What is cloudd?

You might notice cloudd in Activity Monitor, sometimes using a fair bit of CPU or network. Here is what it is doing.

What is cloudd?

cloudd is the iCloud daemon. It handles syncing iCloud data between your Mac and Apple servers. This includes CloudKit work, which is the framework that apps use to store and sync data through iCloud.

What does it sync?

cloudd handles syncing for many features:

• iCloud Drive files
• Photos (iCloud Photo Library)
• Notes, Reminders, and Contacts
• Safari bookmarks and tabs
• App data from third-party apps using CloudKit
• Desktop and Documents folder sync (if turned on)

Why is it using so much CPU?

If cloudd is eating up resources, it is usually because:

• You just signed into iCloud and it is doing a first sync
• A large batch of files changed (like adding many photos)
• iCloud Drive is syncing Desktop and Documents folders after a system update
• A sync clash is being sorted out

This is usually short-lived. Once the sync catches up, resource use drops to nearly nothing.

Can you cut its activity?

You can turn off certain iCloud features in System Settings, then your name, then iCloud to reduce what cloudd needs to sync. Turning off iCloud Drive or Desktop and Documents syncing will make the biggest difference.

Should you worry?

No. It is a normal Apple process. If it seems stuck using high CPU for days, try signing out of iCloud and back in from System Settings. This forces a fresh sync.

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