Unable to upload folder to iCloud+

Using M4 MacBook Pro (Sequoia 15.6) with 97 GB free. Trying to upload a 40 GB folder from an external HDD (424 GB free) to my 2 TB iCloud+ (1.69 TB available per manage storage). Dragging folder to iCloud generates an error message: "Not enough disk space. Need 4.69 GB free". Anyone have an idea what this means? It looks like I have suffice disk space everywhere.


Thanks.

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 15.6

Posted on Aug 8, 2025 7:42 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Aug 8, 2025 8:07 AM

Never mind, figured it out! It turns out I had 134 GB purgeable on the MBP HDD, leaving insufficient "real" space for the copy to MBP and then move to iCloud. Forcing the OS to delete that by creating a life in terminal large enough reduced the purgeable to less than a GB resulting in more "usable" space. Watching the copy process, it appears the folder being copied from the external HDD to iCloud results in the creation of a large purgeable file that even rebooting doesn't resolve.

1 reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Aug 8, 2025 8:07 AM in response to MacZonie

Never mind, figured it out! It turns out I had 134 GB purgeable on the MBP HDD, leaving insufficient "real" space for the copy to MBP and then move to iCloud. Forcing the OS to delete that by creating a life in terminal large enough reduced the purgeable to less than a GB resulting in more "usable" space. Watching the copy process, it appears the folder being copied from the external HDD to iCloud results in the creation of a large purgeable file that even rebooting doesn't resolve.

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Unable to upload folder to iCloud+

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.