iCloud is a risk for data loss. Documents and Desktop data canceled from my iCloud - Sequoia 5.1

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iCloud is a risk for data loss. Documents and Desktop data canceled from my iCloud - Sequoia 5.1

On my MacBook Pro, Documents and Desktop folders are synchronized with iCloud. I even pay for iCloud+. I am using the laptop for work. Suddently, on October 16th morning, at the opening of my laptop, I found these folders clear (all data disappeared)..no data on my iCloud drive, nothing in the Trash, nothing in the iCloud Recovery. My local data out of these folders are full (no data loss out of iCloud synch folders), so I assume the local disk is fine. I also have an iPad connected with the same Apple account, and there I can see the image of the file system BEFORE everything disappeared, including Documents and Desktop, with all files referencing the iCloud (unfortunately they are pointers). This demonstrates the data I had. Apple assistance contacted October 16th and 17th did not find solutions to that. I am surprised there is such a big risk with iCloud, not mentioned. iCloud is advertised as a means for recovery data (from unwanted local cancellation or so), but, in fact, iCloud IS A RISK for data loss. Anyone here has experienced something similar?

MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 15.1

Posted on Oct 18, 2025 5:06 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

muguy

Level 10

91,148 points

Oct 18, 2025 5:22 AM in response to Morisa25

iCloud is a synchronization service, not a backup or a means to recover data. If your local files remain, and you wish to sync those across devices, move the files out of a synced location and then move the files back. Otherwise, you’ll need to restore from your backup (Time Machine or similar).

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Answer 2

ylukarii

Level 1

8 points

Oct 23, 2025 8:38 AM in response to Morisa25

Initially I experienced the issue of mac storage after updating the software my macbook to macOS26, everything has to be re-downloaded to my mac again after the update. Even I have backup the files to external drive, it indeed no help as my storage was already full. The files could not be downloaded from iCloud.

I called the Apple support for help and different advisor provided different advise, one of them asked me to sign out my icloud and sign back in again. I trusted her and signed out. I have 2TB on my icloud and only used 700GB of it. When I signed back in to my icloud, my folders and files were duplicated and the other advisor told me I could delete the duplicated one. After that, I found out that my 200GB files were lost after signing back in and this happened across my other devices as well.

No apology for giving the wrong advice, it seems that they dont need to bear any consequences for randomly provide the guidance. Also could not offer a proper explanation why this would have occurred. My case has been passed over around different advisor but no one in Apple indeed help and resolve the problem. I couldn’t believe that would happen in Apple and they don’t understand how important the customer’s files are.

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Answer 3

Oct 18, 2025 8:10 AM in response to Morisa25

Morisa25 wrote: … in fact, iCloud IS A RISK for data loss.

It's important to note that EVERYTHING is at risk for data loss, especially when our fingers go where we didn't expect. That's why we keep backups, and it's why we keep multiple backups. Hence, muguy says, "you’ll need to restore from your backup."

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Answer 4

Oct 23, 2025 10:24 AM in response to ylukarii

That's crazy stuff-- I'm really sorry-- I don't get how it could happen!

But, the advice is always the same-- make backups to an external drive before doing anything drastic, and if it goes wrong, restore from the backup.

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Answer 5

Morisa25 Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 18, 2025 5:30 AM in response to muguy

I know. iCloud is a space to store data, and it should guarantee that data stored in iCloud does not get lost. I didn't delete anything. Apple is responsible that the data stored in iCloud IS ACCESSIBLE. I pay for iCloud+ to store data, not to have the data loss that I did not delete.

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Answer 6

Morisa25 Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 18, 2025 6:01 AM in response to muguy

I disagree. The data is on a server not on my control. If I had removed the data, I would have found it in the Trash or I would have been able to get it back by using the data recovery function available on iCloud drive. I called Apple assistance immediately the day I found the data loss (the data was there the day before), and showed the file system image with the dates of previous days.

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Answer 7

Morisa25 Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 18, 2025 9:16 AM in response to Richard.Taylor

My point was not about backup data. I saved my data on iCloud (a service that I am paying for) and I lost the data from one day to the following one. My lesson learnt until now (unfortunately too late) is that iCloud is not reliable. If I get the data back from Apple assistance (I really hope so), I will write a positive review of the support service.

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Answer 8

ylukarii

Level 1

8 points

Oct 24, 2025 5:38 AM in response to Richard.Taylor

I have made the backup but the files were not copied to the harddrive as everything has to be redownloaded from icloud to mac and the mac doesnt have enough storage and that’s the reason I called the support. The advisor also advised to resume copying even the files were not downloaded and applied to all. The other advisor has guided me to sign out the icloud and remove everything from mac. It is not only about the data loss but also the professionalism of the advisor.

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Answer 9

Oct 24, 2025 7:08 AM in response to ylukarii

ylukarii wrote: … I have made the backup but the files were not copied to the harddrive as everything has to be redownloaded from icloud to mac and the mac doesnt have enough storage…

You are pointing out the biggest problem with "Optimize Storage!" Since you don't keep the full sized copies on your Mac, you can't back them up with Time Machine or even by cloning to an external drive. Here's one solution-- make another user on your Mac that uses an external drive for its Photos Library. You'll need to format the external drive in either APFS format or Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format, like is discussed here:

Move your Photos library to save space on your Mac - Apple Support

Then once a day or week or whatever, go to this second user and refresh its external Photos Library. Just turn iCloud off on that user when you switch back to your normal account, and switch the 2nd user's iCloud on when you go to it to refresh your backup:

Here are the steps:

Plug in an external drive and format the disk in APFS or Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format as above.
Make another user on your Mac.
Connect User2 to your iCloud account.
With User2, create a new Photos System Library on the External Drive, like this Make a New System Library connected to iCloud- Apple Community
Let the external drive fill up with all the pictures and information from iCloud Photos.
Turn iCloud off, eject and disconnect the external drive, and switch back to your usual account

When you are ready for another backup, just switch users, plug in the drive, and turn on iCloud. It might take all night for things to settle down, and then you can go do step 6 and get back to work.

I'm sorry about the weird advice you got, but maybe this will help in the future.

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Answer 10

muguy

Level 10

91,148 points

Oct 18, 2025 5:36 AM in response to Morisa25

Only you can delete or update your data. Only you are responsible for your data. You can always recover from your backup if you inadvertently remove your data.

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