PDF files corrupt iCloud Drive

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Level 1

8 points

PDF files corrupt iCloud Drive

I have some PDF files stored in iCloud Drive since last year which seem corrupt.

I wanted to open them today but when I double-clicked nothing happened. There is not even a little cloud symbolising that they need to be downloaded from iCloud. When I try compressing them it says that "The file couldn't be opened because there is no such file."

It definitely can't be due to a lack of iCloud storage because I've got more than 1 TB still left. This happened to all PDF files in that folder that are larger than 1 MB, I've got some with >900 KB I can open and one with 1,2 MB that I can't open. What can it be due to? I don't remember having had any problems in this last year for any other files.

MacBook, macOS 11.3

Posted on Sep 14, 2021 7:20 AM

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Answer 1

muguy

Level 10

81,235 points

Sep 14, 2021 7:54 AM in response to alphonse225

I would go to iCloud.com and move the files to a new folder. There is some issue with those not being synchronized if there is no cloud icon nor option to remove download (or move them on another device). Then, you could delete the ones on your Mac and move the folder back.

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Answer 2

muguy

Level 10

81,235 points

Sep 14, 2021 9:19 AM in response to alphonse225

When you toggle off desktop and documents all of your files remain in iCloud but are moved from the desktop and documents folder. When you turn it back on, it will sync anything on your (now clean) desktop and documents. So, you can still see what you had on your computer but only in those folders. Navigate to the desktop folder in iCloud (left sidebar under iCloud) and you can drag everything back to your desktop.

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Answer 3

muguy

Level 10

81,235 points

Sep 14, 2021 7:23 AM in response to alphonse225

Can you access the file at iCloud.com?

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Answer 4

alphonse225 Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 14, 2021 7:33 AM in response to muguy

I can't, the only options are those.

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Answer 5

alphonse225 Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 14, 2021 8:51 AM in response to muguy

I get this when I try to uncheck Documents and Desktop... do you know what it could be?

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Answer 6

alphonse225 Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 14, 2021 8:56 AM in response to alphonse225

I mean this

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Answer 7

alphonse225 Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 14, 2021 7:25 AM in response to muguy

Oh thanks, I didn't even think about checking. It works on my phone so I'm just gonna remove the Documents and Desktop option from iCloud on Mac and recheck it, I hope it'll work.

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Answer 8

muguy

Level 10

81,235 points

Sep 14, 2021 7:30 AM in response to alphonse225

It might be better to right-click in the offending file and remove download instead.

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Answer 9

muguy

Level 10

81,235 points

Sep 14, 2021 7:33 AM in response to muguy

If you turn it off, all your cloud files are removed from your Mac and kept only in the cloud. Turning it back on will create a new desktops and documents into which you sync.

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