icloud for Windows - stuck on initializing

Hi!

I've had the same problem several times (today the last one) but I solved it by simply opening Microsoft Store and updating iCloud App.

I hope it works for you. If not, prior to reinstalling iCloud, I recommend that you manually update unsynced documents via iCloud Web.

Thanks,

Oh snap it worked! I did try it before but Run as Admin didn't work on versions lower than 15 due to Windows Error.

I have installed the latest version once again, ran it as Admin and it's now syncing. How does it work now. Will I have to run it as Admin everytime? I'm asking because I'm letting it sync fully before I try to reboot again.

Thanks for the tip!

Try repairing iCloud via Control Panel in Windows

The same problem happened to me. When I first uploaded it, C: was selected as the file. I logged out of the iCloud application and then made it save to the desktop. The problem was solved.

I am having this issue as well, since weeks no sync for upload items. And like evgen244 I decided to log out and log back in and in the process lost all my recently created tax submission files. It did fix the upload sync for the duration of my logged in session. But next morning after booting the issue was back. I have since made the decision to migrate to OneDrive because I don't expect a fix for this in the coming months. My Reminders app space consumption issues also never got fixed after weeks of investigating with Apple Support. Given the low frequency of responders on this Discussion, I expect this will take years to fix. I advise to find a method that works for you, that allows you do to your job.

Not sure it’s related to DELL PCs - I have a brand new Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 - I’ve had issues with iCloud.

running the downloaded iCloud app as an administrator seems to be only a temporary fix. Others have had joy by moving where iCloud saves the directory too.

Overall, it does seem to be permissions related.

It's may 24th 2024 and for some unknown reason I have decided to update my perfectly working iCloud Drive for Windows app to the newest version... icloud Drive is stuck Initializing ever since.

I have tried to go back to the previous versions:

• 13.4.101 - SAME ISSUE
• 14.0.162 - SAME ISSUE
• 14.1.108 - SAME ISSUE
• 14.2.122 - SAME ISSUE

Before every installation I would log out from iCloud, remove all traces of the previous installation, and try to syn the new installation to another folder.

I do have 1.1TB of data stored on the cloud, but it has been working perfectly until today.

I am running fully updated Windows 10, but for some crazy reason my PC does not meet Win11 criteria so I'm not able to update my OS.

Please do something. Based on this issue I have already lost some really important documents forewer, when I sign out and sign back in, as was suggestet from your IT support. Then I call your support, but their answer was, that this is not their problem, its Windows problem. And after some time your pearson on the other side of the telephone, just hang up, not once, it happend me now for at least 4 times. Unbeliviable. I am really ****** of about your IT support. Please fix this ASAP.

Yes u will, i have 432 gb of data. Wiped all. And done how i said above and left it 1.5 days to finish all gbs . Now if a put something in icloud folder it syncs.

(If i dont leave it to finish all 432 gb and i restart pc it stucks again.)

Yup… hence I dumped it for Onedrive. They had a similar issue years ago (to do with onedrive not logging you in) at work so I avoided it back then at the risk of losing files. Now Onedrive pops up if you’re not connected so you can deal with it. Sorely missing that in iCloud. Recently iCloud started popping up when I boot, but when I try to login it fails each time…. So after a few weeks of this amateur show I uninstalled it. Life goes on and this isn’t worth the worry. Onedrive for the win.

I am not sure about that. In my case, I have an Intel-based PC and it has worked for five years with no issues. What happened was I shared my iCloud account with my family so they could share my storage and that’s what broke it. I unshared the account and it didn’t go back to working, but moving the Drive and reinstalling iCloud did work even with the sharing turned on. I think there is more to the permission issue than the chip IMHO.

I’m on win11 and the latest iCloud app in the Microsoft store has been working really well for me. They finally updated it and I haven’t had any issues.

I am having the exact same issue. I have 5 folders that are stuck in limbo (haven't fully uploaded to the cloud). I am afraid to sign out of icloud for fear of losing all of the files. I did rename the files with .nosync at the end to see if this would get them to stop trying to sync, but it did not fix the issue...

Thanks!!!

I've been struggling with getting it working again for a couple weeks after updating iCloud for Windows. Followed your steps and it began initializing immediately after applying my settings.

Eric

Several times in the last few years I have started using icloud for windows to share files between pc and iphone APPs ( I don't know of any other way). Every time it's worked for a while then just stopped syncing. This time it's with that permanent "initialising" status, and every time it's been a lengthy rigmarole to get it working again, even without worrrying about data loss (I've generally backed important stuff up elsewhere).

Typically a complete re-install, delete of all visible traces of the app and data, doesn't fix it. There has to be some obscure persistence somewhere.

The bottom line is that it's JUST NOT ROBUST ENOUGH to rely on. Having to find magic sequences like the one NAGA posted EVERY BLOODY TIME IT BREAKS is beyond intolerable.