{"id":"delta-drive.what-is-the-difference-between-linked-folder-modes","url":"/faq/delta-drive/what-is-the-difference-between-linked-folder-modes","category":{"id":"delta-drive","title":"Delta Drive, Delta Trust & My Drive"},"subcategory":{"id":"linked-folders","title":"Linked folders and copies"},"question":"What's the difference between online only, offline only and both in sync for a linked folder?","alt_questions":["Available online only vs offline only","Both in sync Delta Drive","Which link mode should I choose?","Change how a linked folder is kept"],"short_answer":"Online only keeps files in Delta Drive and frees your Mac; offline only keeps them on your Mac and never uploads them; both in sync keeps a full copy in each place, using the space twice.","answer_markdown":"They decide where the files live:\n\n- **Available online only** — the files live in Delta Drive. Your Mac keeps only what it needs to list them, so they take no space here and open from any browser.\n- **Available offline only** — the files stay on your Mac and are **never uploaded**. Delta Drive learns their names, sizes and dates so you can see what's there from anywhere; the contents are reachable only while that Mac is on.\n- **Both, in sync** — a full copy in both places, kept up to date. Uses the space twice, and survives either one going away.\n\nChange it from the folder's right-click menu (**Keep it**), the background menu (**Keep this folder**) or the Copies screen (**How it's kept**). See [linking a folder](/faq/delta-drive/how-do-i-link-a-folder-on-my-mac-to-delta-drive).","answer_html":"

They decide where the files live:

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Change it from the folder's right-click menu (Keep it), the background menu (Keep this folder) or the Copies screen (How it's kept). See linking a folder.

","answer_text":"They decide where the files live:\n\n- Available online only — the files live in Delta Drive. Your Mac keeps only what it needs to list them, so they take no space here and open from any browser.\n- Available offline only — the files stay on your Mac and are never uploaded. Delta Drive learns their names, sizes and dates so you can see what's there from anywhere; the contents are reachable only while that Mac is on.\n- Both, in sync — a full copy in both places, kept up to date. Uses the space twice, and survives either one going away.\n\nChange it from the folder's right-click menu (Keep it), the background menu (Keep this folder) or the Copies screen (How it's kept). See linking a folder.","tags":["link folder","online only","offline only"],"related":[{"id":"delta-drive.how-do-i-link-a-folder-on-my-mac-to-delta-drive","question":"How do I link any folder on my Mac to Delta Drive?","url":"/faq/delta-drive/how-do-i-link-a-folder-on-my-mac-to-delta-drive"},{"id":"delta-drive.does-available-offline-only-upload-my-files","question":"Does 'Available offline only' upload my files to Delta Drive?","url":"/faq/delta-drive/does-available-offline-only-upload-my-files"},{"id":"delta-drive.how-much-of-delta-drive-is-stored-on-my-mac","question":"How much of Delta Drive is stored on my Mac?","url":"/faq/delta-drive/how-much-of-delta-drive-is-stored-on-my-mac"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"What's the difference between online only, offline only and both in sync for a linked folder? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"Online only keeps files in Delta Drive and frees your Mac; offline only keeps them on your Mac and never uploads them; both in sync keeps a full copy in each place, using the space twice.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Delta Drive, Delta Trust & My Drive","path":"/faq/delta-drive/"},{"name":"What's the difference between online only, offline only and both in sync for a linked folder?","path":"/faq/delta-drive/what-is-the-difference-between-linked-folder-modes"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/delta-drive/what-is-the-difference-between-linked-folder-modes","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"What's the difference between online only, offline only and both in sync for a linked folder?","alternateName":["Available online only vs offline only","Both in sync Delta Drive","Which link mode should I choose?","Change how a linked folder is kept"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"They decide where the files live:\n\n- Available online only — the files live in Delta Drive. Your Mac keeps only what it needs to list them, so they take no space here and open from any browser.\n- Available offline only — the files stay on your Mac and are never uploaded. Delta Drive learns their names, sizes and dates so you can see what's there from anywhere; the contents are reachable only while that Mac is on.\n- Both, in sync — a full copy in both places, kept up to date. Uses the space twice, and survives either one going away.\n\nChange it from the folder's right-click menu (Keep it), the background menu (Keep this folder) or the Copies screen (How it's kept). See linking a folder.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/delta-drive/what-is-the-difference-between-linked-folder-modes"}}]},"fragment":"
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Delta Drive, Delta Trust & My Drive · Linked folders and copies

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What's the difference between online only, offline only and both in sync for a linked folder?

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Short answer: Online only keeps files in Delta Drive and frees your Mac; offline only keeps them on your Mac and never uploads them; both in sync keeps a full copy in each place, using the space twice.

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They decide where the files live:

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  • Available online only — the files live in Delta Drive. Your Mac keeps only what it needs to list them, so they take no space here and open from any browser.
  • Available offline only — the files stay on your Mac and are never uploaded. Delta Drive learns their names, sizes and dates so you can see what's there from anywhere; the contents are reachable only while that Mac is on.
  • Both, in sync — a full copy in both places, kept up to date. Uses the space twice, and survives either one going away.
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Change it from the folder's right-click menu (Keep it), the background menu (Keep this folder) or the Copies screen (How it's kept). See linking a folder.

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Last reviewed

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Related questions

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