Cloudd Mac High CPU

What is cloudd process on Mac?

Within Apple’s macOS, cloudd is a system program that runs in the background, also known as a daemon, which handles iCloud syncing. It ensures that your Contacts, Notes, Photos, and other apps that use iCloud storage are up-to-date on your Mac and not out of step with your other Apple devices.

Daemons are designed to be efficient, but after years of working with macOS, we’ve found that some can hog system resources from time to time, depending on what they’re responsible for. That’s why it’s a good idea to know how to free up RAM on Mac so that you can increase performance during times like these.

Why does cloudd use high CPU on Mac?

When we see the cloudd on Mac with high CPU usage, it usually indicates that a demanding sync is taking place. We’ve noticed it often occurs when large files are being uploaded, or after a significant number of changes are made—like after reorganizing a folder.

Although we shouldn’t see cloudd on Mac with high CPU usage all the time, it’s good to remember that like kernel_task and other macOS processes, it’s perfectly normal to see a spike occasionally, which can lead to a reduction in overall system performance as the process eats up CPU and memory.

A note from our experts: 

 

When cloudd and other processes slow down your Mac, there’s no need to stop using your computer until they settle down. Instead, we recommend using MacKeeper’s Memory Cleaner from Clario Tech to instantly free up system memory and boost system speed.  

 

Here’s how:

1. Download and install MacKeeper.
2. Access Memory Cleaner in the MacKeeper sidebar, then click Open.
3. Click Clean Memory to safely clear old data and free up system RAM.

The great thing about using MacKeeper’s Memory Cleaner is that it provides immediate results and it’s completely safe. The tool purges only old data that’s no longer needed from RAM, so it won’t cause your Mac or any running programs to become unstable—and it doesn't cause the Mac deleted process error.

How to fix cloudd high CPU usage on Mac?

When we find that cleaning system memory isn’t enough to fix cloudd high CPU usage on Mac, there are other steps we can take, like restarting the computer, fixing any iCloud errors that might have occurred, or temporarily disabling iCloud completely. Removing problematic or corrupted folders can also help.

We recently had a reader contact us after noticing a sudden drop in system performance that was causing their Mac to crash when they tried opening too many programs. After showing them that you can use Activity Monitor to see what is running on your Mac, we discovered that the cloudd process was the issue.

We were able to help them fix the problem by walking them through these troubleshooting steps:

1. Restart the Mac by going into the Apple menu and then selecting Restart.
2. If the problem persists, open Finder and then click the icon next to iCloud Drive to see what’s syncing. If the upload process is getting stuck on a certain file or folder, try removing it from iCloud and then re-adding it later after confirming the data isn’t corrupted.
3. If iCloud syncing is getting stuck on large files, check your internet connection is fast and stable by going to speedtest.net in your browser and running a test. If you’re having connectivity issues, remove the large files from iCloud for now until you have a better connection.
4. Go to System Settings > Apple Account > iCloud and then disable Sync This Mac and click Done. Restart your computer, then return to the iCloud menu and re-enable iCloud syncing.

It can be difficult to determine what exactly is causing cloudd on Mac to have high CPU usage, so you may need to go through all of the tips above to alleviate the problem. We often find a simple restart is all it takes, but in some cases, a combination of steps is required to get cloudd functioning as normal again.

Conclusion

When we encounter issues with the cloudd process on Mac, it’s important to remember that occasional periods of high CPU usage are perfectly normal. However, when cloudd doesn’t settle down after a while as expected, there are steps you can take to fix it, like a system restart or toggling iCloud sync.

To continue enjoying a smooth and stable Mac while cloudd is using up more system resources, we suggest using MacKeeper’s Memory Cleaner tool from Clario Tech to safely clear old data from system RAM in just a couple of clicks, which instantly gives macOS and your apps more to work with.