---
id: data-transfers.download-to-external-drive-to-save-space
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/data-transfers/download-to-external-drive-to-save-space
category: "Data Transfers"
subcategory: "External drive and disk space"
question: "Can I download a large file straight to my external drive to save space on my Mac?"
alt_questions:
  - "download directly to external SSD"
  - "save download to external drive mac"
  - "big download not enough space on mac"
  - "change download folder to external drive"
  - "download without filling startup disk"
short_answer: "Yes. Choose Download (or Copy), then set Save to folder or Destination to a folder on your external drive. The file lands there without using space on your Mac."
tags: ["download", "external drive", "save space"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/data-transfers/download-a-file-from-a-link", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/data-transfers/move-a-paused-download-to-another-drive"]
applies_to: "app>=4.16"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# Can I download a large file straight to my external drive to save space on my Mac?

Yes. In **New Transfer**, choose **Download**, then change **Save to folder** from Downloads to a folder on your external drive with the folder button. The file arrives there without taking room on your Mac.

You can do the same with Copy: pick a folder on the external drive as the destination when bringing files down from a cloud account.

If a download is already running on your Mac and space runs low, it pauses with **Needs space**, and **Move to another drive** sends it over to the external drive to finish there.

Related: [Download a file from a link](https://storagestudio.us/faq/data-transfers/download-a-file-from-a-link) · [External drives](https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/)