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What is cloudd on Mac?

Bondi's Mac guide · Reviewed by Noaman Khalil ·

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On this page
  1. Key points
  2. What cloudd does
  3. Why is cloudd using so much CPU?
  4. Can I quit cloudd?
  5. How to check it
  6. Questions

cloudd is the part of macOS that keeps your data in step with iCloud: for Apple's apps (like Notes, Reminders and Safari) and for iCloud Drive. It's safe, and when it's busy it's syncing.

Key points

  • cloudd syncs app data and iCloud Drive with iCloud.
  • High CPU means a large sync: after signing in, turning on a new iCloud feature, or adding many files.
  • Quitting it doesn't help: macOS starts it again.

What cloudd does

When you change a note on your iPhone and it appears on your Mac, cloudd fetched it. It works with fileproviderd, which shows iCloud Drive's files in Finder, and with Apple's push service, apsd, which tells your Mac when something new is waiting.

Why is cloudd using so much CPU?

Large syncs, such as after signing in or turning on a new iCloud feature. Turning on iCloud Drive's Desktop & Documents Folders, or moving many files into iCloud Drive, keeps it busy until everything has uploaded.

In one reading of a MacBook Pro (M1 Max, 64 GB) on October 10, 2026, cloudd was using 0.0% of the CPU and 24.2 MB of memory (the 1 of its 2 copies that could be measured).

If it stays busy for a day, check iCloud Drive in Finder's sidebar: a progress circle shows a sync still running. A restart often unsticks a sync that has stopped moving.

Can I quit cloudd?

Stopping it doesn't help for long: macOS starts it again when it's needed.

How to check it

  1. Open Activity Monitor: press Command-Space, type "Activity Monitor" and press Return.
  2. Type cloudd in the search field at the top right.
  3. Look at % CPU and Memory. Two copies can be normal.

Questions

Is cloudd a virus?

No. cloudd is part of macOS: it syncs your data with iCloud.

Why is cloudd using so much CPU on my Mac?

It's syncing a lot: after signing in to iCloud, turning on a new iCloud feature, or adding many files to iCloud Drive. It settles when the sync finishes.

Can I stop cloudd?

Not for long: macOS starts it again. There's no pause button for iCloud syncing; letting it finish, or restarting if it stops moving, is the usual answer.

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