collaboration, at least some of the time.

More tips

Want more tips on new tools and settings in iOS 15, iPad OS 15 and Monterey? Here are some we prepared earlier:

• How to use iPad OS 15’s brilliant new multitasking features.
• How to translate text everywhere with iPhones, iPads, Macs.
• How to change Safari address bar position on iPhone.
• How to make Safari tabs great again on iPadOS 15.
• How to use Full Keyboard Access in macOS Monterey.
• What’s new in Reminders on iPhone, iPad and Mac?.
• How to use iCloud Data Recovery on iOS and Mac.
• iOS 15: How Apple makes it easier to find stolen iPhones.
• What is Apple’s Digital Legacy and how do you use it?.
• How to make Safari tabs great again on iPadOS 15.
• What to do if Universal Clipboard stops working.
• How to change the size of text for specific apps in iOS 15.
• 12 Siri commands that work offline in iOS 15 and later.
• How to use QuickNotes on iPad and Mac.
• How to use Low Power Mode on iPad and Mac.

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