Large files disappear from iCloud Drive on computer

See the article Access and manage your files in iCloud Drive - Apple Support

When you sign in to iCloud, you have access to iCloud Drive. With iCloud Drive, you can keep files and folders up to date across all of your devices, share files and folders with friends, family, or colleagues, and more.

You can store files* in iCloud Drive as long as they're 50GB or less in size and you don't exceed your iCloud storage limit. If you need more iCloud storage, you can upgrade to iCloud+. With iCloud+, you can also share iCloud storage with your family, without sharing your files. Learn more about prices in your region.

*Avoid storing app folders, libraries, .tmp, .vmdk, .vmware, .vbox, .vm, and .pvm files in iCloud Drive.

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Pocahon,

Mine weren't in the trash. Just that folders and files I place within iCloud Drive aren't backed up by Time Machine. Only the files and folders that I place inside the Documents folder inside iCloud Drive. I moved all my personal folders and files that were inside iCloud Drive to the Documents folder within iCloud Drive. As a test, I created a folder with a sub-folder and two files and left those inside iCloud Drive as-is. Only the files and folders inside the Documents folder were backed up by Time Machine. I just tried it a moment ago. Seems only system-created folders will be backed up and not as many have stated that as long as the folder/file is downloaded to be available locally (no cloud icon) it will also be backed up by Time Machine. That has not happened to me.

By the way, what do you mean that you added a Windows machine? Are you talking about Boot Camp (installing MS Windows on your Mac computer) or, do you mean you installed iCloud for Windows? If you installed iCloud Drive on your Windows PC, there is no "Optimize Storage" option as this is a unique setting for Macintosh computers. On a Mac, the optimize setting is part of the macOS and works in conjunction with iCloud. Installing iCloud for Windows won't give you an "Optimize Storage" feature since that is not a feature within MS Windows, itself. At least not that I know of.

I read online that once you've installed iCloud Drive for Windows you have a choice to do the following:

"... you can right click files or folders and click "Free up space". You could also click "Always keep on this device" if you want it to save locally in addition to the iCloud server."

I don't use Windows often, but that's what I found. Also, take a look at these two links:

What is iCloud for Windows?

iCloud for Windows

I'm curious as to how much internal storage disk space (free/unused space) you have available on your MacBook.

In God's Harmony

Hi, I have a similar problem! My files are ALL gone though!! Please help!

I have been using my iCloud for all my important projects/documents in a very complex folder system. Including large architecture drawing files, presentations, and photo documents.

All of a sudden, I noticed that drawings were missing - I found 6,400 files in my trash!!! Overnight (without me or anybody else touching the files!!)!

On the cloud sign-in online I tried to recover - only 1000 were able to be selected, but then an error message showed and all 'recover-selected' files disappeared - as well as all other 6,400 files. The big files. All my important ones! The folder system is still intact - just the files missing - out of folders I haven't touched all year.

I recently added a windows computer with access to the icloud. Before I had used icloud for an iMac, MacBook and iPhone only. They have different operating systems due to different architecture programs.

What happened here? What setting did this and how can I trust to use iCloud in the future?

Apple support was not able to restore these files. The initial 'delete-incident' happened on March 27... I might have only a couple of days to restore - if even possible.

Can anybody help?

Thank you!

Hi Marsina, thank you so much for your reply. Apple support has not helped and the files are gone from their part. I do have a time machine backup of some of the most important files, so it's not completely horrific. But that this happened, Apple, is very upsetting.

Thanks for responding! Glad you got yours back! :)

[Edited by Moderator]

iCloud is only a synchronization service, not a backup. It's important to keep a Time Machine (or other) backup of your files. Files in iCloud are only removed if the user removes them. That your files were in the trash means that someone moved those files to trash on a connected device. Files in trash can simply be "put back" using said command on the files in trash.

Thanks, muguy, I am aware of what you stated. I wasn't asking for myself. I was requesting this because questions in our forums are often not updated with a solution when one is received. I thought it would benefit those who come across this particular thread in the future.

Not sure if you tried this, but I'm running into a situation that based on many explanations of using iCloud Drive and Time Machine, are not happening for me. I have a MacBook Air M2 running Sonoma 14.5, and have “Optimize Mac Storage” and “Desktop and Documents Folder” on.

Before initiating a Time Machine backup, I downloaded all the folders and files within iCloud Drive I wanted to back up with Time Machine. All of these now did not have the cloud icon, meaning they were fully stored on my local drive. Once Time Machine finished, the only folders/files that were backed up were: Applications, Library, MobileSoftwareUpdate, System, and Users. When checking “Users> my name”, there are some folders and files, but not everything I had downloaded to make local. Everywhere I have read state that when you download any file within iCloud Drive it becomes local and will be backed up by Time Machine even if “Optimize Mac Storage” is on. Not sure why this is happening. Maybe part of the same issue?

In God’s Harmony

I believe the issue could have similar roots. It makes sense, because it picked the largest files first (on mine). Were your files in the trash also? In my scenario I added a windows machine that I assumed had the ‘optimize space’ function as well and messed it up. I was really confused after the incident and disillusioned. I saved everything that was in trash on an external. So, I have all files but super disorganized now.

Would you be able to post here what the solution was? What steps did you go through? This would be beneficial for others experiencing a similar issue. Thanks.

In God's Harmony

As to iCloud and Time Machine, I do have a rather odd situation, but not sure if I should post it here or just create a new thread.

No solution. Create Time Machine and external hard drive back ups! Or use a server backup system, that some people described. Good luck

I am curious. Do both?

With 6000 files over night? Rather complicated.