iCloud Files tools

iCloud Export Folder Analyzer

Select a folder or ZIP you downloaded from iCloud and see its file types, sizes, date range, largest files and exact duplicates - analysed on your device.

  • Folders, files or ZIP
  • SHA-256 duplicate check
  • CSV and JSON report

Your files are processed locally in your browser and are not uploaded to A2Z Tools.

Before you start

  • Up to 20,000 files and 50 GB per analysis; files over 4 GB are listed but not hashed.
  • ZIP files are listed from their table of contents and never unpacked, so duplicates inside a ZIP are not checked and their dates are the ones stored in the archive.
  • Nothing is deleted, moved or changed.
Loading the export analyzer…

More iCloud tools

All iCloud Tools & Help

A2Z Tools is an independent service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Apple Inc. iCloud, iPhone and Apple are trademarks of Apple Inc. Open-source licences

Related Tools

More tools in the same category

Other Tools

Popular tools from across A2Z

What this analyzer tells you about an iCloud export

When you move photos and files out of iCloud you usually end up with a large folder or a set of ZIP archives full of names like IMG_4821.HEIC, IMG_E4821.JPG and IMG_4821.AAE. The iCloud Export Folder Analyzer turns that folder into a clear picture: how much space each kind of file uses, which files are the largest, which ones are exact copies, and which ones will be awkward to open on a Windows PC.

How people get an iCloud export

There are three common routes. On iCloud.com you can select photos in Photos, or files in iCloud Drive, and download them; large selections arrive as ZIP files. The iCloud for Windows app can keep a copy of iCloud Photos and iCloud Drive in folders on your PC. Apple's Data and Privacy site also lets you request a copy of your data, which is delivered as numbered ZIP parts that can include photo detail CSV files. This tool never signs in to, connects to or reads your iCloud account; it only looks at files you have already downloaded and choose here.

What the analyzer checks

  • File types by content. The first bytes of every file are read to identify JPEG, HEIC, PNG, MOV, MP4, PDF, ZIP, vCard, iCalendar and more, even when an extension is missing or wrong.
  • Sizes and file dates. Totals per category, the fifty largest files and the range of modified dates.
  • Exact duplicates. Files that share a size are hashed with SHA-256; identical hashes mean identical bytes.
  • Issues. Missing extensions, extensions that do not match content, unreadable files, encrypted ZIP entries and ZIP entry names that would be unsafe to extract.
  • Windows and iCloud notes. HEIC photos, HEVC videos, AAE edit sidecars, edited IMG_E copies, Live Photo pairs and Pages, Numbers or Keynote files are explained.

How duplicates are found

Two files can only be identical if they are the same size, so the analyzer first groups files by size and ignores every file whose size is unique. The remaining files are read in slices of a few megabytes and hashed with SHA-256, which keeps memory use low and lets you cancel at any moment. Files larger than 4 GB are listed but not hashed. Visually similar photos are not matched here; the Duplicate Photo Finder does that.

ZIP files are listed, not unpacked

For each ZIP, only its table of contents is read. Nothing is decompressed, so an archive that claims to expand to many gigabytes cannot fill your memory. Entry names that contain ../ segments, absolute paths, drive letters or hidden control characters are shown as text with the reason they are unsafe, and are never used as paths.

Limitations

  • Up to 20,000 files and 50 GB in one analysis.
  • File dates are modified dates and may reflect when you downloaded a file rather than when a photo was taken.
  • Entries inside ZIPs are not checked for duplicates.

Privacy

The analysis runs entirely in your browser. Files, names and hashes stay on your device, and the tool cannot delete, move or rename anything.

A2Z Tools is an independent service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Apple Inc. iCloud, iPhone and Apple are trademarks of Apple Inc.

Rate this tool

Was this tool useful? Your feedback helps us improve it.

No ratings yet — be the first to rate this tool.
Your rating (required)
0 / 2000

Please do not include passwords, payment details or other sensitive information.

Your feedback is sent privately to the A2Z.Tools team and will not be posted publicly.

Key facts

  • Accepts a whole folder, multiple files or ZIP archives, by button or drag and drop.
  • Detects file types from each file's first bytes, so a .JPG that is really HEIC is flagged.
  • Finds exact duplicates with SHA-256, reading only files whose size matches another file.
  • Handles up to 20,000 files and 50 GB per analysis; files over 4 GB are listed but not hashed.
  • Lists ZIP contents without unpacking them and explains unsafe entry names such as ../ paths.
  • Exports a CSV and a JSON report; nothing is uploaded, deleted, moved or changed.

How to use it

  1. Download your photos or files from iCloud and unzip or keep the ZIPs on your computer.
  2. Choose the folder, select files or drop them onto the analyzer.
  3. Review the category chart, largest files, duplicates, issues and Windows notes.
  4. Download the CSV or JSON report to keep a record or plan a clean-up.

Frequently asked questions

Does this tool connect to my iCloud account?

No. It never signs in to or contacts iCloud. It only reads files you have already downloaded to your device and choose on this page, and it reads them inside your browser.

Why does the analyzer say my .JPG file is HEIC?

The type is read from the file's first bytes, not its name. Some download and sync routes keep HEIC data under a .JPG name, and such files open only in apps that understand HEIC. The Issues tab lists every file whose extension does not match its content.

What are the .AAE files in my iCloud download?

AAE files are small XML files that Apple Photos saves next to an edited picture to describe crops, filters and adjustments. They are not images and Windows cannot open them. They are only useful to Apple Photos.

How are duplicate files detected?

Files are grouped by size first, because files of different sizes cannot be identical. Files that share a size are hashed with SHA-256, and files with the same hash have identical content. Files over 4 GB are listed but not hashed.

Is it safe to analyse a ZIP from an unknown source?

The analyzer only reads the ZIP's table of contents and never unpacks it, so compressed data is never expanded. Names that would write outside a folder when extracted are listed as unsafe with the reason.

Will the analyzer delete my duplicate files?

No. A web page cannot delete files on your computer, and this tool does not try. It shows the duplicate groups and lets you download a CSV or JSON report so you can decide what to remove yourself.

Last reviewed: