How to Compress iCloud Files with NXPowerLite Desktop (Mac)

NXPowerLite Desktop 11 is able to compress iCloud (and other cloud) files via the main app.

Update to v11 now. 

To compress iCloud files from Finder, please choose "Download now" from Finder's context menu before using NXPowerLite's Finder options.

Users may encounter a "File type not supported" error from NXPowerLite Desktop when attempting to compress a file in iCloud Drive.

The basic issue is that your Mac has Optimize Mac Storage enabled. This feature automatically offloads files to iCloud to save space on your computer, replacing them with a placeholder. These offloaded files look like normal files in Finder, but they are not fully stored on your Mac. You can spot them by the cloud icon next to the file name. NXPowerLite needs the full, downloaded file to compress it, so it can’t work with these placeholders.

Here’s how to fix this so you can compress your files.

The Solution: Downloading Files from iCloud

Before a file in iCloud can be compressed by NXPowerLite, you need to ensure it's downloaded to your Mac. This is the simplest way to get your file ready for compression without changing your storage settings.

1. Download the file: In Finder, right-click on the file you want to compress and choose Download Now.
   
2. Compress the file: Once the file is fully downloaded, you can drag it into NXPowerLite Desktop as you normally would.

If you want to save space on your Mac after compressing the file, you can manually offload it back to iCloud by right-clicking the file and selecting Remove Download.

NOTE: NXPowerLite Finder Options may not work for files stored in iCloud. Apple has limited to 1 number of Finder Extensions allowed to be triggered when right-clicking a file that is synced with iCloud using iCloud Drive. This means that NXPowerLite Finder options will not work for files stored in iCloud Synced folders, and only the default iCloud options are available. This restriction is not limited to NXPowerLite and you will see other software applications have the same restrictions. We are hopeful that Apple will extend this feature to allow 3rd party Finder extensions for iCloud-synced files.

A More Permanent Option: Disabling Optimize Mac Storage

If you find yourself frequently downloading files for compression and this process is cumbersome, you can disable the Optimize Mac Storage feature entirely. This will ensure all your files are always stored on your Mac and ready for use.

1. Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen.
2. Select System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions).
3. Click on iCloud (or Apple ID on older versions) then Drive.
   
4. Uncheck the box next to Optimize Mac Storage.