Why iCloud storage is full even I deleted all the files?

[hajime]

Hi, I went to iCloud Drive from Mac and deleted all the files in all different folders. I also double clicked those with a cloud symbol to download it and then deleted.However, MacOS still indicates that iCloud storage is full. Then, I went to my Apple ID > iCloud > Manage, I still see Photos, backup, voice memo, etc. occupying lots of storage space.
What is wrong? Did I delete only some of the files from iCloud which automatically got copied to a Mac I got few days ago rather than those files on the cloud?

One strange thing is that, when I clicked Manage, Pages occupies 1.2MB. When I clicked on it, there are two options:
Show in Finder and Delete All Files. When I clicked on Show in Finder, there is no file. There is just a big symbol of Pages in the middle of a Cloud illustration. Wonder where that 1.2MB is coming from.

Actually what is the best way to download everything from the iCloud storage to the internal drive of my Mac and then delete those stored in iCloud to get some storage back?

 

[DeltaMac]

Deleted everything in iCloud drive?
Try turning your iCloud drive OFF, then back on.

 

[hajime]

Deleted everything in iCloud drive?
Try turning your iCloud drive OFF, then back on.

I want to make a copy to the internal drive of my Mac first before deleting.

 

[DeltaMac]

Your first post (and the thread title) states that you deleted the files in your iCloud drive. (?)

You could copy all the files in your iCloud drive to an external drive (local to you). Make sure that all files are actually downloaded (click on any "cloud" icons on the file names to download actual files)

Then delete everything from the iCloud drive, finally, turn the iCloud drive OFF, then back on.

 

[iStorm]

I went to iCloud Drive from Mac and deleted all the files in all different folders. I also double clicked those with a cloud symbol to download it and then deleted.However, MacOS still indicates that iCloud storage is full.

You only deleted content/data from iCloud Drive. Your iCloud storage also consists of other data outside of iCloud Drive (next statement below).

Then, I went to my Apple ID > iCloud > Manage, I still see Photos, backup, voice memo, etc. occupying lots of storage space. What is wrong?

These do not live in iCloud Drive, but they do take up iCloud storage space, as you've noticed. If you don't want these occupying your iCloud storage either, then you need to disable syncing of these to iCloud. (Note: If you do disable syncing to iCloud, they won't sync to your other devices either.)


Here's an example of what my iCloud storage looks like. iCloud Drive is only consuming 254 MB of it. My photos, messages, and backups are consuming the majority of my iCloud storage space. A 3rd party app, Pixelmator, is also using some storage in iCloud. (This is also where you can disable syncing and delete them from iCloud storage.)