Remove Download doesn’t work

Sinshassan wrote:

I have iCloud activated for Documents & Desktop. I have Optimize Mac Storage activated. I also have only 500MB free in my Mac Mini, which isn’t enough to work with. Software keeps crashing and system running out of memory.

To solve this, I usually go to my files and hit “Remove Download” on everything I don’t need right now, which is most files. For the past 3 days I’ve been clicking that and it does absolutely nothing. I’ve left the Mac on all night to “let it resolve it” as advised elsewhere, to no avail. It keeps downloading MORE files and folders, leaving me with no storage to work with.

Ignoring the fact that iCloud, MacOS, and “System Data” takes up over half of my hard drive, what can I do? Why won’t Remove Download work?

MacIS Monterey 12.0.1 on 2020 Mac Mini

HHD like to have 10-15% free storage at all time

SSD require a bit more 15-20% ( some say 25% but you get the idea) free storage at all times to function efficiently.

You can do some house cleaning—

Empty your Trash — Delete files and folders on Mac - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/delete-files-and-folders-on-mac-mchlp1093/mac

How to free up storage space on your Mac - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT206996

See used and available storage space on your Mac

https://support.apple.com/guide/system-information/see-available-storage-space-syspf9b375b9/10.14/mac/10.15

User tip: "Other and What Can I Do About It ?"

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-5142

Try something like OmniDiskSweeper for a GUI to get a good look at itemized file size and location:

OmniDiskSweeper http://www.omnigroup.com/more

Sinshassan wrote:

Thanks for the quick reply.

I already do all of these regularly, but unfortunately as soon as I have a few (5-10) GBs of free space, iCloud sees the free real estate and downloads even more files. Today after clearing all caches and trash I was able to get 4GB, which is now down to 1GB.

The issue is that “Remove Download” doesn’t actually do anything, no matter how many times I click it or how much I restart the Mac. Do you know of any way to force it? Like a “sudo Remove Downloads in folder XYZ” type of thing?

You can turn off the sync for that feature if that is your issue...

>System Preferences>AppleID>iCloud

Change your iCloud settings - Apple Support

iCloud Drive may be a bit different— I never used it