iCloud Drive Not Working? 9 Potential Solutions
iCloud Drive not working can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your important files. Possible solutions include updating device, checking storage, restarting, signing out and signing back in, disabling and re-enabling Drive, and resetting network settings. Read on to find more.
iCloud is a convenient backup cloud storage solution for MacBook and iPhone users. However, despite its neat features and overall reliability, there are still instances when you might run into various difficulties using the service.
It is up to you to find a solution that will allow you to continue using iCloud Drive. We cover 9 potential suggestions below. Either one of them or a combination of multiple suggestions ought to be enough to troubleshoot iCloud Drive.
9 Potential Suggestions to Continue Using iCloud Drives
1. Check if the Drive is enabled
Make sure iCloud Drive is enabled. On your Mac, go to System Preferences > iCloud and check that the box next to "iCloud Drive" is checked. This is an easy step to miss. Also, consider the possibility that someone else might have used your device and messed with the service.
2. Install updates if they are missing
Check for any pending updates on your device by going to the App Store and tapping "Updates" in the bottom right corner of the screen. Any available updates should be downloaded and installed as soon as possible.
Missing updates is an issue that is known to affect different kinds of software and hardware. iCloud Drive is no exception. Even if an update takes a while to download and install, it should be a priority regardless.
ThinkML Team
3. Restart the device
Restart your computer or mobile device before trying to access iCloud Drive again. This will clear out any temporary glitches and hopefully get it working again.
It should not take too long for the smartphone or computer to load. And once the device finishes loading, launch iCloud Drive again and see if the planned restart fixed the problem. If it did, great. And if not, you will need to continue looking for another solution.
4. Sign out and sign in again
Sign out of iCloud, then sign back in with your Apple ID credentials if you're having trouble accessing certain files.
Accumulation of temporary junk due to being logged in the same account over time is a known issue. Also, do not discard the possibility that the trouble could be related to your account specifically. Other than signing in and out, you could also try using a different account on your device to see how it goes.
5. Check how much storage is left
Make sure you have enough storage to save files to iCloud Drive. Running out of available space, or rather reaching the maximum and pushing it, is relatively simple if you are not careful, so keep that in mind.
6. Tinker with the syncing feature
If you're having trouble syncing between devices, try disabling and re-enabling the feature in System Preferences > iCloud > Options.
The syncing could also be disrupted by interferences, such as signals coming from other peripherals like wireless printers. As silly as it might sound at first, moving your device to a different location could be just the solution.
7. Confirm your Apple ID
Make sure you're using the same Apple ID across all of your devices when accessing iCloud Drive. You do not want to mix different accounts. At least for personal use, you should have a single ID.
8. Enable documents and data
Check that "Documents & Data" is enabled in Settings > Your Name > iCloud so files can sync properly between different devices. Syncing issues are some of the most common for iCloud users, and tinkering with the settings can be just about enough to get rid of the problem.
ThinkML Team
9. Try deleting some files
It is possible that iCloud drive problems are related to a specific file. Some would argue that such a suggestion is a stretch, but a single file can make a difference.
The problem with this troubleshooting method is that you cannot really identify which file is the cause, especially when there are many files in the drive.
Your best bet would be to scan the drive with reliable antivirus software and see what the scan results are. Corrupted files should be identified and removed from the drive. Hopefully, that will be enough to solve the problem.
If you need to find a solution for keeping files while you solve the Drive troubles related to malware, consider some websites you could use as a temporary solution.
Closing Thoughts
Hopefully one of these tips has helped you resolve any problems you were having with iCloud Drive and now it's up and running again! If you have any further questions or need help troubleshooting, don't hesitate to reach out to Apple Support for assistance. Thank you for reading and happy cloud storageing!
