{"id":"data-transfers.transfer-icloud-drive-files","url":"/faq/data-transfers/transfer-icloud-drive-files","category":{"id":"data-transfers","title":"Data Transfers"},"subcategory":{"id":"devices-and-plan-storage","title":"Paired devices and plan storage"},"question":"Can I use iCloud Drive in Data Transfers?","alt_questions":["copy iCloud Drive to Google Drive","transfer iCloud files to external drive","is iCloud a cloud account in data transfers","move iCloud Drive to Dropbox"],"short_answer":"iCloud Drive isn't an account you add; it's a folder on your Mac. Pick it with the folder button and copy or sync it like any local folder. Online-only files are downloaded as they're read, which needs space.","answer_markdown":"iCloud Drive isn't an account you add to Data Transfers — it's a folder on your Mac. Choose it with the **folder** button like any local folder, and you can copy or sync it to an external drive or a connected cloud account.\n\nKeep in mind that files stored only in iCloud (not downloaded) have to come down to your Mac as they're read, which uses space while the transfer runs. If space is tight, transfer smaller parts at a time.\n\nRelated: [iCloud and iCloud Photos](/faq/icloud/) · [Transfer between folders on my Mac](/faq/data-transfers/transfer-between-folders-on-my-mac)","answer_html":"

iCloud Drive isn't an account you add to Data Transfers — it's a folder on your Mac. Choose it with the folder button like any local folder, and you can copy or sync it to an external drive or a connected cloud account.

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Keep in mind that files stored only in iCloud (not downloaded) have to come down to your Mac as they're read, which uses space while the transfer runs. If space is tight, transfer smaller parts at a time.

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Related: iCloud and iCloud Photos · Transfer between folders on my Mac

","answer_text":"iCloud Drive isn't an account you add to Data Transfers — it's a folder on your Mac. Choose it with the folder button like any local folder, and you can copy or sync it to an external drive or a connected cloud account.\n\nKeep in mind that files stored only in iCloud (not downloaded) have to come down to your Mac as they're read, which uses space while the transfer runs. If space is tight, transfer smaller parts at a time.\n\nRelated: iCloud and iCloud Photos · Transfer between folders on my Mac","tags":["icloud","local folder","cloud"],"related":[{"id":"data-transfers.transfer-between-folders-on-my-mac","question":"Can I use Data Transfers to copy between two folders or drives on my Mac?","url":"/faq/data-transfers/transfer-between-folders-on-my-mac"},{"id":"data-transfers.what-can-i-transfer-between","question":"Which places can I transfer files between?","url":"/faq/data-transfers/what-can-i-transfer-between"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"Can I use iCloud Drive in Data Transfers? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"iCloud Drive isn't an account you add; it's a folder on your Mac. Pick it with the folder button and copy or sync it like any local folder. Online-only files are downloaded as they're read, which needs space.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Data Transfers","path":"/faq/data-transfers/"},{"name":"Can I use iCloud Drive in Data Transfers?","path":"/faq/data-transfers/transfer-icloud-drive-files"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/data-transfers/transfer-icloud-drive-files","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Can I use iCloud Drive in Data Transfers?","alternateName":["copy iCloud Drive to Google Drive","transfer iCloud files to external drive","is iCloud a cloud account in data transfers","move iCloud Drive to Dropbox"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"iCloud Drive isn't an account you add to Data Transfers — it's a folder on your Mac. Choose it with the folder button like any local folder, and you can copy or sync it to an external drive or a connected cloud account.\n\nKeep in mind that files stored only in iCloud (not downloaded) have to come down to your Mac as they're read, which uses space while the transfer runs. If space is tight, transfer smaller parts at a time.\n\nRelated: iCloud and iCloud Photos · Transfer between folders on my Mac","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/data-transfers/transfer-icloud-drive-files"}}]},"fragment":"
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Data Transfers · Paired devices and plan storage

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Can I use iCloud Drive in Data Transfers?

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Short answer: iCloud Drive isn't an account you add; it's a folder on your Mac. Pick it with the folder button and copy or sync it like any local folder. Online-only files are downloaded as they're read, which needs space.

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iCloud Drive isn't an account you add to Data Transfers — it's a folder on your Mac. Choose it with the folder button like any local folder, and you can copy or sync it to an external drive or a connected cloud account.

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Keep in mind that files stored only in iCloud (not downloaded) have to come down to your Mac as they're read, which uses space while the transfer runs. If space is tight, transfer smaller parts at a time.

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Related: iCloud and iCloud Photos · Transfer between folders on my Mac

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