What is sociallayerd?

Thanks for reaching out, Just-Brandy.

It sounds like you were noticing an app being backed up that you aren't familiar with. We can help.

In this case the "sociallayerd" is not actually an app, it is a system process launched by macOS.

System processes are a little different in that you cannot remove them as they are required for your device to function. In the same way using a photo editing app isn't the same thing as an image file being edited with it, a system process usually works with other data but isn't the actual data itself - its just the program manipulating the data in the background.

Just like all system processes, "sociallayerd" isn't something you need to be concerned about since it is supposed to be there, and you definitely don't want to remove as it may cause your device to work incorrectly or stop working altogether.

You can check out this article for more information about what is and what isn't backed up in iCloud:

• For iOS devices: What does iCloud back up?
• For macOS devices: Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive

Hope that helps!

Take care.