iCloud Drive Sync progress? Can't make Time Machine Backup

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iCloud Drive Sync progress? Can't make Time Machine Backup

Hi there, hope someone can help.

I just spent the week setting up a new Mac and on launch it apparently started syncing everything I have to iCloud Drive (which I really don't want but if I turn that off I lose my Desktop and everything as it is apparently really residing in the Cloud.)

Regardless, I cannot do an initial Time Machine Backup because it says it is waiting for all this iCloud Drive Syncing to be done. But it's been 2 days and I have no way to see where the progress is for these. I just see little clouds and little clouds with arrows.

I'm used to Dropbox where you can tell it to Sync now and see the actual progress for that item, but I see no progress at all.

If I click on the iCloud Drive in the left hand of a finder window it says "Last synced 25 minutes ago" or whatever. If its synced then why are there still clouds and why can't I do a Time Machine backup that says its waiting for syncing to be finished.

Can anyone shed light on this - and is there a way for me to see the progress of syncing? Or make it sync without it stating that it did it "minutes ago" - LOL

Thanks!!!

iMac 27″, macOS 15.5

Posted on Jun 6, 2025 6:50 PM

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Answer 1

Jun 7, 2025 10:33 AM in response to lilskye2

iCloud isn't Drop Box. The purpose of iCloud is to automatically synchronize your Mac, your iPhone, and your iPad. Pictures, files, and folders don't "reside" on iCloud, though by turning on Optimize Storage you can let iCloud keep less used files off your Mac to save space. If I remember correctly, when you set up a new device, you are asked if you want iCloud sync and Optimize, and you're told you can set them up later if you wish. You should see this:

Understanding iCloud Drive - Apple Community

I don't use Optimize Storage, because Time Machine can't backup files that aren't there. But if you have limited space on your internal drive, then you may not be able to avoid it.

You can turn off syncing Desktop and Documents. If you do that, then the Mac will create new empty Desktop and Documents folders in your user folder. Then you can drag the contents of the now disconnected folders on iCloud Drive into the new ones. The Mac will have to download those files. Then you can back them up.

If you turn off Optimize completely, then you may have to do something similar with the other iCloud Drive files you may have., Or, you can right-click on each of the files and choose Keep Download

and choose Keep Download.

What do you think?

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