Cancelling an upload to iCloud

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Level 1

14 points

Cancelling an upload to iCloud

Hi guys,

Can anyone here point me in the right direction with my query please?

I have been attempting to upload c. 500GB of files to my iCloud Drive. Yes I know that’s a heck of a dump but the reason for it is that I’ve upgraded my 2012 Mac Mini to an M1 and the transfer app doesn’t work because it has only a 256 SSD.

So I’ve 1TB of iCloud space to use.

I started the upload 24 hours ago and it’s only just managed 5GB so far. I’ve full fibre broadband with upload speeds of c. 50Mbps. The connection is solid, there are no network outages and I achieve those upload speeds on other WiFi devices connected so I know it’s not a router or ISP problem.

So I dug out an old hard disk and decided to use that to transfer the files from old to new.

The problem is that I can’t stop the iCloud upload and it’s massively slowing down the machine and hence the transfer to the old hard drive is simply staggering and only drips and drabs coming across.

Has anyone any idea how to cancel the upload to iCloud. The “x” on the transfer window does nothing. Unchecking the Desktop and Documents option in Preferences does nothing either because these are all files located in separate folders on the Mini’s hard drive.

Any good ideas?

Ta.

Shaun

Mac mini, macOS 10.15

Posted on Nov 11, 2023 02:17 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

shaunmck Author

Level 1

14 points

Nov 12, 2023 09:57 AM in response to shaunmck

I went ahead with it - System Preferences - iCloud - uncheck iCloud Drive. After 10 mins the transfer stopped. Finally!!

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Answer 2

Jul 17, 2024 02:06 PM in response to Ron Eggleton

It’s just stalled there, and I have no idea what it’s trying to upload

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Answer 3

muguy

Level 10

89,972 points

Nov 11, 2023 05:18 PM in response to shaunmck

You can stop a sync by dragging the files from a location that syncs to one that doesn't. Eg. drag your files out of the iCloud Drive folder and into your home directory or to an external drive.

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Answer 4

shaunmck Author

Level 1

14 points

Nov 12, 2023 09:46 AM in response to muguy

Sadly that’s not going to work. It’s not a “sync” I’m wanting to stop, it’s where I’ve manually selected folders and dragged them onto my iCloud disk.

I think the only option may be to turn off iCloud Drive.

im going to look into this a bit more before I do that as there are some pretty scary warnings about erasing data stored on the iCloud Drive in the Mac itself.

I’ll post again if I proceed with this to update.

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Answer 5

muguy

Level 10

89,972 points

Nov 12, 2023 10:28 AM in response to shaunmck

shaunmck wrote:

Sadly that’s not going to work. It’s not a “sync” I’m wanting to stop, it’s where I’ve manually selected folders and dragged them onto my iCloud disk.

That is a sync. Your files all sync to iCloud. Anything in iCloud remains on your Mac unless you elect to optimize storage. Optimization offloads files to iCloud only should space become necessary on your device.

I think the only option may be to turn off iCloud Drive.

You can, but it's really just a simple drag and drop out of iCloud Drive.

im going to look into this a bit more before I do that as there are some pretty scary warnings about erasing data stored on the iCloud Drive in the Mac itself.

Yes. If you remove files from the folder you will get a warning. And, if you delete files in iCloud Drive folder, they delete everywhere.

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Answer 6

shaunmck Author

Level 1

14 points

Nov 12, 2023 02:34 PM in response to muguy

Just relieved I got it sorted in the end. Now I’m off the try to locate the power supply adapters that I need for my two external drives. They hold all the audio for my multitrack recordings. I’ve moved house 5 times in the last 6 years and it’s only after this last move that I didn’t label each adapter with the unit it powered. Schoolboy error. But I was tired!

we all live and learn! I wish Apple did too on this quasi forum. So that when I hit”Return” and move to a new line, it automatically capitalises the next word.

that’s just me being grumpy I know!!

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Answer 7

Jul 17, 2024 01:40 PM in response to shaunmck

it would be nice to see a list of what files are uploading, which ones are queued and all of their status. It would be different if it just worked quickly and seamlessly. Mine stalls all the time, and I don’t know which files it’s processing- this is the computers job not mine.

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Answer 8

shaunmck Author

Level 1

14 points

Nov 11, 2023 05:31 PM in response to muguy

Thanks. But it’s not a sync. It’s an upload I’ve done. Of totally new files that a sync won’t recognise.

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Answer 9

muguy

Level 10

89,972 points

Nov 11, 2023 05:57 PM in response to shaunmck

Not sure what you mean. You uploaded files directly into a web browser to iCloud.com? Or, you dragged the files into the iCloud Drive folder on your Mac?

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