MAC
How to keep iCloud Drive files downloaded on a Mac
Real screenshot · MacBook Neo, macOS 27.0.1In short
In Finder, Control-click the file or folder in iCloud Drive and choose Keep Downloaded. To keep everything, open System Settings, your name, iCloud, Drive and turn off Optimize Mac Storage.
4 of 4 steps show a real screenshot from our MacBook Neo. Each step was checked against the maker's own instructions, linked at the end.
Steps
- 1
Open iCloud Drive in Finder
It is under Locations in the Finder sidebar.
- 2
Choose Keep Downloaded
Control-click the file or folder. Keep Downloaded is near the top of the menu.
- 3
Open iCloud settings
For all files: System Settings, your name, iCloud, then Drive.
- 4
Turn off Optimize Mac Storage
Ours was on, with Sync this Mac on and Desktop & Documents Folders off. Off keeps the full contents of iCloud Drive on the Mac, if there is space.
If you do not see this option
- No Keep Downloaded? It is only for items in iCloud Drive. Files on the Mac itself are already local.
- No iCloud Drive in Finder? Turn on Sync this Mac in System Settings, your name, iCloud, Drive (the page in step 4).
- Still not in the sidebar? In Finder, choose Finder, Settings, Sidebar and tick iCloud Drive.
If this does not work
- Cloud icon will not download? Check the internet connection first.
- iCloud storage full? Apple says to upgrade your storage or remove items you do not need from iCloud.
- Mac storage full? With Optimize Mac Storage off, every file needs room on the Mac. Check Storage first.
- Not sure if everything has synced? Apple says to hold the pointer over iCloud Drive in the Finder sidebar, then click the status or information icon. It shows the sync status of iCloud Drive on your Mac.
- Files went back to the cloud? Apple says that with Optimize Mac Storage on, your Mac can automatically store documents in iCloud when more space is needed. Mark the folders you need offline with Keep Downloaded, or turn the switch off as in step 4.
- Not sure how much iCloud space is left? Apple says to open System Settings, click your name, then iCloud and Manage. The bar at the top shows your total use by category.
Good to know
Check and free up storage on a Mac.
Kept files take space on the Mac but no extra space in iCloud, because they are already stored there. You can open and edit them without an internet connection, and the changes sync when the Mac is online again. To undo it, Control-click the item and choose Keep Downloaded again, so the tick disappears, or turn Optimize Mac Storage back on for the whole drive. Remove Download in the same menu is different: Apple gives it for when you no longer want the download on your Mac.
The setting belongs to this Mac. Another Mac signed in to the same Apple Account keeps its own choice, so set it there too if you need offline files on both.
About this guide
- Device
- Mac
- Shown on
- macOS 27.0.1 (MacBook Neo)
- App
- Finder
- Path
- Finder › iCloud Drive › Keep Downloaded
- Real screenshots
- 4 of 4 steps
- Checked
- October 2026
- Sources
- 3 official, linked below
Sources
Links checked October 2026. Menus and features can change with updates.Spotted a mistake? Menus change with updates, and we want every step to match your screen. Email us about this page or use the contact form. We read every report, and fixes are listed on What changed.
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