In a nutshell, to get the Microsoft User Data folder out of your Documents folder, just move it to your user's Library/Preferences folder. Do this while Office isn't running, and the next time you launch an Office app, the folder will stay right where you put it.

Click here to return to the 'Move the Microsoft User Data folder (revisited)' hint

Well, I'm curious enough to ask ... why wouldn't you want the Microsoft User data stored in the Documents folder? Since this is where (among other things) the entourage mail database is kept, wouldn't you want it backed up just the same as other documents?

Yes, I know that you can also backup prefs, etc., but this really is user data in the purest sense, i think.

1. Jul 17, 2019  3. Dropbox: One of the first storage space providers in the world. It only offers up to 2GB of data storage. Microsoft Onedrive: It is built-in with Windows operating system. It gives 5GB of storage space to its user, much like Apple’s iCloud. In this section, we will discuss how to download and sync data with iCloud on a Windows PC.
2. Jan 20, 2018  For Example: My default 'documents folder' has the Microsoft User Data folder and that is over 25 gig not something I want to sync and not something I want to loose on an iCloud mixup - 10+ years of email and attachments and other documents.

Just interested in your perspective on this.

In my opinion, my Documents folder is for Documents that I specificly put there. The Microsoft User Data is data for an application (just like my Mail.app mailboxes) that should be stored in Application Support or other such place in my Library folder.
I think Apple has published guidelines for developers about where support files should be placed, guidelines that Microsoft seem to ignore.

The ~/Library/Application Support folder would be the most logical place. So many programs have hijacked the Documents folder that it has become almost useless to me. All of the data folders added by applications (on my system) would be better off in the Application Support folder. The good news is that many developers are storing such data in the right place. On my system, the ratio of programs that store application-centric data in the Application Support folder versus the Documents folder is 68:9 — very good, but not quite satisfactory. Besides Microsoft, another notable offender is Adobe (although it straddles the fence, with data files in both places).

The phrase 'ratio of programs that store' should have been 'ratio of folders that contain' ... just to be precise.

Unfortunately, this doesn't seem to work with MSN Messenger...

Thank you so much for this hint. This has long been an annoyance of mine as I have found ways of moving most of the applications folders that hi-jack my Documents folder, but not Microsoft's.

It does not work for me ;-(
As soon as I open Word, a new Microsoft User Data folder is created in Documents folder. Am I missing something?

BTW, I moved my original MS User Data folder in ~/Library/Application Support before launching Word.

Yup you are right. Thanks.

I agree with the comment about the Entourage database - it _should_ be in ~/Documents, since that's what you probably back up. However, if you don't use Entourage, there's no reason to leave that folder where it is, as long as you remember that your Normal.dot file is there, and this holds a lot of your customizations. As long as you back up your entire home folder, you'll be safe.
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Microsoft User Data Folder Mac Icloud Account

If you are not backing up files in ~/Library, and more especially in ~/Library/Application Support, you very likely risk losing lots of important data. I backup my whole Users folder, just for simplicity's sake. Putting the file is 'Application Support' is more consistent with Apple's own practice, and is more consistent with what most developers are doing.

Another vote to keep all applicaton-created folders out of Documents. No application (including Entourage and Mail) should keep user data in any hidden place. And Apple has set up specific places for applications to put folders they create. Any user who backs up only Documents is in big trouble anyway.
This hint also appears to work for Sound Studio's presets folder, but not for AppleWorks User Data.

…and it seems to be just another example of how embarrassed Apple should be about AW in general! Why do they not follow their own guidelines for AW?? Incredible really.
If anyone has a clue as to a way to move *that* folder out of documents, I'd be very happy. I'd love to just delete everything AW-related altogether, but I still have to support people that are using it, so I'm stuck with it myself.
<sigh>

The funny thing is, another offender is AppleWorks, with an 'AppleWorks User Data' right into the Documents folder. It seems to me that Microsoft is only following old customs...

see my reply to comment above?

You people who only back up your ~/Documents directory scare the socks off of me. Kudos for backing up at all, but you're working with the computer equivalent of basic liability auto insurance. Once something hits you, you're hosed.
It takes all of two minutes to make a list of stuff to backup: occasional prefs, photos, documents, databases (like entourage or mail.app). Using a convenient program like iBackup or (my preference) Synk, you can set up the whole process up almost as fast as you can make your list.
Those who backup only one directory without considering wider options typically get what they deserve.

On a similar theme - does anyone know how to get rid of the *very* annoying eBooks folder that Acrobat 6 Professional insists on creating in my Documents folder every time I launch it?
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Remember - in a million years we'll all be dust, and none of this will matter...

Thank you for this.
My 'Documents' folder is backed up with Dropbox and 'Microsoft User Data' contains nearly 2GB of data that doesn't (in my case) need to be backed up.
Moved it to ~/Library/Preferences/ and all is well

Hi there you can store the MUD folder anywhere but if you are using the symlink method you may still find it will sync with Dropbox if you have symlinked your whole Documents folder into Dropbox (not best practice IMHO).

Store your Desktop and Documents folder in iCloud Drive and access them on all your devices. That means you can start a document on your Desktop, then work on it later from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch and on iCloud.com. Everything automatically stays up to date everywhere.

