What is cloudd on Mac?
By Junaid, maker of Taskglass · Last reviewed
Syncs app data with iCloud using CloudKit, for Apple apps and many third-party apps.
cloudd is the daemon behind CloudKit, the service many apps use to sync data through iCloud, including Notes, Reminders, Safari, Messages in iCloud and lots of third-party apps. Its activity rises when there's lots to sync, such as after signing in to iCloud on a new Mac.
- Category
- Apple service
- Made by
- Apple
- Safe to quit:
- With care
Shown in Activity Monitor as cloudd
Why is cloudd using so much CPU or memory?
- First iCloud sync after setting up a Mac or signing in
- Large amounts of data changing in apps that sync with iCloud
- A slow or unreliable internet connection causing retries
- An app stuck repeatedly trying to sync
What to do
- 1Leave the Mac on and connected for a while so sync can finish
- 2Check iCloud status in System Settings > [your name] > iCloud
- 3Quit apps that are syncing heavily, then reopen them
- 4Restart your Mac
Safe to quit? With care.
macOS relaunches it; syncing simply pauses and resumes.
Typical usage
Rough ranges on Apple Silicon Macs. Yours will vary.
- CPU
- 0–2% when idle; higher during sync
- Memory
- 20–150 MB
Related guides
Related processes
- birdSyncs iCloud Drive (including Desktop and Documents if enabled) with iCloud.
- fileproviderdConnects Finder with cloud storage like iCloud Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive and Google Drive.
- cloudphotodUploads and downloads your photos and videos for iCloud Photos.
- apsdKeeps a connection to Apple's push notification service so apps get messages instantly.
Part of the Taskglass Process Library