What is the best way to take things off iCloud?

Question

What is the best way to take things off iCloud?

I have the 2 TB plan and a number of things in iCloud, which is just fine. However, I want to remove some files and folders from iCloud and put them on an external drive. I I have opened up the drive and tried to click and drag onto that external drive, it's an SSD with plenty of room, and I have Wi-Fi, and nothing seems to copy over and I keep getting an error message "0" - and I'm trying to move items which are 4kb, 430kb, 800kb etc = = working my way up to a folder which is 35mb. How can I best do this = =to set it and forget it?

I do have Chronosync app if that's an option - but I'm used to just click and drag.

Mac Studio (2022)

Posted on Jun 22, 2024 6:35 AM

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Answer 1

TheLittles

Level 10

195,813 points

Jun 24, 2024 1:57 AM in response to Victoria Herring

"What is the best way to take things off iCloud?: [...]I I have opened up the drive and tried to click and drag onto that external drive[...]"

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Download All of iCloud, First:

One thought would be to download all of iCloud to an external drive. Once downloaded, verify your can access the data. Once verified, trash what is in iCloud. As for seeing through the download, do so in Finder on a Mac. You would download it to an external drive, and then open the drive in Finder. Search through it using the search bar on the top-right corner of the Finder window. Once downloaded, trash what is in there. Use my user tip: Getting a Quick and Direct "iCloud Drive-to-External Hard Drive" Download - User Tip

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Answer 2

Jun 24, 2024 2:21 PM in response to muguy

I do have iCloud set up to optimize storage AND sync desktop and Documents == BUT the point is i have things in iCloud that I want to download - and my Studio doesn't have the room frankly = the external drive answer is fine BUT it's only file by file download == can't even [that I can see] select a batch to download to that drive - I want to download a folder not the 50 things inside.

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Answer 3

AlWeir

Level 4

3,338 points

Jun 22, 2024 8:58 AM in response to Victoria Herring

Here is one way.

Log into iCloud and or they might be stored locally on your machine at /Users/yourname/Library/Mobile Documents/com-appie~CloudDocs

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Answer 4

Jun 22, 2024 9:21 AM in response to Victoria Herring

Well it doesn't work on Folders == it works on individiual files = which is a VERY royal pain. And I'm trying to put things on an external drive but the downloads go to Downloads on my Mac - but it's at least a partial answer == still need to figure out how to do 'mass' downloads = right now seems to be one by one

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Answer 5

Jun 24, 2024 5:32 AM in response to TheLittles

Actually that helps alot == I do have plenty of space on my drive in the cloud but would like to clean it up and get rid of dups and reorganize == this will let me == I'll try and assume it'll work just fine ==thank you so much

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Answer 6

TheLittles

Level 10

195,813 points

Jun 24, 2024 7:46 AM in response to Victoria Herring

"What is the best way to take things off iCloud?: Actually that helps alot == I do have plenty of space on my drive in the cloud but would like to clean it up and get rid of dups and reorganize == this will let me == I'll try and assume it'll work just fine ==thank you so much”

You are most welcome!

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Answer 7

Jun 24, 2024 9:52 AM in response to TheLittles

Well I have a new Drive and followed the instructions == and it doesn't work == I clicked on the iCloud icon and got a 30k html file == clicked on the folder I wanted to download and all I get [using Control key] is Reload and options ref Frame. When I click on individual files I get the downloads option = that icon on the R side of the screen. But when I select a folder the download icon is greyed out. And control doesn't get me anything == so the issue is how to download folders, not their individual contents.

Thanks

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Answer 8

muguy

Level 10

82,543 points

Jun 24, 2024 2:07 PM in response to Victoria Herring

Are you syncing to your Mac? That’s by far the easiest way to have your files on device. Unless you elected to optimize storage, anything in iCloud is also on your Mac. You can simply drag and drop in finder or search for duplicates,make changes, etc.

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Answer 9

muguy

Level 10

82,543 points

Jun 24, 2024 2:50 PM in response to Victoria Herring

If you sync, you simply copy over the folder. That's it. Items in iCloud should download as part of the process. You may find it easier to begin by downloading the folder that you want in finder, then moving it. You'll also want to make sure that your external drive is formatted properly (probably as APFS). You can change that is disk utility but be certain there is nothing on the drive if you reformat as it will be erased.

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Answer 10

AlWeir

Level 4

3,338 points

Jun 22, 2024 9:23 AM in response to Victoria Herring

or while your in iCloud at the top of screen there is a and I have never tried.

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Answer 11

Jun 22, 2024 8:57 AM in response to AlWeir

Thanks -- I'll try that -- I guess I'm used the the old click and drag == but if this works with less hassle so much the better

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Answer 12

Jun 22, 2024 9:47 AM in response to AlWeir

That's the upload symbol == trying to moe/delete -- if I can figure out or find out how to move/delete folders [the main goal] I'll be sure to let you & here know

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