---
id: icloud.icloud-optimisation-failed-message
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/icloud-optimisation-failed-message
category: "iCloud & iCloud Photos"
subcategory: "Troubleshooting iCloud space"
question: "What should I do when Storage Studio says iCloud optimisation failed?"
alt_questions:
  - "iCloud optimisation failed storage studio"
  - "Couldn't finish making cloud files online-only"
  - "Optimize iCloud error"
  - "Cloud optimisation failed what now"
  - "Optimise iCloud locally failed"
short_answer: "The pass stopped early, but nothing was deleted. Check iCloud Drive is on, give Storage Studio Full Disk Access, close open iCloud documents and retry — or use Run Tuhi or Finder's Remove Download instead."
tags: ["troubleshooting", "icloud drive", "error"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/why-cant-storage-studio-free-a-whole-icloud-folder-on-newer-macos", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/why-doesnt-storage-studio-find-my-icloud-drive"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# What should I do when Storage Studio says iCloud optimisation failed?

It means the pass stopped before it could finish making files online-only. Nothing was deleted — any file it hadn't reached is still downloaded, and any file it had freed is still safe in iCloud.

Try these in order:

1. Check iCloud Drive is turned on and signed in, in **System Settings → your name → iCloud**.
2. Make sure Storage Studio has **Full Disk Access** (System Settings → Privacy & Security → Full Disk Access).
3. Close apps that have big iCloud documents open, then try again.
4. Use **Run Tuhi** or Finder's **Remove Download** instead, which work on every supported macOS.

The Background Activity view also records the run, so you can see when it last worked. See [troubleshooting](https://storagestudio.us/manual/troubleshooting).