iCloud Files disappearing in iCloud Drive

[Speed38]

Hope I have the right forum for this post.

2020 iMac, 500 GB SSD, 27” monitor, macOS
26.2

In iCloud Drive, months ago, I placed a folder marked Battery Management in which there were 11 files pertaining to the management of different types of batteries.

I went to that folder today and it was empty.

I entered Time Machine, went back about three months, and found and restored all the files in that folder.

When I did so, I got the choice of replacing or duplicating existing files. What? The Battery folder was empty when I looked at it…so I chose Duplicate All, expecting to see the originals and duplicates when I opened the Battery Management file in the Finder.

Surprise! There were no duplicates, only the files I had restored.

This is deeply troubling as I have about 30 gb of files and folders only in iCloud and I wonder how many folders are missing files.

Am I doing something wrong? Anyone else experiencing this? How can I insure that these files do not disappear from folders in iCloud Drive?

 

[aihpcfl]

I would have to see for myself. But some thoughts rolling around in my mind: Do you have the files set to hidden? Could there be something broken or glitchy in the way or with what device you are viewing the folders? For example, I have it turned off in my case, but I'm aware it is possible to access iCloud from the web. How does accessing iCloud in a browser compare to accessing from, say your iPhone, or a Mac, or Windows, depending on what you are using?

 

[Speed38]

I have never, ever hidden files; would have to look up how to do so.
I was viewing the empty Battery Management folder in iCloud Drive in the Finder of my iMac.
If this helps, in addition to my Time Machine backup, every few days I make a separate clone of my HD using SuperDuper; the last clone was yesterday.
I opened the clone and went to ~/Library/Mobile/iCloud drive and that same Battery Management folder was empty, confirming that some files are indeed disappearing from my iCloud Drive.

 

[Speed38]

I would have to see for myself. But some thoughts rolling around in my mind: Do you have the files set to hidden? Could there be something broken or glitchy in the way or with what device you are viewing the folders? For example, I have it turned off in my case, but I'm aware it is possible to access iCloud from the web. How does accessing iCloud in a browser compare to accessing from, say your iPhone, or a Mac, or Windows, depending on what you are using?

BTW - if it is of any use in diagnosing this problem, I found the files disappeared from the iCloud folder on or about Jan 12, 2025

 

[Speed38]

More info that may shed some light on this problem?

Here are links to two images to give you and other readers a clearer idea as to why I am somewhat perplexed.

https://imgur.com/a/NApGJM4

When I go to Finder/iCloud Drive/Apple/Changelogs folder (where I placed these files years ago), in this screenshot you can see that the Changelogs folder is empty.

When I then search for Changelog in Searchlight, it finds all my Changelog document. After I open one and I Command/click on the tiny Pages icon at the top center of that Pages document it shows the path…like this:

https://imgur.com/Vs0AqJm

…and you can see is in iCloud Drive/Apple/Changelogs folder.

So, Finder shows the Chabgelogs folder as empty, yet the second imgur upload shows the Changelog document is indeed where it says it should be…in the Changelogs folder!!

I just went into TimeMachine and restored all the Changelog documents that were in that folder.

I wonder how many other folders in iCloud Drive are “missing” content?