Why do I have to keep downloading files from iCloud?

Question

Level 1

58 points

Why do I have to keep downloading files from iCloud?

I have an iPad with 34Gb free space.

I use iCloud to back up everything from the iPad plus phone and Mac, files, music, photos etc and my understanding of that is that iCloud should be similar to an external drive whereby I save to it but don’t delete the original device content.

However on on numerous occasions when I open a Pages or Numbers file I have to download it again ... the same with PDF’s that I have created.

I researched this problem before posting and one response was this is how iCloud is supposed to work, it frees up space on the device but this really screws me when I don’t have WiFi or data.

What I want is all my files on my iPad AND BACKED UP to the Cloud, not the Cloud holding them for me to download.

Any thoughts?

TIA

Posted on Jan 10, 2019 11:12 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Leanne_68

Community Specialist

Jan 12, 2019 11:31 AM in response to Moonshine33

Hello and welcome to Apple Support Communities, Moonshine33.

If I understand your post correctly, you'd like to sync your documents to iCloud but also keep a copy locally on your iPad. I’d like to help.

The option to store documents in iCloud until needed is there to help you save space on your iPad. You've got plenty of space so you can turn this off if you'd like to keep full versions.

This guide will tell you more:

How to check the storage on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch

Let us know if that resolves this issue for you.

Thanks for using the Apple Support Communities. Take care.

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Answer 2

Moonshine33 Author

Level 1

58 points

Jan 13, 2019 7:35 AM in response to Moonshine33

Thank you but that doesn’t help at all. I have used 27.1Gb of my 64Gbs, files I’d only 74kb yet I am having to continually download the same iCloud documents. Consistently I open Files, click on a document and see the download box and arrow. REALLY frustrating. Can’t believe I am doing anything wrong, how simple can it be? Download. That’s it. It should be there downloaded the next time I go to open it.

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Answer 3

rose_10

Community Specialist

Jan 13, 2019 4:23 PM in response to Moonshine33

Hello Moonshine33.

Are your Pages documents saving to iCloud or another location? You can check with the steps here:

Find a document - Pages Help for iPad

Cheers.

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Answer 4

Moonshine33 Author

Level 1

58 points

Jan 13, 2019 7:34 AM in response to Leanne_68

Thank you but that doesn’t help at all. I babe used 27.1Gb of my 64Gbs, files I’d only 74kb yet I am having to continually download the same iCloud documents. Consistently I open Files, click on a document and see the download box and arrow. REALLY frustrating. Can’t believe I am doing anything wrong, how simple can it be? Download. That’s it. It should be there downloaded the next time I go to open it.

Reply

Answer 5

Moonshine33 Author

Level 1

58 points

Jan 14, 2019 1:10 AM in response to Moonshine33

Hi, yes, of course. I can see them on my Mac using Safari to access iCloud.

I can “see” the file on my iPad, the point of this question is that on my iPad they continually have the download icon alongside them so they’re not really on my iPad. It’s the same with Numbers and PDF’s

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Answer 6

Moonshine33 Author

Level 1

58 points

Jan 17, 2019 7:38 AM in response to chris_g1

Thanks Chris, I'm not sure if my answers are getting out of synch, apologies, I thought they would "thread" when I hit reply.

Anyway, I've gone through your suggestions and everything looks good and I still have 2/3rds of my hard drive available.

Appreciate everybody's help

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Answer 7

Moonshine33 Author

Level 1

58 points

Jan 17, 2019 7:32 AM in response to rose_10

Thanks. Definitely iCloud.

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Answer 8

Moonshine33 Author

Level 1

58 points

Jan 20, 2019 6:34 AM in response to Joseph_S.

Thanks, still happening, annoying but a first world problem :)

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Answer 9

chris_g1

Community Specialist

Jan 17, 2019 6:08 AM in response to Moonshine33

Hello Moonshine33.

Let's make sure that your Mac is set to sync your iCloud documents. Click the Apple Menu () > System Preferences > iCloud and make sure that you are using the same Apple ID you use when you sign in to iCloud.com.

From there, make sure that iCloud Drive is checked and then click Options. Ensure that the apps you wanted synced to your Mac are checked. This will allow your Mac to storage a local copy of the document and keep that copy synced to iCloud.

Please note that if the Optimize Mac Storage box is checked documents may only be stored in iCloud if you begin to run low on space on your Mac.

Have a great day.

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Answer 10

Joseph_S.

Community Specialist

Jan 17, 2019 9:30 AM in response to Moonshine33

Hello Moonshine33.

Does this continue to happen if you uncheck the Optimise Mac Storage box? If so, we'd recommend contacting Apple Support directly. You can do that here:

Contact Apple Support

Have a wonderful day.

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Why do I have to keep downloading files from iCloud?

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