can't delete iCloud Drive (Archive)

[Jumpie]

Not sure if anyone can help on this one. I upgraded to Catalina. But before I did, I turned of iCloud Drive and downloaded my files. I then upgraded to Catalina and logged back into iCloud. I see two folders: 1) regular iCloud Drive, 2) iCloud Drive (Archive).

I can't delete iCloud Drive (Archive) by moving to the Trash or any of the nested folders within it. I can only delete files within any of the folders. When I try to delete the Archive or any of the nested folders, the error is: The action can't be completed because "iCloud Drive (Archive) is in use."

Any ideas or suggestions?

 

[latndude]

I run into multiple problems and I still do have them with iDrive turn on for documents and files on the desktop. I run into the same issue deleting that folder took multiple attempts . The only way I was able to do it and bring some stability to the Finder was to re install from recovery the beta and making sure I had the option turn off documents and desktop off before doing so . After reinstalling I was able to delete the folder. The implementation of iCloud and iDrive is very unstable in my case . The system is slow when the Finder is performing any tasks , after sleep sometimes it crashes application that were opened .Also the folders connected to iDrive don't populate as fast and easy as with Mojave. But then again is a beta and thats what is to be expected . Good luck .

 

[Jumpie]

I'll try this

 

[thebartonfox]

I had this problem too. After many hours of trying, I found that by selecting it Finder and deleting it from the File dropdown menu with the Option key held down (which changes "Move to Trash/Bin" to "Delete Immediately") I was able to delete it. Hope that works for you too!

 

[Jumpie]

I had this problem too. After many hours of trying, I found that by selecting it Finder and deleting it from the File dropdown menu with the Option key held down (which changes "Move to Trash/Bin" to "Delete Immediately") I was able to delete it. Hope that works for you too!

that worked! I never knew that. I've seen it before but never gave it a second thought. thanks!
Any idea why it would've been in use? hmm

 

[thebartonfox]

Great! Glad it worked for you too.

My guess would be that it wasn’t actually in use, but instead had the wrong permissions set when it was copied. Whatever it was, at least you’ve got it sorted now!

 

[kates_way]

I had this problem too. After many hours of trying, I found that by selecting it Finder and deleting it from the File dropdown menu with the Option key held down (which changes "Move to Trash/Bin" to "Delete Immediately") I was able to delete it. Hope that works for you too!

Hi. Here's a puzzle or you!! (tongue in cheek). I hope you can help me. I tried to upload to iCloud, but some of my folders with files in them were saved as encrypted folders that I used disc utility to save that way. I think it's considered and image file that ends with file extension .dmg I think it was. Anyway I did that b/c a computer repair man got sensitive info from my files one time I'm somewhat convinced so I decided it's after to make them into password protected files just in case. Anyway, maybe for that reason iCloud couldn't upload them and it froze. I turned off iCloud and the files were gone. Contacted apple and with screen share he said the files can't be saved (they had red circle with the horizontal white line through it such as "no entry" symbol. Now, computer (MacBook Air 2013) says I'm running out of space. It has 300GB and 186GB are being taken up by "system."

I found files under user called iCloud archive. I want to delete them even though under "size" they just say "---" b/c I've decided not to use iCloud anymore and turned it off of saving any files or pictures. It won't let me open the files anyway and apple says I've lost them, so I just want to delete them and free up space. I literally have almost NOTHING on my computer right now. I suspect it's those files taking up the space.

When I try to delete them it says those files are "in use," but of course they're not. They still have the red circle in the corner with white horizontal line (do not enter style symbol) in the corner of those files. I tried doing what you said here as in holding down the Option key whilst doing the delete (I did find the "delete immediately" option which seemed promising), but it doesn't work. Does the same thing ("This operation can't be completed because the item "documents" is in use. Can't access them, can't delete them.

I should say that I even disabled SIP using "csrutil disable" to try to delete them, but even that didn't work! I would rather not do a total factory reset, but I don't even think I have enough space for my computer to update since I have it set for auto updates and it hasn't done it (it has high sierra right now, so I'm a few versions behind which seems a bit risky?). Anyway, I didn't know who to turn to and I saw this thread and thought you seem like you might be able to help. If MS Word had and option to allow my to password protect files and even folders more easily, then I don't think I'd be in this predicament. Can you please help me? Heres hoping!! : )

P.S. BTW, I checked the files and the "sharing and permissions" are set to "read and write," but still can't be deleted. Is there anyway we could use the "csrutil disable" and "Sudo rm-" to remove it? I just don't know how to write that on the terminal properly.... total noob here. thx.

Update: darn, I just tried to do that (use terminal with SIP disabled and typed rm - and then dragged the file there and terminal returned: " illegal option". Here's the whole of what I typed and what it responded:

Last login: Thu May 27 06:43:28 on console


Mac-Users-MacBook:~ Katherine$ rm -/Users/Katherine/iCloud\ Drive\ \(Archive\)\ -\ 4/Documents


rm: illegal option -- /


usage: rm [-f | -i] [-dPRrvW] file ...


unlink file


Mac-Users-MacBook:~ Katherine$

**Update (again): now I tried to delete it as a directory b/c I guess that's what it is? The is what it looked like and why terminal returned (the file's still there so it didn't work, shock):

Mac-Users-MacBook:~ Katherine$ rmdir /Users/Katherine/iCloud\ Drive\ \(Archive\)\ -\ 4/Documents


rmdir: /Users/Katherine/iCloud Drive (Archive) - 4/Documents: Directory not empty


Mac-Users-MacBook:~ Katherine$

** Now I'm reading an article that says I should use "rm -R" without the quotations of course since the folder contains files (that I can't access smh). Right before I clicked enter, I wondered, do you think there's a chance that somehow we could actually get those folders open even though apple told me I can't ?? Just thought I'd ask before I click enter...