losing connection to iCloud - what to monitor?

Safe mode or new user is problematic since it takes a few days for the icloud issue to reoccur. I'd have to keep working in safe mode, and a new user wouldn't have access to my stuff.

I don't use cleaning apps but I do use many apps all the time that don't come from the app store: Default Folder X, Alfred, iStat menus, Bartender, Cookie, also Foxtrot Professional, Zotero (without sync), OfficeTime, Qbserve, Typinator, Dropbox (still in home folder, no issues for the past year). Then Microsoft 365 edu edition, also not from app store. Microsoft is often the first to want to install a new updater. That's often how I know it has happened again. So it may not just be iCloud.

Maybe my iCloud is too full - I have 25 GB left of 200. Is that too little?

I need to have at least one VPN. These are my main suspects. PaloAlto GlobalProtect is running, IT support from the university said it never had issues with iCloud. I can disconnect, but it'll keep asking to reconnect and I need to connect again often. Cisco AnyConnect I have installed but have not needed for the past two months. ProtonVPN I don't turn on but I have it because I use their email service. Maybe I should uninstall Proton?

When a simple reboot doesn't help, I reboot in safe mode and back to normal before I reinstall the system over night. The latter has never failed to restore iCloud. Logging out of iCloud is a very bad idea, then better reinstall.

Do you identify a problem app from this list? I know it's long, but I'm not using impossible apps, no games and no cleaners.

Thank you

thanks for the suggestions.

iCloud on iOS works perfectly fine. Also iCloud.com. It's just macos.

What would support files be? I usually keep just a few files on iCloud that I need to access from the phone.

On a whim I trashed chrome and the google keystone agent for now.

When I make a new user who wants to access the same iCloud, is that asking for trouble?

Thanks

ok next time this happens I'll try the new user.

The ExFAT drive is just a USB stick for printers/scanners/Windows computers that I occasionally need to use for things that are not on a network. I have not used it recently. All other drives are APFS, or some second backup HDDs are still HFS+.

thanks for thinking about this.

I did not find any libraries on iCloud Drive. I also tried the new user, but it takes so long until iCloud is all set up and synced that I stopped testing. The iCloud disconnect still happens from time to time, so it's not Chrome. I'll just live with it, I guess. Thanks for helping out!

ps here's the etrecheck report with iCloud alive after restarting yesterday