iCloud Drive on Mac stuck uploading a folder that I uploaded and then deleted because too big

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Level 1

14 points

iCloud Drive on Mac stuck uploading a folder that I uploaded and then deleted because too big

Hi!

I tried uploading a folder from my Mac's desktop (size ≈70Gb) to iCloud Drive. Since the uploading got stuck at 101MB and would not move on, I realized the folder was too big for my 5GB iCloud storage size, so I canceled the upload.

Now, on the Sidebar of the Finder window, next to 'iCloud Drive' there is a clock indicating the uploading process, but it is stuck there, and when I click the info signal a message appears saying:

'Uploading 1,500 items to iCloud // 100MB of 70 GB'.

I also forced Finder to quit, but the problem was not solved.

Is there a way I can fix that?

Thanks in advance for your help!

silvia

MacBook Pro with Retina display, macOS Sierra (10.12.3)

Posted on Mar 10, 2017 4:34 PM

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Answer 1

slviris Author

Level 1

14 points

Mar 11, 2017 3:41 AM in response to LACAllen

Thanks for your answer LACAllen,

unfortunately the problem is not fixed by rebooting. I did it several times already, but the upload has started over.. I have no idea of what, since the data I had tried to upload to iCloud is not in the same location of the HD. Strangely, now the number of items being uploaded has lowered to 390.

Any tips?

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Answer 2

RJG1999

Level 4

2,951 points

Mar 11, 2017 8:32 AM in response to slviris

Have you turned on Manage Storage in Sierra, where your desktop and documents folders are synced to iCloud? If so, and the file is still on your desktop then it may still be trying to upload. Move the file to a folder that isn't synced and reboot.

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Answer 3

LACAllen

Level 8

43,590 points

Mar 11, 2017 9:55 AM in response to slviris

Then I'll go back to patience.

I helped somebody with this once on an iOS device. He added iCloud storage n the background and the process eventually finished. Then he sorted it all out later and downgraded his storage after the sync completed. Cost him a buck to have the storage for a few days.

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Answer 4

slviris Author

Level 1

14 points

Mar 13, 2017 4:40 AM in response to RJG1999

Hi RJG1999,

I have never had the Manage Storage on, the attempt of upload was manual.

I already moved the folder to another folder, and I also renamed it, but still it's trying to upload something.. is there a way to discover what exactly it is trying to upload?

Maybe I could just cancel the process from the terminal?

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Answer 5

slviris Author

Level 1

14 points

Mar 13, 2017 4:43 AM in response to LACAllen

So @LACAllen do you suggest to buy storage to finish the upload and then just cancel it?

The thing is the folder is not there anymore, so actually every time I reboot the machine it starts over with the upload, but it cannot progress with it because he cannot find anymore the folder to be uploaded! Plus.. for the upload of 73 GB at the speed of my internet connection I think it would take ages..

Any other idea?

Thanks again!

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Answer 6

LACAllen

Level 8

43,590 points

Mar 13, 2017 9:58 AM in response to slviris

All I'm suggesting is that there does not seem to be a way to now stop the sync gracefully. I believe it's possible that iCloud and OSX have the folder and its contents somewhere in memory and are still trying to either complete or stop the sync.

We also know it can never complete as you don't have the storage on iCloud.

By creating more space on iCloud, the sync *may* complete given the time.

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Answer 7

sueb22

Level 1

12 points

May 16, 2017 6:57 PM in response to LACAllen

Nope I don't think it will help to add storage - could try it but I have 1TB and 900MB+ available and have had an upload stuck for 3 4 hours.. "38 items, 1.05TB available on iCloud, uploading 89 items (1.27GB of 1.95GB)" It ran awhile and then stopped about 4 hours ago. I'd like to kill the process.. how do I do that?

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Answer 8

Dtinen

Level 1

93 points

May 18, 2017 12:19 PM in response to slviris

I had a similar problem, when I turned on "Desktop and Documents" in iCloud Preferences, and it started to upload 33 GB unexpectedly (on a Sierra OS)...I thought it had already uploaded most of it. I have the extra iCloud storage in my account for this, but after I waited overnight, it had gotten stuck as you describe.

When I tried to uncheck "Desktop and Documents", I got a scary popup window saying that I would lose data...which I don't understand.

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Answer 9

LACAllen

Level 8

43,590 points

Mar 10, 2017 8:49 PM in response to slviris

Perhaps a reboot? Or let it work itself out.

Finder is not the only background process involved.

Do you have that data backed up elsewhere? There shouldn't be data loss, but it pays to be safe.

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