iCloud Drive re-downloads massive old files, takes up all disk space

[primarycolors]

Hi all,
I recently got an M1 MBA. I was certain the 256GB storage would be enough considering I store my files in iCloud Drive and don't work on very many files at a time.

On install MacOS automatically downloaded some recent files to my disk, which is normal. What I didn't expect is that it also downloaded several old and massive files that I cannot get rid of, and are taking up all my precious disk space.

I've searched out the big files with DaisyDisk, then right clicked and hit Remove Download. That frees up my storage temporarily, but without fail iCloud automatically re-downloads the exact same files within a couple days and my storage is full again. I've done this at least 10 times and I don't know what to do. I've fully reinstalled MacOS and have the same issue.

"Optimize Mac Storage" is on.

Does anyone have this issue too? Has anyone found a solution?

(That "Other" space in the screenshot is mostly under Caches > CloudKit, i.e. where iCloud Drive stores partial files it's in the process of downloading.)

 

[Hunter5117]

It should eventually solve itself. It takes a while for the OS to figure out what files you are using and how much space you need to keep open. It is not going to let you run out of space. I have 2 MBPs, one with 1tb and the other with 512gb. I have optimize storage turned on only on the 512gb one. It shows 4gb of iCloud files, while the other shows 32gb. I believe eventually yours will sort out as well.

 

[Puonti]

Have you tried this:

System Preferences -> Apple ID -> iCloud -> uncheck "Optimize Mac Storage"

My understanding is that if this is off, your Mac might initially try to download files from iCloud but also respect "Remove download".

 

[Hunter5117]

Have you tried this:

System Preferences -> Apple ID -> iCloud -> uncheck "Optimize Mac Storage"

My understanding is that if this is off, your Mac might initially try to download files from iCloud but also respect "Remove download".

iCloud is a syncing file system extension, just as if it only resides on your local drive. If you delete a file from local storage, it gets deleted in iCloud storage and then on all other synced devices. The only difference with "Optimize mac Storage" is that for smaller local drives, MacOS over time will figure out the files you need to keep local vs the ones that you rarely use, and will balance out the local storage accordingly. I am not sure why "remove download" would work differently either way, other than when macOS is initially figuring out what files to keep local.

 

[Puonti]

iCloud is a syncing file system extension, just as if it only resides on your local drive. If you delete a file from local storage, it gets deleted in iCloud storage and then on all other synced devices.

True, and I never said otherwise.

The only difference with "Optimize mac Storage" is that for smaller local drives, MacOS over time will figure out the files you need to keep local vs the ones that you rarely use, and will balance out the local storage accordingly. I am not sure why "remove download" would work differently either way, other than when macOS is initially figuring out what files to keep local.

I only have my own experience to draw on so this could be a fluke, but the difference to me has been that while "Optimize Mac storage" is enabled macOS can override the user's "Remove download" requests when it thinks a certain file should be kept local.

If the option is turned off, then "Remove download" (which is different from deleting the file) requests will be respected and it's up to the user to determine which files to keep a local copy of.

By default both options will, to my understanding, try to download new files added to iCloud through other devices.

 

[Hunter5117]

If the option is turned off, then "Remove download" (which is different from deleting the file) requests will be respected and it's up to the user to determine which files to keep a local copy of.

As I mentioned, I have two MBPs in regular use. One has "Optimize storage" turned on, the other off.

I have spent some time over the past few hours experimenting with both of them. Neither of them persistently reloads a file if I select "Remove download".

I have seen it happen on both, that immediately after selecting "Remove download" that iCloud syncs and the little cloud icon goes away on the file, but a second time and it sticks. This seems to happen regardless of the optimize setting.

There is definitely some goofy activity at times but I do not see it fitting any pattern or being persistent.