iCloud drive Icons

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Level 1

123 points

iCloud drive Icons

What does it mean if there is no cloud icon next to a file or folder name? I found the meaning of the varitions of cloud symbols but didn't find anything about no symbol next to a file name.

Posted on Jul 30, 2022 8:44 AM

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Answer 1

tygb

Level 9

64,764 points

Jul 30, 2022 9:39 AM in response to Staynavytom

See the second article , click on drop down arrow of iCloud icon it will start syncing , click only one folder once it's completely synced Upload and download files from iCloud Drive on iCloud.com - Apple Support , click on the second one as high network speed is required , the pie chart is slowly moving in clock wise direction it will be completed , make sure don't add large sized files Access and manage your files in iCloud Drive - Apple Support

The folder " genealogy " with slash can't be downloaded as If you need permission to open an item on Mac - Apple Support

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Answer 2

léonie

Level 10

197,589 points

Jul 30, 2022 9:42 AM in response to Staynavytom

You are showing the folders in Column view, right?

Then the badge with the cloud will not be shown, if the files have been fully uploaded to cloud and have also been downloaded fully. This is explained in the link provided by tygb: Get file, folder and disk information on Mac – Apple Support - see the this caution there "Note: Even if the iCloud Status column is not in the Finder window, you can still see the status for most iCloud file transfers next to the folder or filename. The only icon you won’t see is for downloaded items." If you are seeing no badge at all, the files have been uploaded and fully downloaded. Try to switch to List view, then enter ⌘J to bring up the View options and enable the checkmark for "iCloud Status". Then all items in the list of files and folders should be showing some cloud status badge.

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Answer 3

tygb

Level 9

64,764 points

Aug 1, 2022 2:25 AM in response to Staynavytom

I'm uploading is some 40 GB. My folder is on my external drive which I have locked but I used my password to unlock and copy the folder from my drive to iCloud. So I don't know why I have that symbol.

What is the source of the folder ? what kind of files are saved in it , have you changed read and write permissions for it .

See thes articles Lock a document on Mac - Apple Support

Change permissions for files, folders or disks on Mac - Apple Support

Is your Macintosh HD space is exceeding the designated space , click on finder > applications > right click on third party apps and move to bin , restart the Mac and empty the trash .

Note : The size of folder 40 GB is too much Free up storage space on your Mac - Apple Support

Access and manage your files in iCloud Drive - Apple Support

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

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Answer 4

Staynavytom Author

Level 1

123 points

Jul 30, 2022 9:14 AM in response to tygb

I don't understand "completely synced". Here's a screen shot of my Finder window. I'm trying to upload the folder Genealogy to iCloud drive from an external drive. It's a large folder. I didn't notice until I pasted this screen shot that the folder icon has a cloud with slash. I upgraded my iCloud storage plan to cover the size of that folder. Can you tell me what's going on with these folders? I think all of these folders exist only in iCloud drive except of the Desktop.

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Answer 5

Staynavytom Author

Level 1

123 points

Jul 31, 2022 9:06 AM in response to tygb

Here's another screen shot. Does this have any bearing on my uploading issues? The folders I'm moving onto my iCloud drive are folders I do not want or need on my Mac. Should I unclick the check mark?

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Answer 6

Staynavytom Author

Level 1

123 points

Jul 31, 2022 8:48 AM in response to tygb

It seems every time I ask a question about iCloud I get more confused. I'm a lineal thinking person...A leads to B leads to C...but I just cannot figure out what Apple is saying about their Cloud.

Here's where I am now in my confusion.

I still don't understand your comment about folders being completely synced. To me, that means a folder in iCloud and the same folder on my Mac would be identical. In my screen shot above, the folder STARS is only in my iCloud drive. It does not exist on my Mac or on my external drive. The "Get file, folder and..." support sheet does not mention what a folder with no cloud icon.

Second, from the "Get file..." document: "Ineligible: The Ineligible status icon tells you that the folder or file could not be stored in iCloud. This is usually because you don’t have enough iCloud storage. " I have over 100 GB of available storage on iCloud (according to my status bar) and the folder I'm uploading is some 40 GB. My folder is on my external drive which I have locked but I used my password to unlock and copy the folder from my drive to iCloud. So I don't know why I have that symbol.

Third, the Downloads folder shows a cloud icon. Per "Get files..." this means: "Downloaded: The Downloaded status icon tells you that the folder or file is up to date between your Mac and iCloud and you can view or edit it immediately, with or without an Internet connection." The Downloads folder on my Mac and the folder in iCloud are different.

Sorry to belabor this topic. My professional life was paper and pencil era where "storage" in any sense of the word meant a metal filing cabinet and a cloud was in the sky.

Can you explain what is meant by "synced?" To me, that means what I see on my Mac and what I see on my iCloud drive would be exactly the same.

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