{"id":"comparisons.why-not-just-use-optimise-storage-in-macos","url":"/faq/comparisons/why-not-just-use-optimise-storage-in-macos","category":{"id":"comparisons","title":"Comparisons & alternatives"},"subcategory":{"id":"built-in-macos","title":"macOS's own storage tools"},"question":"Why not just turn on macOS's Optimise Storage instead of using Storage Studio?","alt_questions":["optimize storage mac vs storage studio","Is Optimise Mac Storage enough to free space?","Should I use Apple's optimise storage or an external drive?","optimise storage vs moving files to SSD","does optimize storage do the same thing as storage studio"],"short_answer":"macOS optimise storage keeps files in iCloud and leaves placeholders on your Mac. Storage Studio moves big folders and apps to your own external drive, complete and at full speed, with no iCloud plan needed. They work well together.","answer_markdown":"Turn it on if it suits you — but it solves a different problem. macOS's optimise options lean on the cloud: files and photos are kept in iCloud and only small versions or placeholders stay on your Mac, and watched TV shows and films can be removed. That needs enough iCloud space and an internet connection whenever you want the full file back.\n\nStorage Studio moves things to an **external drive you own** instead. The files stay complete and open at full speed while the drive is connected, with no upload and no iCloud plan needed. It also handles things optimise storage never touches — large app data, developer caches, virtual machines, and the apps themselves.\n\nMany people use both: iCloud optimisation for photos and documents, Storage Studio for the large, local-only folders. See [iCloud & iCloud Photos](/faq/icloud/) for how the two fit together.","answer_html":"

Turn it on if it suits you — but it solves a different problem. macOS's optimise options lean on the cloud: files and photos are kept in iCloud and only small versions or placeholders stay on your Mac, and watched TV shows and films can be removed. That needs enough iCloud space and an internet connection whenever you want the full file back.

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Storage Studio moves things to an external drive you own instead. The files stay complete and open at full speed while the drive is connected, with no upload and no iCloud plan needed. It also handles things optimise storage never touches — large app data, developer caches, virtual machines, and the apps themselves.

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Many people use both: iCloud optimisation for photos and documents, Storage Studio for the large, local-only folders. See iCloud & iCloud Photos for how the two fit together.

","answer_text":"Turn it on if it suits you — but it solves a different problem. macOS's optimise options lean on the cloud: files and photos are kept in iCloud and only small versions or placeholders stay on your Mac, and watched TV shows and films can be removed. That needs enough iCloud space and an internet connection whenever you want the full file back.\n\nStorage Studio moves things to an external drive you own instead. The files stay complete and open at full speed while the drive is connected, with no upload and no iCloud plan needed. It also handles things optimise storage never touches — large app data, developer caches, virtual machines, and the apps themselves.\n\nMany people use both: iCloud optimisation for photos and documents, Storage Studio for the large, local-only folders. See iCloud & iCloud Photos for how the two fit together.","tags":["optimise storage","icloud","macos"],"related":[{"id":"comparisons.storage-studio-vs-macos-storage-settings","question":"How is Storage Studio different from the Storage section in macOS System Settings?","url":"/faq/comparisons/storage-studio-vs-macos-storage-settings"},{"id":"comparisons.external-ssd-vs-a-bigger-icloud-plan","question":"Should I buy more iCloud storage or an external SSD for my Mac?","url":"/faq/comparisons/external-ssd-vs-a-bigger-icloud-plan"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"Why not just turn on macOS's Optimise Storage instead of using Storage Studio? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"macOS optimise storage keeps files in iCloud and leaves placeholders on your Mac. Storage Studio moves big folders and apps to your own external drive, complete and at full speed, with no iCloud plan needed. They work well together.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Comparisons & alternatives","path":"/faq/comparisons/"},{"name":"Why not just turn on macOS's Optimise Storage instead of using Storage Studio?","path":"/faq/comparisons/why-not-just-use-optimise-storage-in-macos"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/comparisons/why-not-just-use-optimise-storage-in-macos","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Why not just turn on macOS's Optimise Storage instead of using Storage Studio?","alternateName":["optimize storage mac vs storage studio","Is Optimise Mac Storage enough to free space?","Should I use Apple's optimise storage or an external drive?","optimise storage vs moving files to SSD","does optimize storage do the same thing as storage studio"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Turn it on if it suits you — but it solves a different problem. macOS's optimise options lean on the cloud: files and photos are kept in iCloud and only small versions or placeholders stay on your Mac, and watched TV shows and films can be removed. That needs enough iCloud space and an internet connection whenever you want the full file back.\n\nStorage Studio moves things to an external drive you own instead. The files stay complete and open at full speed while the drive is connected, with no upload and no iCloud plan needed. It also handles things optimise storage never touches — large app data, developer caches, virtual machines, and the apps themselves.\n\nMany people use both: iCloud optimisation for photos and documents, Storage Studio for the large, local-only folders. See iCloud & iCloud Photos for how the two fit together.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/comparisons/why-not-just-use-optimise-storage-in-macos"}}]},"fragment":"
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Comparisons & alternatives · macOS's own storage tools

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Why not just turn on macOS's Optimise Storage instead of using Storage Studio?

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Short answer: macOS optimise storage keeps files in iCloud and leaves placeholders on your Mac. Storage Studio moves big folders and apps to your own external drive, complete and at full speed, with no iCloud plan needed. They work well together.

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Turn it on if it suits you — but it solves a different problem. macOS's optimise options lean on the cloud: files and photos are kept in iCloud and only small versions or placeholders stay on your Mac, and watched TV shows and films can be removed. That needs enough iCloud space and an internet connection whenever you want the full file back.

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Storage Studio moves things to an external drive you own instead. The files stay complete and open at full speed while the drive is connected, with no upload and no iCloud plan needed. It also handles things optimise storage never touches — large app data, developer caches, virtual machines, and the apps themselves.

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Many people use both: iCloud optimisation for photos and documents, Storage Studio for the large, local-only folders. See iCloud & iCloud Photos for how the two fit together.

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