Where's my iCloud Drive?

[clivechafer]

I need to reduce what's in my iCloud storage. I got a message saying I had almost run out. But when I search how to reduce it, Apple.com says:

1. Open the Finder and go to the iCloud Drive folder.
2. Drag an item to the Trash, or move it to a different folder on your Mac. If you move it to the Trash, you can find it in Recently Deleted for 30 days.

But I don't have an iCloud Drive folder when I open my Finder. And when I search on my MacBook for iCloud Drive, nothing comes up. I find it really frustrating when Apple can't even give full and proper instructions about how to use their own equipment. How do I access iCloud Drive on my MacBook Air running Monterey 12.7.6? Thank you!

 

[Randy B. Singer]

Your iCloud Drive folder is a bit buried.

First, make sure that your hard drive icon is showing on your Desktop. If it isn't, in the Finder, go to:
Finder menu --> Preferences --> enable Show These Items On Desktop: Hard Disks
Now double-click on your hard drive icon to open it.
Users folder --> [your user name] --> iCloud Drive

or

You can also access iCloud Drive via the left hand toolbar in any Finder window.

or

You can access iCloud via your Web browser:
https://icloud.com
To log in, you will need your registered e-mail address and password for your Apple ID.

 

[MacInWin]

In addition to Randy's excellent advice, if you have accidentally (or deliberately) turned on "Optimize Storage" it could be that your entire Desktop and Documents folder is now stored in iCloud. You can find the setting in System Preferences > Storage > where there is a button for "Store in iCloud..." that will show what you have elected to store there, and one for "Optimize..." which will store in iCloud everything on the Desktop or in your own Documents folder. Be a bit careful around those buttons because if you just turn them OFF, you will need to remain connected to the Internet for a while until all of the objects that were moved to the iCloud are restored to your own Mac. Depending on how busy the servers are, how fast your internet connection is, and how much you have moved, it can take hours (or even days) for it all to return to local storage.

 

[pm-r]

I need to reduce what's in my iCloud storage. I got a message saying I had almost run out. But when I search how to reduce it,

Also, be aware that there seem to be some current fishing scams going on that are sending emails about their iCloud storage limits being exceeded, my wife and I both received such a scamming/phishing email about a week ago.

Just make sure the one you are working on is legit.





- Patrick
=======

 

[MacBiter]

You don't need to delete from your iCloud Drive if - like me - most of your iCloud is filled with photos. Launch Photos and download from iCloud any pictures you want to keep only on your Mac, then delete them from iCloud.

 

[mrfrazzled]

You don't need to delete from your iCloud Drive if - like me - most of your iCloud is filled with photos. Launch Photos and download from iCloud any pictures you want to keep only on your Mac, then delete them from iCloud.

I think if you copy all the files from your home iCloud folder to an external drive to save them (if you syncing home and cloud,) delete the files in home folder and the cloud will delete all iCloud files

 

[Rod]

So, once you have located your iCloud Drive folder and have it displayed in your Finder sidebar (this always causes a bit of confusion) just to be clear iCloud Drive is completely different to iCloud. iCloud drive is a remote storage option stored within iCloud for files and folder of your choice. All of the major software operating system developers have one, Google has Google Drive, Microsoft has OneDrive ect. You can as others have suggested delete/move files out of it OR for a fairly small monthly fee increase your storage plan.

I'm assuming you have the free default 5GB storage plan provided automatically with your Apple subscription. For AU$1.00 you can increase that to 50GB, in the USA and other places that may be even less.

"Apple offers several iCloud storage plans beyond the initial 5GB of free storage. You can upgrade to iCloud Plus, which provides 50GB for $1 per month, 200GB for $3 per month, 2TB for $11 per month, 6TB for $33 per month, and 12TB for $65 per month."

To verify that you are really running out of iCloud storage and/or upgrade your plan you can go to your Apple Menu > click on Your Name (account) > scroll down to iCloud and click, you will see a window with this;

Click Manage, and you will be presented with;


If your storage bar shows full, as implied by your notification you can click the Change Storage Plan button and see all of the plans, costs, and options available to you.

Of course this is completely up to you but if you only have the complimentary 5GB plan you almost certainly will need to upgrade at some time, if not for iCloud Drive then something else.