In this guide, we will show you various methods to fix the “Some of the files on your Mac cannot be backed up until Cloud Files syncing has completed” error. This backup mechanism from the Cupertino giant allows you to easily back up all your important data to an external drive and then restore them as and when required. However, as of now, it seems to be going through a rough patch, especially with the latest OS build.
In this regard, numerous users have voiced their concern that they are getting the “Some of the files on your Mac cannot be backed up until Cloud Files syncing has completed” error on their Mac. While this isn’t the first time this issue has popped up, but its frequency has drastically increased with the seventeenth iteration of the OS. If you are also facing this bug, then this guide will make you aware of numerous workarounds to rectify it. Follow along.
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Fix Some of the files on your Mac cannot be backed up
It is recommended that you try out each of the below-mentioned workarounds and then see which one spells out success. So with that in mind, let’s get started. Droidwin and its members wouldn’t be held responsible in case of a thermonuclear war, your alarm doesn’t wake you up, or if anything happens to your device and data by performing the below steps.
FIX 1: Disable OSMessageTracer and UpdaterStartupUtility
Your first course of action should be to disable both the Disable OSMessageTracer and UpdaterStartupUtility background activities [the latter is Adobe’s update mechanism for its Creative Suite, so it will only be available on your Mac if you use any of Adobe’s poduct] and then check if they work out in your favor. Here’s how it could be done:
- Head over to System Settings > General > Login Items.
- Then turn off the toggle next to Disable OSMessageTracer and UpdaterStartupUtility.
- Now restart your Mac and check if it fixes the Backup issue.
If it doesn’t, then disable all the toggles under Allow in the Background and restart your Mac. If the issue is now rectified, then re-enable the toggle under Allow in the background one at a time until you find the culprit. Once you find it, it is recommended to keep that toggle disabled until that app’s developers patch it. However, disabling them didn’t work out, then re-enable all the toggles and move over to our next fix.
FIX 2: Turn off Optimize Mac Storage
Some users were able to fix the “Some of the files on your Mac cannot be backed up until Cloud Files syncing has completed” error after disabling the Optimize Mac Storage feature. So do give it a try using the below-listed steps and then check out the results.
- Head over to System Settings > Apple ID > iCloud.
- Then turn off the toggle next to Optimize Mac Storage.
- Now check if it rectifies the backup issue on Sonoma.
FIX 3: Toggle Accounts
If you have a second account on your Mac with a different iCloud account, then login with that user, and wait a minute for iCloud to finish syncing that account. Then switch back to your account and check if the issue has been fixed or not.
FIX 4: Turn off iCloud Drive
If you are among the tiny minority who don’t use iCloud Drive, then simply turning it off should rectify the issue. Here’s how it could be done:
- Head over to System Settings > Apple ID > iCloud.
- Then go to iCloud Drive and turn off the toggle.
- If you are prompted with a message asking if you want to either wait for sync to stop or to stop immediately, choose stop immediately.
That’s it. These were the various methods to fix the “Some of the files on your Mac cannot be backed up until Cloud Files syncing has completed” error. As far as the official stance on this matter is concerned, the developers are yet to acknowledge this issue, let alone give out any ETA for the rollout of a fix. As and when any of these two things happen, we will update this guide accordingly. In the meantime, the aforementioned workarounds are your best bet.
