Why does iCloud keep downloading to my computer with options turned off?

[NJRonbo]

I am on a MacBook with limited storage capability.

I opted to turn on iCloud on my Sierra laptop. However, I only checked off a few apps that I wanted to keep in sync under the iCloud service.

However, iCloud is constantly downloading docs, desktop files from other Mac computers, and other things.

This is despite the fact I unchecked those options.

Why is there a continual download of information to my computer (you can see a download icon next to iCloud in finder) when I opted out of sharing information and just for a few apps I want to share data?

Thanks

 

[sniffs]

That little "icloud download icon" means the file is not actually downloaded. It's just a pointer to the file in your iCloud which takes up no storage, which is what iCloud is intended to do.. only download files you use and keep the older/unused stuff in the cloud. If you right click them you'll see "Download Now". When you download it, it actually grabs the file from iCloud which then takes up storage on your Mac.

 

[NJRonbo]

Ah, okay. Just as long as it's not actually downloading anything to that computer.

Thanks, sniffs, for the explanation. Really appreciate it.

 

[NJRonbo]

I have to return to this thread...

There is definitely a problem with iCloud content being downloaded to my MacBook.

In PREFERENCES -> ICLOUD

I have ICLOUD DRIVE selected. I have a few programs I want data shared.

However....

under OPTIONS I have DESKTOP AND DOCUMENTS not selected.

Again, the checkbox is not selected under DESKTOP AND DOCUMENTS

Even with that unchecked, a huge amount of data is being downloaded to my MacBook. What is being downloaded (and DaisyDisk is showing this) is the contents of my Desktop and Documents folder which I specifically did not want shared with this computer because of limited hard drive space.

Any reason for this?

Thanks!

 

[Mlrollin91]

iCloud will not automatically download files to your computer. You will get what is described above. A little cloud icon with a down pointing arrow. If your documents folder is increasing in size, why don't you go look in that folder to see what is taking up that storage space? But iCloud is not doing it.

Now if you have a document on your computer that is on an iOS device or another macOS device, then iCloud will sync that document to make sure its up to date. But files in the cloud will not automatically download.

 

[NJRonbo]

I have been sitting here watching my iCloud folder fill up. Right now it's downloading NUMBERS and documents (actually downloading) inside it. I am sure within an hour the hard drive will be maximized as it was before.

Again, I don't have desktop and documents selected

 

[Mlrollin91]

I have been sitting here watching my iCloud folder fill up. Right now it's downloading NUMBERS and documents (actually downloading) inside it. I am sure within an hour the hard drive will be maximized as it was before.

Again, I don't have desktop and documents selected

Your 'iCloud' Folder is not your internal storage. That folder is only whats on the cloud, not your computer.

You are also confused on what the Desktop & Documents selection does. That means the documents in your document folder and desktop folder are being uploaded to the cloud for use on all devices (Part of iOS 10/Sierra). It has nothing to do with downloading to your internal hard drive. iCloud does not download to your computer automatically.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT206985

 

[NJRonbo]

I don't think I am confused. Truly, I understand everything you are saying. I am very computer savvy.

This is actually taking up nearly 100GB of space. I have iStat menus loaded and watching my hard-drive space deteriorate.

Appreciate the help, BTW!

 

[Mlrollin91]

I don't think I am confused. Truly, I understand everything you are saying. I am very computer savvy.

This is actually taking up nearly 100GB of space. I have iStat menus loaded and watching my hard-drive space deteriorate.

Appreciate the help, BTW!

I wasn't saying you were confused as a whole, just on the meaning of what documents and desktop actually does. It does the opposite of what you were saying. It uploads, not downloads. You are saying you used Daisy Disk and now iStat Menus. I use both of them. Where is the storage going, what part of the computer is losing space? Documents Folder, Applications, or User?

