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My icloud drive is empty, but icloud shows a small amount of documents taking up storage space. I can't see any documents, though. How do I get rid of the documents taking up storage if I can't see them?

How do I remove documents in icloud if I can't see them? My icloud drive is empty, as it should be. I don't use it.

Posted on May 23, 2023 5:46 AM

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5 replies

May 26, 2023 2:39 AM in response to charlottefromorange


If you turned off iCloud for Documents and Desktop, it created the Archive ICloud file on home drive , ICloud shows no documents on it.


It will prompt the items from this desktop and the documents folder are available in iCloud Drive , to remove items from iCloud Drive , move them to your desktop and documents folder on this Mac , click on show in finder .


Again open system preferences > iCloud > iCloud Drive > the box of desktops and documents box is unchecked , tap over the box to get it rechecked , a circle rotates setting up the box gets checked .


You will notice a folder is created literally on the desktop , tap it a pop up window appears the items on this desktop on this Mac have been moved into a new folder called “ Desktops - Apples Mac book …( the name of Mac will be written in the existing desktop folder in iCloud Drive , you can combine the contents of these folders any time , click on show in finder .


Right click on the folder created on the Mac and move to trash , restart the Mac and empty the trash , but again the documents are placed in a right place in iCloud Drive as well in iCloud server .

Get file, folder and disk information on Mac - Apple Support (IN)

By unchecking the box of desktops and documents - the files and documents created are invisible temporarily both in iCloud Drive and www.icloud.com but they are not deleted from the server and still occupying the space , you can check the box and use get info and delete the desired documents any where from iCloud Drive or iCloud.com and restart the Mac and empty the trash .


Manage your iCloud storage - Apple Support


Save space on your MacBook Air - Apple Support


How to free up storage space on your Mac - AppleSupport


Find and delete files on your Mac - Apple Support

In Mac make sure contacts , photos box is checked so that its data will sync to iCloud Set up iCloud features on Mac - Apple Support

May 26, 2023 2:26 AM in response to charlottefromorange

I’ve gone through the article but it doesn’t help me identify what “docs” are reflected in my iCloud storage. I’ve checked all my apps & nothing is saving data to the cloud. Everything in the cloud itself shows empty - contacts, photos, etc - but the storage capacity shows a small amount utilized.


Thank you,

Charlotte


My icloud drive is empty, but icloud shows a small amount of documents taking up storage space. I can't see any documents, though. How do I get rid of the documents taking up storage if I can't see them?

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