macOS service · iCloud sync (macOS)
Why cloudd keeps your Mac awake
cloudd syncs iCloud data for apps. Like nsurlsessiond, it takes short SystemIsActive assertions named “NSURLSessionTask” while it transfers data. They end when the transfer ends.
Checked on macOS 27.2.1 on a MacBook Pro with Apple silicon, 11 November 2026.
What you’ll see
| Type | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
SystemIsActive | NSURLSessionTask <id> | An iCloud transfer. |
Check it on your Mac
Open Terminal (in Applications › Utilities) and run:
pmset -g log | grep cloudd
Real output from the Mac we checked:
2026-11-11 20:57:39 +0200 Assertions PID 832(cloudd) Created SystemIsActive "NSURLSessionTask D84418F3-047B-4D28-860E-D11EFED1F143" 00:00:00 id:0x0xc000092e1 [System: PrevIdle PrevDisp DeclUser SysAct IntPrevDisp kDisp]
Activity Monitor shows the same thing without Terminal: open its Energy tab and look at the Preventing Sleep column.
What to do
- Usually nothing. A very large first sync (photos, a new iCloud Drive folder) keeps it busy for longer; let it finish while the Mac is on power.
See it without Terminal
SleepPilot, a menu bar app, lists every app that is keeping your Mac awake right now by name — audio through coreaudiod is shown under the app that plays it — and warns you when one holds the Mac awake for too long while nobody is using it. Each morning it can show what kept the Mac awake overnight.
Questions
Is it safe to quit cloudd?
No. It’s part of macOS.
Is cloudd keeping my Mac awake normal?
Normal.
Does cloudd keep the display on?
The Mac awake briefly.