Cannot remove iCloud Drive folders with Optimize Mac Storage

Question

Cannot remove iCloud Drive folders with Optimize Mac Storage

Hello there, for at least months now I am having this problem where I can't remove a downloaded folder from iCloud Drive while "Optimize Mac Storage" is activated. I can still remove independent files but not a whole folder wich is a big pain obviously since I'd have to go through hundreds of subfolders and select thousands of files sometimes.

So the thing is that when right-clicking on a folder the option is displayed in the context menu and not grayed out:

"Download entfernen" is german for "Remove Download".

But when clicking on it I would only get this error wich translates to "The folder "Adobe" can not be ejected" wich is a very weird wording in the first place. And no, it's not just the Adobe folder, that's just an example.

The "Remove Download" works when "Optimize Mac Storage" is activated though but then I don't have manual control over what's offline accessible and whats not wich is not an option.

Basically what that means is that my whole iCloud is downloaded on my Mac at all times and that obviously takes up a whole lot of space wich does not need to be blocked.

Does anyone else experience the same issues? Are there any solutions to the problem?

Best regards from Germany,

Felix

MacBook Pro 14″

Posted on Dec 2, 2025 2:51 AM

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Answer 1

Dec 2, 2025 11:07 AM in response to JuicyMacintosh

You've restarted the Mac, of course. Try re-starting in Safe Mode. This bypasses certain potentially disruptive processes, and it often helps. Safe Mode is different for different computers, so see this:

Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support

You can't operate permanently in Safe Mode, so restart after you see if things change.

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Answer 2

Dec 9, 2025 7:06 AM in response to JuicyMacintosh

Can you remove a folder with only 3 items in it? There is a limit (10?) on the number of files that can be manipulated together.

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Answer 3

Dec 2, 2025 8:27 AM in response to JuicyMacintosh

Reset iCloud File Provider (mild reset)

This refreshes the underlying sync engine.

Terminal:


killall bird

This restarts the iCloud sync daemon.

Sometimes it restores folder offloading behavior without reboot.

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Answer 4

Dec 9, 2025 8:29 AM in response to JuicyMacintosh

This all seems pretty weird. Do you have Desktop and Documents turned on for iCloud? Are these folders inside those two folders or in other folders?

How do you backup all these files?

Just a random thought-- try this:

Make a new user and sign in to your iCloud account. Unless you have a massive drive, you will need to use Optimize with this user. See if anything is odd.

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Answer 5

Dec 9, 2025 11:07 AM in response to JuicyMacintosh

JuicyMacintosh wrote: … Even if it works in the other account, how does it help me? In the end I will have to reinstall everything again anyways I'm afraid...

It's diagnostic. If another user account works, then you know it's your User account that's a fault. This would point to some apps that you have installed which aren't part of the OS, for instance. In the decades I have used a Mac, I have never re-installed a macOS. I have always wondered where that idea comes from--I've assumed that was a Windows thing.

I meant, are the problem folders inside Desktop and Documents. And in case you're wondering, I'm just poking around looking for something to not feel right. So far, I have no clue…

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Answer 6

Dec 3, 2025 6:23 AM in response to JuicyMacintosh

Using Safe Mode clears out caches and things which often is what it takes. But if it works but doesn't last, that's also a clue.

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Answer 7

Dec 2, 2025 1:01 PM in response to JuicyMacintosh

EDIT FOR EVERYONE TO MAKE IT CLEAR: I made a Mistake - the "Optimize Mac Storage"-Option is DEactivated, not activated. But when it is actually activated, the removal works. Anyways, it should actually work both ways, that's for sure.

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Answer 8

Dec 2, 2025 9:59 AM in response to Richard.Taylor

Hey Richard, **** I just realized that I mixed things up in the text. Optimize Mac Storage is indeed deactivated! And that's the point of course. Funny thing is though, as soon as I activate it, I can actually decide what to download and what not. But then, as you describe, MacOS takes care of it as well and makes its own decisions which I don't want.

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Answer 9

Dec 9, 2025 8:55 AM in response to Richard.Taylor

Yes, Desktop and Documents is turned on for iCloud. But no, they are not within other folders. I backup all these files through iCloud and also TimeMachine.

Before I create a new user and all that I would just reinstall macOS to be honest. All or nothing...

Even if it works in the other account, how does it help me? In the end I will have to reinstall everything again anyways I'm afraid...

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Answer 10

Dec 2, 2025 8:47 AM in response to azaksalmarzur28

Nope, no changes unfortunately...

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Answer 11

Dec 2, 2025 10:17 AM in response to Richard.Taylor

It's like this for ages already and I checked it at a friends Mac and for him it's working as expected.

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Answer 12

Dec 2, 2025 3:39 PM in response to Richard.Taylor

I will try that. But do you think this will have a permanent impact?

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Answer 13

Dec 9, 2025 12:56 AM in response to Richard.Taylor

Unfortunately no change, I am getting the same error message in safe mode :(

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Answer 14

Dec 9, 2025 8:12 AM in response to Richard.Taylor

I can't remove any folder no matter how many files it contains.

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Answer 15

Dec 2, 2025 9:43 AM in response to JuicyMacintosh

Hi back to you from Texas,

I'm not using Optimize, and I can Remove or Keep folders as I like. Optimize is there to take care of that stuff automatically, though. If you don't want to rely on Optimize's auto decisions,I wonder why you don't just turn it off and then Remove the ones you want removed manually? It seems like that's what you really want, isn't it?

What do you think?

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