Unofficial archive. This is a read-only, community-run archive of the Apple Support Community. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by Apple Inc.
danm7
User level: Level 1 (46 points)

iCloud Drive Documents and Desktop sync causing full Mac disk

I recently turned on the Documents and Desktop sync to iCloud Drive option on my Mac. My documents have now merged with my documents in my iCloud Drive, so now my disk is full. Turning it off used to just remove even my previously local documents from my Mac, now it won't even turn off. I tried to copy and paste the folders I had put all my local files in because of this and it just says the disk is full. I don't understand if 30GB of stuff was on my Mac, now it's on iCloud Drive and moving it back over is like doubling it??

Posted on Sep 20, 2026 3:35 AM

1 reply

Richard.Taylor
User level: Level 7 (25,466 points)

Sep 20, 2026 7:07 AM in response to danm7

iCloud Drive is a folder on the Mac that is copied to iCloud Drive at iCloud.com.


You can use Optimize Storage so that files on the Mac's iCloud Drive are "aliases," and clicking on one downloads it to the Mac from iCloud.com. You don't say if you have Optimize Storage turned on.


See this-- it might clear things up for you:

Understanding iCloud Drive - Apple Community


Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256361078