 

[AlteMac]

This is a real problem, not imagined. If you turn on desktop and document sync, and then turn it off, icloud will download many gigabytes of data in hidden files in Library/containers/com.apple.notes and keep them there for 30 days just in case you want to undelete. If the files are deleted via DasiyDisk or similar, they will be re-downloaded as soon as you run Notes (assuming you have Notes running in iCloud). At the same time it will download many GB of hidden files to any IOS device that is on Notes in iCloud. The only way I found to fix this was to delete the files after I had turned off iCloud sync of Notes. On my iPhone, I had to restore it from scratch as the files ate up almost all of my free memory. After testing again after 30 days had elapsed, I was able to operate with the files being downloaded. I have reported this to Apple. If it was only a few gigabytes, pehaps one could tolerate it on a Mac. However, it was more than 20GB for me and my desktop is not unusual and I had about 6GB of documents. No way it should have resulted in 20G downloads to either computer or phone. If you have a large enough HD on your Mac you might not even notice, but the impact on an IOS device with 16 or 32G can be devastating.

 

[Mlrollin91]

This is a real problem, not imagined. If you turn on desktop and document sync, and then turn it off, icloud will download many gigabytes of data in hidden files in Library/containers/com.apple.notes and keep them there for 30 days just in case you want to undelete. If the files are deleted via DasiyDisk or similar, they will be re-downloaded as soon as you run Notes (assuming you have Notes running in iCloud). At the same time it will download many GB of hidden files to any IOS device that is on Notes in iCloud. The only way I found to fix this was to delete the files after I had turned off iCloud sync of Notes. On my iPhone, I had to restore it from scratch as the files ate up almost all of my free memory. After testing again after 30 days had elapsed, I was able to operate with the files being downloaded. I have reported this to Apple. If it was only a few gigabytes, pehaps one could tolerate it on a Mac. However, it was more than 20GB for me and my desktop is not unusual and I had about 6GB of documents. No way it should have resulted in 20G downloads to either computer or phone. If you have a large enough HD on your Mac you might not even notice, but the impact on an IOS device with 16 or 32G can be devastating.

Do not have this problem at all. Seems like a freak glitch.

 

[KALLT]

Disable iCloud Drive and see what happens. Also try logging out of iCloud and then log back in. If something weird is going on and iCloud is involved → it’s probably a problem with iCloud.

 

[NJRonbo]

This is a real problem, not imagined. If you turn on desktop and document sync, and then turn it off, icloud will download many gigabytes of data in hidden files in Library/containers/com.apple.notes and keep them there for 30 days just in case you want to undelete. If the files are deleted via DasiyDisk or similar, they will be re-downloaded as soon as you run Notes (assuming you have Notes running in iCloud). At the same time it will download many GB of hidden files to any IOS device that is on Notes in iCloud. The only way I found to fix this was to delete the files after I had turned off iCloud sync of Notes. On my iPhone, I had to restore it from scratch as the files ate up almost all of my free memory. After testing again after 30 days had elapsed, I was able to operate with the files being downloaded. I have reported this to Apple. If it was only a few gigabytes, pehaps one could tolerate it on a Mac. However, it was more than 20GB for me and my desktop is not unusual and I had about 6GB of documents. No way it should have resulted in 20G downloads to either computer or phone. If you have a large enough HD on your Mac you might not even notice, but the impact on an IOS device with 16 or 32G can be devastating.

THANK YOU!

I knew this wasn't an imaginary problem.

 

[Mlrollin91]

THANK YOU!

I knew this wasn't an imaginary problem.

That issue is not possible unless it's a rogue glitch. iCloud will not download anything to your computer. It will upload but not download.

 

[NJRonbo]

Yeah, it's probably a rogue glitch.

However, it's affecting more people than just myself as you see above.

I am just happy the problem now officially exists. In fact, doing a GOOGLE search, I see a few other similar complaints.

 

[Shirasaki]

All I know is Apple does not actually delete your "deleted" files in some cases if those files are stored on MacBook hard drives. Instead, it moves them to somewhere and show them as "purgeable"'space.
I think this may not directly related to your issue. Just sayin.