Budget: 500 UAH Deadline: 1 day
Good day! The situation you are describing may arise due to the peculiarities of iCloud and macOS, especially if storage optimization was enabled on the computer. Here are a few possible reasons why you cannot find the files and how you might try to recover them:
1. macOS Storage Optimization
If the "Optimize Mac Storage" feature is enabled, some files may have been automatically moved to iCloud to free up disk space. Only "links" to these files remain on the Mac, and if the computer does not have internet access, the files may not be displayed or may seem unavailable.
What to do?
Check the status of the files in Finder:
1. Open Finder and go to the iCloud Drive folder.
2. Look at the file icons. If there is a cloud icon with a downward arrow next to the file, it means the file is stored only in iCloud. Double-click on it to download it back.
If the files are missing, check the "Desktop" or "Documents" folders, as iCloud often syncs these folders.
2. Merging Folders and Duplicates
Sometimes after connecting to iCloud, "duplicates" of folders may occur, especially if there were changes to the files before the connection. This may explain the situation where identical folders show different sets of files.
What to do?
Try using Finder's search by file content or their extension (e.g., .docx, .jpg, etc.).
Check "Recently Deleted" in iCloud Drive. Files may have been accidentally deleted during synchronization.
3. Files may have been moved to other locations
When iCloud Drive is enabled, macOS may move files into folders that are displayed in iCloud Drive or locally in Finder.
What to do?
Open Finder and press Shift + Command + G to go to the folder by path. Enter:
~/Library/Mobile Documents/
This folder contains all files synchronized via iCloud.
4. Recovering files through the iCloud website
If files were deleted or moved, try to recover them through the iCloud website:
1. Go to icloud.com and log into your account.
2. Go to "Settings" → "Restore Files."
3. Find the necessary files in the list of deleted items.
5. Checking Time Machine backups
If you had the backup feature enabled through Time Machine, the files may still be there.
What to do?
1. Connect the backup disk.
2. Open Time Machine and find the necessary files.
6. Files may have been accidentally deleted
If you still cannot find the files.
