{"id":"delta-drive.what-do-the-marks-next-to-files-in-delta-drive-mean","url":"/faq/delta-drive/what-do-the-marks-next-to-files-in-delta-drive-mean","category":{"id":"delta-drive","title":"Delta Drive, Delta Trust & My Drive"},"subcategory":{"id":"using-delta-drive","title":"Using Delta Drive"},"question":"What do the little marks next to files in Delta Drive mean?","alt_questions":["Delta Drive badges meaning","What does Ready to read mean?","What does Always on this Mac mean?","Online only icon Delta Drive","Hollow badge Delta Drive"],"short_answer":"The marks show where a file is and who can see it: Online only, Ready to read, Always on this Mac (hollow while arriving), Shared, Versions kept, Linked and Comments. Hover one for its meaning.","answer_markdown":"They say where an item actually is and who else can see it. Hover any of them for an explanation.\n\n- **Online only** — in the cloud; opening it fetches it, so you need a connection.\n- **Ready to read** — a copy came down when you last opened it, so it opens straight away if it hasn't changed; it's tidied away after the number of days you choose.\n- **Always on this Mac** — kept here on purpose, works with no network. A hollow version means the copy hasn't finished arriving.\n- **Shared** — someone else can open it (live shares only).\n- **Versions kept** — old copies are being kept.\n- **Linked** — connected to a folder on a Mac; a different colour marks the offline-only kind.\n- **Comments** — on the web, a count you can click.\n\nA folder shows where it is only when you keep it on this Mac. See [keeping folders offline](/faq/delta-drive/how-do-i-keep-a-delta-drive-folder-available-offline).","answer_html":"

They say where an item actually is and who else can see it. Hover any of them for an explanation.

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A folder shows where it is only when you keep it on this Mac. See keeping folders offline.

","answer_text":"They say where an item actually is and who else can see it. Hover any of them for an explanation.\n\n- Online only — in the cloud; opening it fetches it, so you need a connection.\n- Ready to read — a copy came down when you last opened it, so it opens straight away if it hasn't changed; it's tidied away after the number of days you choose.\n- Always on this Mac — kept here on purpose, works with no network. A hollow version means the copy hasn't finished arriving.\n- Shared — someone else can open it (live shares only).\n- Versions kept — old copies are being kept.\n- Linked — connected to a folder on a Mac; a different colour marks the offline-only kind.\n- Comments — on the web, a count you can click.\n\nA folder shows where it is only when you keep it on this Mac. See keeping folders offline.","tags":["badges","delta drive","offline"],"related":[{"id":"delta-drive.what-does-last-heard-mean-on-a-delta-drive-file","question":"What does 'Last heard' mean on a Delta Drive file?","url":"/faq/delta-drive/what-does-last-heard-mean-on-a-delta-drive-file"},{"id":"delta-drive.how-do-i-keep-a-delta-drive-folder-available-offline","question":"How do I keep a Delta Drive folder available offline?","url":"/faq/delta-drive/how-do-i-keep-a-delta-drive-folder-available-offline"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-27","title":"What do the little marks next to files in Delta Drive mean? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"The marks show where a file is and who can see it: Online only, Ready to read, Always on this Mac (hollow while arriving), Shared, Versions kept, Linked and Comments. Hover one for its meaning.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Delta Drive, Delta Trust & My Drive","path":"/faq/delta-drive/"},{"name":"What do the little marks next to files in Delta Drive mean?","path":"/faq/delta-drive/what-do-the-marks-next-to-files-in-delta-drive-mean"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/delta-drive/what-do-the-marks-next-to-files-in-delta-drive-mean","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-27","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"What do the little marks next to files in Delta Drive mean?","alternateName":["Delta Drive badges meaning","What does Ready to read mean?","What does Always on this Mac mean?","Online only icon Delta Drive","Hollow badge Delta Drive"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"They say where an item actually is and who else can see it. Hover any of them for an explanation.\n\n- Online only — in the cloud; opening it fetches it, so you need a connection.\n- Ready to read — a copy came down when you last opened it, so it opens straight away if it hasn't changed; it's tidied away after the number of days you choose.\n- Always on this Mac — kept here on purpose, works with no network. A hollow version means the copy hasn't finished arriving.\n- Shared — someone else can open it (live shares only).\n- Versions kept — old copies are being kept.\n- Linked — connected to a folder on a Mac; a different colour marks the offline-only kind.\n- Comments — on the web, a count you can click.\n\nA folder shows where it is only when you keep it on this Mac. See keeping folders offline.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/delta-drive/what-do-the-marks-next-to-files-in-delta-drive-mean"}}]},"fragment":"
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Delta Drive, Delta Trust & My Drive · Using Delta Drive

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What do the little marks next to files in Delta Drive mean?

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Short answer: The marks show where a file is and who can see it: Online only, Ready to read, Always on this Mac (hollow while arriving), Shared, Versions kept, Linked and Comments. Hover one for its meaning.

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They say where an item actually is and who else can see it. Hover any of them for an explanation.

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  • Online only — in the cloud; opening it fetches it, so you need a connection.
  • Ready to read — a copy came down when you last opened it, so it opens straight away if it hasn't changed; it's tidied away after the number of days you choose.
  • Always on this Mac — kept here on purpose, works with no network. A hollow version means the copy hasn't finished arriving.
  • Shared — someone else can open it (live shares only).
  • Versions kept — old copies are being kept.
  • Linked — connected to a folder on a Mac; a different colour marks the offline-only kind.
  • Comments — on the web, a count you can click.
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A folder shows where it is only when you keep it on this Mac. See keeping folders offline.

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Last reviewed

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Related questions

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Also available as Markdown and JSON.

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