How do I manage user library size

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Level 1

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How do I manage user library size

A few weeks ago, I tried to do a backup of my iMac to find the HDD (1T) was almost completely filled. After some searching, I found that my user Library was using close to 700 GB of storage. I had recently upgraded to 2T storage of iCloud/Drive and was advised that I was trying to use my iCloud Drive incorrectly (I was using iCloud Drive to store files rarely used, but valuable to me). I was limited with time, so I put all that I had saved to iCloud Drive on a portable drive, shut off icloud on all devices, then restarted icloud. My user library reset itself to 16GB, but of course, my iCloud was messed up. After getting word from Apple that I could, indeed, use iCloud Drive to store those space stealing files I really use, I uploaded them to my iCloud Drive. All seemed well-until I noticed my Time Machine backup was working overtime—said it had @ 700 GB to backup. I checked my user library and I am back to where I was; a HDD almost filled to capacity. This time, I find the Mobile Documents folder is taking up the space-the info there is the same as what I see in my iCloud Drive in the finder of my iMac. I’ve searched online for help, but it seems that most of what I find is just advertisements for 3rd party software. Apple talks more in generalities. I need some REAL answers from the pros who know stuff. I have close to 250GB of files that I want to keep in iCloud Drive so it does not take up my iMac disk space, BUT I want access to that info from my iOS devices and/or wife’s MacBook when I sign in through that plus those ‘older’ files kept for safe keeping. How do I use iCloud Drive w/o taking up so much space on my iMac HDD?

iMac Line (2012 and Later)

Posted on Jul 31, 2021 3:46 AM

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Answer 1

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léonie

Level 10

197,273 points

Jul 31, 2021 5:41 AM in response to DJMc

Which system version is installed on your Mac?

iCloud Drive is primarily a syncing service. It is used to keep the documents and data on all devices identical by syncing the devices with iCloud and updating all changes across all devices. Any Mac you are syncing with iCloud Drive will keep local shadow copies of all documents and folders on iCloud Drive, so you can access them even when off-line, and Time Machine can back them up. These shadow copies are kept in your user library in the folder "Mobile Documents", as you already discovered.

If you enable "Optimise Mac Storage" in your System Preferences > iCloud, you can save some storage locally on your Mac. The Mac will automatically remove the shadow copies of the documents you have not used in a long time, when the Mac is running low on storage. On macOS 10.15 Catalina or macOS 11 Big Sur you can also remove shadow copies manually, by ctrl-clicking an item on iCloud Drive and using the menu item "Remove Download".

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Answer 2

léonie

Level 10

197,273 points

Aug 1, 2021 1:36 AM in response to DJMc

DJMc wrote:

léonie

... I have not chosen to optimize Mac storage as I do not want the icloud contents saved to my Mac, but it seems that is what is happening.

...

Yes, hat us how it is supposed to work.

Without "Optimise. Mac Storage" all items from iCloud Drive will be stored locally on your Ma.
With "Optimise Storage" iCloud will remove some of the local shadow copies to free storage, if you need free storage. But as long as you are not running out of storage, the items will stay. It is fully automatic, and we should not worry about the amaont of free storage, but trust the system to free storage, whence need it. The disadvantage of the optimise feature is, that it is harder to mke backups of the items we are storing in iCloud. Time Machine can only backup the items, that have been downloaded, but we need to make a backup of all items we are storing in iCloud, or we will n to be able to recover items, that we accidentally delete.

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Answer 3

DJMc Author

Level 1

87 points

Jul 31, 2021 4:06 PM in response to léonie

léonie

Thank you for your reply. I am learning something new about icloud and icloud drive all the time. Now I know how to remove a downloaded item. Thank you. The problem of excess size usage of my HDD space still troubles me, however. I have not chosen to optimize Mac storage as I do not want the icloud contents saved to my Mac, but it seems that is what is happening. Even though I've removed the downloaded items via your advice, my HDD still reads 900GB when it should be around 400. My problems first announced themselves when I tried to do a backup on a 1T SSD and found it lacking enough space. I guess I'll just get a 2T disk for backups.

Thanks again for your help.

Dan

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How do I manage user library size

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