How to Fix Waiting to Upload in iCloud in macOS Tahoe 26.2
Files stuck with the cloud icon? If your documents aren't syncing on macOS Tahoe, it's likely a stalled bird or cloudd process.
The full fix is in The Fix section below. Verified on macOS Tahoe 26.2.
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The Symptom
Files in your Desktop or Documents folder show a dotted cloud or "Waiting to Upload" indefinitely, despite having a fast internet connection.
The Fix
- Force Restart the Cloud Daemons
Open Terminal and run:
killall bird cloudd
macOS will automatically restart these processes, which often clears the sync queue.
- Reset the iCloud Cache
If a simple restart doesn't work, clear the local metadata:
rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/CloudDocs/session
*Note: This will not delete your files, only the local sync state. It will take a few minutes for the status icons to reappear.*
- Check for "Ghost" Files
Sometimes a hidden temp file blocks the queue. Run:
find ~/Documents -name ".*" -ls
Look for files starting with .~ and delete them if they are clearly temp files.
Pro Tip
Always check System Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Drive to ensure "Sync this Mac" is still active.