HDD full, can't download from iCloud to backup

[NStocks]

I'm running out of space on my 2019 MBP, and most of my iCloud.com files are not locally downloaded... I would like to download the files onto an external HDD but I can't see a way of doing this because 1) the hard drive is already full and 2) iCloud doesn't allow direct downloads to an external HD.

So to free up HD space, what would my options be? (I'm already think I want to change to dropbox for better management)

thanks!

 

[Fishrrman]

Can't you copy (and then delete) at least a few files at a time?
To get some "free space" on your internal drive?

Can you log out of iCloud for a while, if necessary?
(I've been an Apple user for 35 years, but don't use iCloud... AT ALL)

 

[NStocks]

Can't you copy (and then delete) at least a few files at a time?
To get some "free space" on your internal drive?

Can you log out of iCloud for a while, if necessary?
(I've been an Apple user for 35 years, but don't use iCloud... AT ALL)

I think copying to an external HD and deleting is likely the only way. Not sure if dropbox offers more if I decide to switch... Biggest issue is we have like 10mb upload and 50mb download speeds so it will literally take DAYS

 

[ian87w]

I'm running out of space on my 2019 MBP, and most of my iCloud.com files are not locally downloaded... I would like to download the files onto an external HDD but I can't see a way of doing this because 1) the hard drive is already full and 2) iCloud doesn't allow direct downloads to an external HD.

So to free up HD space, what would my options be? (I'm already think I want to change to dropbox for better management)

thanks!

You can always go to icloud.com and download your files via the browser.

 

[NStocks]

You can always go to icloud.com and download your files via the browser.

Yup, except it doesn't allow folders to be downloaded, only individual files which is incredible time consuming... Plus, they can only be downloaded to my HD, not an external drive as far as I'm aware.

 

[darngooddesign]

Yup, except it doesn't allow folders to be downloaded, only individual files which is incredible time consuming... Plus, they can only be downloaded to my HD, not an external drive as far as I'm aware.

Im able to drag a file or folder from iCloud Drive to an external hard drive.

But you can always compress an iCloud folder and download that compressed file.

 

[NStocks]

Im able to drag a file or folder from iCloud Drive to an external hard drive.

But you can always compress an iCloud folder and download that compressed file.

Hmmm, it doesn't do anything when I drag it. How do I compress it in iCloud? Compressing it from my Mac won't work as the folder isn't downloaded locally...

 

[darngooddesign]

Compressing it with my Mac seems to download first. Have you tried compressing with your iPhone/iPad?

 

[NStocks]

Can't you copy (and then delete) at least a few files at a time?
To get some "free space" on your internal drive?

Can you log out of iCloud for a while, if necessary?
(I've been an Apple user for 35 years, but don't use iCloud... AT ALL)

... out of interest, what do you use? iCloud seems quite limited for these rare, but critical circumstances and I'm keen to avoid this in the future.

 

[HappyDude20]

A long time ago in a galaxy far far far away I had my stuff ALL in dropbox..
then Apple came up with appealing overall iCloud services and I migrated to that. The transition from downloading everything from dropbox to my old and slow hdd and then to iCloud took weeks but was adamant about switching over to the apple. Stayed this way for a year or two if I recall correctly. Then for whatever reason I needed to download a big folder and it was a pain to do it from iCloud itself and don't think iCloud.com was an option back then. it again took me weeks to download all of my files from iCloud back to my now external ssd but long lesson was that I now keep all my stuff local and every have copies on my iPhone and iPad and mbp, but its all local instead of up on some cloud that may or may not be reliable, especially that day when you need it.

its cool having everything in the cloud, but I don't NEED everything in the cloud

 

[Argon_]

I'm running out of space on my 2019 MBP, and most of my iCloud.com files are not locally downloaded... I would like to download the files onto an external HDD but I can't see a way of doing this because 1) the hard drive is already full and 2) iCloud doesn't allow direct downloads to an external HD.

So to free up HD space, what would my options be? (I'm already think I want to change to dropbox for better management)

thanks!

The lowest cost option I can think of would be buying a USB-C to SATAIII cable, a 1TB spinner. Using an internal drive externally isn't ideal, but it works. You can then compress and download folders as other members suggested.

If that doesn't work, then offload large files to the external.