---
id: icloud.what-are-bird-and-cloudd-in-activity-monitor
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/what-are-bird-and-cloudd-in-activity-monitor
category: "iCloud & iCloud Photos"
subcategory: "Troubleshooting iCloud space"
question: "What are bird and cloudd in Activity Monitor, and why are they busy?"
alt_questions:
  - "bird process high CPU Mac"
  - "cloudd using lots of CPU"
  - "What is bird on my Mac?"
  - "icloud process using disk mac"
  - "is bird a virus mac"
short_answer: "They're macOS's own iCloud sync processes. They get busy when there's lots to sync — after enabling iCloud Drive, adding many files or setting up a new Mac — and settle when it's done. If they stay busy for days, check iCloud isn't full and restart."
tags: ["activity monitor", "icloud sync", "cpu"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/icloud-drive-stuck-waiting-to-upload", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/is-it-safe-to-delete-the-mobile-documents-folder", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/why-are-icloud-files-not-showing-on-my-other-devices"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# What are bird and cloudd in Activity Monitor, and why are they busy?

They're part of macOS itself: **bird** and **cloudd** are the background processes that sync iCloud Drive and other iCloud data. They get busy when there's a lot to sync — after turning on iCloud Drive or Desktop & Documents, adding many files, or signing in on a new Mac — and settle down once syncing finishes.

If they stay busy for days, check that iCloud isn't full, that you're signed in, and restart the Mac. Don't delete iCloud's system folders to stop them — see [is it safe to delete Mobile Documents](https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/is-it-safe-to-delete-the-mobile-documents-folder).