Pause iCloud Desktop Sync

I just switched this on and have 300Gb to sync... and with Lightroom trying to sync another few hundred Gb at the same time, I just want to pause it... so I google for the answer (I'm thinking "where is the pause button") and here I am. With advice to disconnect the internet or mess with firewall settings...

Apple, you know that every other sync service has a pause feature. Google, Microsoft, Amazon... is there any file syncing service other than yours that lacks a pause? I didn't check. You did, right? You are competent professionals. You did your research. And yet you still don't have the feature. Product manager and dev lead, I know you live in a feature-resistant culture - and yes, that is why we like your products. And this is a great feature. Nicely done. Thanks. But occasionally simple and elegant is also a little unusable. You offer a 2Tb iCloud. Your product is unfinished for those customers.

You already built the "pause" feature, right? Please put it in a minor update. Thank you in advance.

Dear Malin11

I had the exactamente same Problem, and I am very interested in finding a "Pause Botton" solution. I did figure out a work around, that did solve the issue but it is a bit of a hassle, but not too much at least. iCloud sync is not possible to pause, but you can take out the files that haven't sync out of the folder to a Temporary Folder (I created one I my root/user folder "DeskTop Temp NoSync"). Then I search for any folders and a files that where marked as Not Sync yet (they are the ones with the small cloud beside the name)

Then I moved them to my temp Folder, as you do this I makes you a warning since you are taking them out of the iCloud Drive.

This, you will see in the finder view that used to look like this...

is Now

You can check in the activity monitor your network traffic should lower significantly.

You can move the folders from the temp folder to the iCloud folder as you see fit, for example before going to bed, but not all at once, I would go from the smaller ones to the biggest.

Well I hope you find this answer useful, and I really hope your request makes it to the apple Sierra developer people so they solve this the easy way!!

Enjoy!

I was wrong I guess may have found a solution

Try this:

Go to Firewall in System Preferences.

Turn it (the Firewall) on if it is not already turned on.

Click Firewall Options.

Click the + sign to add an app to the List.

Find and select the Finder.app file on the window that opens.

This should be at /System/Library/CoreServices folder

After adding it to the list; Change "Allow incoming connections" to "Block incoming connections".

Click Ok.

Credit to majd88: How do you pause iCloud Drive from syncing?

I think I found the solution to temporary pause iCloud desktop sync. Go to the Activity Network and click on the Network tab. Kill "nsurlsessiond" process. You can relaunch it afterwards by just relaunching Safari.
It's working for me in High Sierra, please let me know if it's working for you as well.

There is no way to pause the syncing process. Sierra was designed to store desktop and documents in the cloud. How ever if you wish you can choose to disable desktop and document by going to System preferences > iCloud > Click on options beside iCloud Drive and turn off desktop and documents. Keep in mind this may cause data loss. So make sure to download your documents first and back them up. Here's an article that goes in to greater detail: Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive

Doesn't work. Even with Finder.app added to firewall with "Block incoming connections" files are continuing to be uploaded via iCloud Drive. Is there some other app that can be blocked from the firewall to stop this? I'm trying to limit my bandwidth use temporarily while working off of a mobile hotspot.

And you were given the answer immediately

There is no way to pause the syncing process.

Since you are bothered by the continuing comments on this thread which had been answered why do you keep posting?

You want to pause it and you can not do that so you either use it the way it works or you quit using it - neither you nor anyone here can change the way it works, we can only explain to you how it does work

LN

Actually, I found a tool that works as I need: https://www.tripmode.ch/

Also make sure to submit feedback at www.apple.com/feedback the more votes they have on a particular issue the faster it will get addressed.

The only way you can pause an upload process to iCloud is by turning off wi-fi. The iCloud upload process comes directly from your network/router.

System preferences > Network > Turn off wi-fi

I have been able to pause iCloud sync by blocking traffic usingLittle Snitch. It should be easier than this but at least it is a solution.