Upload to iCloud from external drive

I thought I was moving a file from an external drive (iomega) to my MacBook Pro to work on it. I must have inadvertently clicked on a folder, rather than a file, as the message reads "Uploading 1 item" with say 1.13 GB of 1.14 GB, then later it will "update" to two different values, always with .10 GB difference - so now reading 1.74 GB of 1.84 GB. I've looked through other q&as but can only find options such as apple / system settings / apple account / iCloud / Drive / uncheck "Sync this Mac". Any ideas as to how I can stop this upload please?