How to tell if upload to iCloud Photo Library is stuck?

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Level 1

10 points

How to tell if upload to iCloud Photo Library is stuck?

I have decided to use iCloud Photo Library, and started the upload process approx. 24 hours ago. I am using Photos on El Cap on my 2009 iMac.

My Photos file is large ~249GB, and from previous study I knew this process would take up to a week to complete. The first 12 hours went fine, with the uploading data slowly increasing. For the past 12 hours, my upload has stuck on 38.88 GB uploaded.

I know the process isn't totally stuck as the Uploading XX items number is slightly changing, both increasing and decreasing, and the total upload size is also *slowly* increasing (it started at 225GB and is now at 229GB). If it needs to increase itself to 249GB, it will take several more days.

Is this normal, or do you think there is a kink in the process? Any other ways to check if the uploading process is proceeding correctly? Thanks!

iMac 27", Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Sep 26, 2016 10:17 PM

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Answer 1

LarryHN

Level 10

106,142 points

Sep 27, 2016 6:10 AM in response to beezedogg

Yes it is normal and the process is slow and until it completes the first time the information it gives you is wonky - keep the Mac awake and powered and let ti go

LN

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Answer 2

walshb

Level 1

12 points

Sep 27, 2016 10:34 AM in response to beezedogg

I'm having problems uploading. My file count has hardly decreased in the last 18 hours. Where do you see the amount of data uploaded? If I can see that moving then at least I know that something is happening? Thanks.

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Answer 3

beezedogg Author

Level 1

10 points

Sep 27, 2016 1:24 PM in response to walshb

Hi,

Look at your preferences in Photos, and then the iCloud Tab. I tried to attach a picture. It should show you all the pertinent data.

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Answer 4

walshb

Level 1

12 points

Sep 27, 2016 1:39 PM in response to beezedogg

Thanks - mine just shows the number of photo - see below. What version of Photos are you running. I figured another way to check progress. Log into iCloud in Safari and go into Photos and look to see what the earliest photograph data is.

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Answer 5

beezedogg Author

Level 1

10 points

Sep 27, 2016 2:11 PM in response to walshb

I'm using Photos v1.5 (370.42.0). It's on El Capitan. I haven't upgraded to Sierra yet. That's weird that yours doesn't show as much data as mine. I'm also just turning my screen off, but leaving the computer running full time until this process finishes! I haven't tried you iCloud.com method, but may check it out. As painfully slow as mine is, I can see that it hasn't crashed and it is working in the background. I've also turned off my anti-virus and Time Machine until this is done, to try and minimize as many CPU processes as possible.

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Answer 6

beezedogg Author

Level 1

10 points

Sep 30, 2016 4:49 PM in response to beezedogg

One more question if this thread is still being monitored.

My upload is going along slowly but smoothly. Right now it says the max total files it is uploading is 268 GB, and that number is slowly growing. My Photos library size is only 259 GB! Do you know why and how much over it typically goes to upload a library?

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Answer 7

LarryHN

Level 10

106,142 points

Sep 30, 2016 7:36 PM in response to beezedogg

No but the information is wonky until the first upload completes - keep the computer powered and awake and let it finish and you will be fine

LN

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Answer 8

Dec 21, 2016 10:24 AM in response to beezedogg

Is there another thread that provides any different advice besides waiting for the initial upload to finish. My mac has been "Uploading 3,811 Items" for over three weeks - has made no progress - and consumes most of the bandwidth on my home network whenever the computer is on.

I have a iMac 27 inch, Mid 2010) with macOS Sierra 10.12.1

Thanks!!

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