March 20, 2024 – Recent reports from numerous Mac users have raised concerns over a potential issue with the latest macOS Sonoma 14.4 update. According to these reports, enabling the “Optimise Mac Storage” feature after updating to the new system has resulted in the permanent loss of historical versions of files saved on iCloud Drive.
Previously, in earlier macOS systems, when a file was deleted from iCloud Drive’s local storage using the “Remove Download” option in the context menu, all saved versions of that file would remain accessible in the cloud. However, with macOS 14.4, it appears that all previous versions are being deleted permanently, with no option for recovery.
Foreign media outlets have conducted tests to confirm this issue and have found that it is exclusive to macOS Sonoma 14.4, as the problem does not occur in macOS Sonoma 14.3 or macOS Ventura. This suggests that the issue may be related to specific changes made in the latest update.
For users who have already upgraded to macOS Sonoma 14.4, it is recommended to either avoid saving files to iCloud Drive or disable the “Optimise Mac Storage” feature to mitigate the risk of losing file versions. This precautionary measure is especially important given the severity of the issue and the potential for permanent data loss.
Interestingly, this news comes on the heels of Apple’s recent promotional video titled “iPhone 15 Storage | Don’t Let Me Go,” which highlights the ample storage space available on even the 128GB iPhone 14 model, thanks to iCloud. While the video emphasizes the benefits of cloud storage for photos, the reported issues with macOS Sonoma 14.4 serve as a reminder to always backup important files and exercise caution when updating operating systems.