Before you begin

1. Update your Mac to the latest version of macOS and your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch to the latest version of iOS or iPadOS.
2. Make sure that you’re signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID on all of your devices.
3. Set up iCloud on all of your devices and turn on iCloud Drive.

Turn on Desktop and Documents

Turn on Desktop and Documents on every Mac that you want to use with iCloud Drive.

1. From your Mac, choose Apple menu  > System Preferences. Click Apple ID, then click iCloud. On macOS Mojave or earlier, choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, then click iCloud.
2. Make sure that iCloud Drive is turned on.
3. Next to iCloud Drive, click Options.
4. Choose Desktop & Documents Folders.
5. Click Done.

In the Finder, you'll see your Desktop and Documents folder in the iCloud section of your sidebar. If you add a second Mac Desktop, you'll find those files in the Desktop folder in iCloud Drive. A folder is created with the same name as your second Mac.

Access your Desktop and Documents files on another device

When you add your Desktop and Documents to iCloud Drive, all of your files move to iCloud and any new files you create are automatically stored in iCloud too. Then you can find your files on all of your devices.

If you want to store your files in iCloud Drive and another cloud storage service, you can keep copies of your files in both, but you can't keep folders from a third-party cloud service in iCloud Drive. You can keep your other cloud service folders in a different place on your Mac, like the home folder.

Your files upload to iCloud each time your device connects to the Internet. Depending on your Internet speed, the time it takes for you to see your files on your other devices might vary.

On your Mac

You can find the files on your Desktop and in your Documents folder in the Finder under iCloud. You can also search for the titles with Spotlight.

You can organize and combine folders from multiple Macs when you turn on Desktop and Documents on those computers too. After you turn on Desktop and Documents on a second Mac, you'll find its files in folders with the same name as your second Mac inside your original Desktop and Documents folders. Then you can combine your files manually, but iCloud doesn’t automatically merge the files in case you want to keep them separate. Any edits you make are seamlessly updated in iCloud Drive. There’s no need to manage your folders and files again on your other devices.

On your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch

With the Files app on iOS 11 or later, it's easy to access and edit your files directly from your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

When you find the file you need in the Files app, you can use it in any compatible app to edit it.

If you're using iOS 9 or iOS 10, you can access your files in the iCloud Drive app.

On iCloud.com

iCloud.com lets you access your Desktop and Documents folder from your iPad or another computer browser. All of your files are easy to find, organize, and download directly from iCloud Drive. You can even drag files into the Desktop and Documents folders, and then find them later on your Mac.

1. Sign in to iCloud.com with your Apple ID.
2. Go to iCloud Drive.
3. Double-click the Desktop or Documents folder.

Microsoft User Data Mac

If you want to use the file or make edits, just click and download it to your iPad or computer. When you're done making edits, upload the file to iCloud Drive to see the latest version everywhere.

Microsoft Icloud Download

Store your files in iCloud and save space on your device

The files that you keep in iCloud Drive use your iCloud storage. And as long as you have enough space in iCloud and on your device, you can store as many files as you like.

If you need more space on your device, iCloud Drive can help. On your Mac, choose Apple menu  > System Preferences. Click Apple ID, then click iCloud. On macOS Mojave or earlier, choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, then click iCloud. Turn on Optimize Mac Storage. Then your Mac keeps all of your recent files on your computer, but keeps your older ones only in iCloud, ready for you to download when you need them again. If you want to free up more space on your Mac, follow these steps. On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, you can search and browse files from all of your devices and download them only as you need them.

Microsoft User Data Folder Mac Icloud Update

You can also free up space on your device and in iCloud Drive when you delete files. Then go to your Recently Deleted folder in the Files app or on iCloud.com and delete the files there. Before you delete anything, make sure that you back up the files that you still want. When you use iCloud Drive and delete a file on one device, it deletes on your other devices too. iCloud removes the files from every device that you're signed in to with the same Apple ID.

Turn off Desktop and Documents

When you turn off Desktop & Documents Folders, your files stay in iCloud Drive and a new Desktop and Documents folder is created on your Mac in the home folder. You can move files from iCloud Drive to your Mac as you need them, or select all of your files and drag them to the place you want to keep them.

1. From your Mac, choose Apple menu  > System Preferences. Click Apple ID, then click iCloud. On macOS Mojave or earlier, choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, then click iCloud.
2. Next to iCloud Drive, click Options.
3. Deselect Desktop & Documents Folders.
4. Click Done.

If you turn off iCloud Drive or sign out of iCloud, you have the option to keep a local copy of your files that are in iCloud Drive. Whether you decide to keep a local copy or not, a new Desktop and Documents folder is created in your home folder. If you choose to keep a local copy, your files in iCloud Drive are copied to a folder called iCloud Drive (Archive) in your home folder. Then you have the option to move any files that were in your iCloud Desktop and Documents, back to your new local Desktop and Documents.

Learn more

• Here's what else you can do with iCloud Drive.
• Use the Files app to access your files on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
• Get help with iCloud Drive.
• Upgrade your iCloud storage.