Does Hazel ignore files in deep subfolders when using iCloud

[amora16]

Hi everyone,

I'm using Hazel 5.2.3 on macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 to automate document processing in iCloud Drive. I've set up a rule for the ~/iCloud Drive/Work/ folder, which looks for files with a specific tag (e.g., "Processed") that haven't been edited in 10 days and moves them to a separate archive folder with a name change.

The problem is that files in deep subfolders (e.g., Work/ProjectX/2024/December/) sometimes don't get processed by Hazel, even though the preview confirms they match the rule. Meanwhile, shallower folders work just fine. I've granted Full Disk Access, rebuilt the Spotlight index, and even tried simpler rules, but the problem persists. In particular, if I temporarily turn off iCloud sync, the rule sometimes works correctly, which makes me suspect that the problem lies in iCloud lag or syncing.

Has anyone encountered a similar situation? Is there a specific way to debug in Hazel or a trick to work with files stored in iCloud Drive? I would love to hear from you!

[Mr_Noodle]

Are the deeper folders/files actually downloaded to your machine? If you see a cloud icon next to them, that indicates they aren't and you need to click on that icon to download the file.

[amora16]

Are the deeper folders/files actually downloaded to your machine? If you see a cloud icon next to them, that indicates they aren't and you need to click on that icon to download the file.

Thank you so much for sharing this useful information. I have a better understanding of how cloud icons and downloading files work!