{"id":"external-drives.can-i-use-a-cloud-drive-as-the-fast-drive","url":"/faq/external-drives/can-i-use-a-cloud-drive-as-the-fast-drive","category":{"id":"external-drives","title":"External drives"},"subcategory":{"id":"choosing-a-drive","title":"Choosing a drive"},"question":"Can I use iCloud Drive or another cloud account as my fast drive?","alt_questions":["Move apps to iCloud instead of an SSD","Use Google Drive as extra Mac storage for Storage Studio","cloud storage instead of external drive","Can the fast drive be online storage?","Do I need a physical drive or can I use the cloud?","Storage Studio without a USB drive using cloud"],"short_answer":"No — the fast drive must be a physical external drive, since moved apps and folders open straight from it. Use cloud accounts through Data Transfers, and keep cloud files online-only, to save space with the cloud.","answer_markdown":"No. The fast drive must be a physical external drive attached to your Mac, because moved apps and folders are opened straight from it and need it to answer instantly. Cloud storage doesn't work that way.\n\nThe cloud still has a role in Storage Studio: connect your accounts and use **Data Transfers** to copy, move or sync files there, and keep downloaded cloud files online-only to save space. See [Cloud accounts](/faq/cloud-accounts/).","answer_html":"

No. The fast drive must be a physical external drive attached to your Mac, because moved apps and folders are opened straight from it and need it to answer instantly. Cloud storage doesn't work that way.

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The cloud still has a role in Storage Studio: connect your accounts and use Data Transfers to copy, move or sync files there, and keep downloaded cloud files online-only to save space. See Cloud accounts.

","answer_text":"No. The fast drive must be a physical external drive attached to your Mac, because moved apps and folders are opened straight from it and need it to answer instantly. Cloud storage doesn't work that way.\n\nThe cloud still has a role in Storage Studio: connect your accounts and use Data Transfers to copy, move or sync files there, and keep downloaded cloud files online-only to save space. See Cloud accounts.","tags":["cloud","fast drive","icloud"],"related":[{"id":"external-drives.can-i-use-two-fast-drives-at-the-same-time","question":"Can I use two external drives as fast drives at the same time?","url":"/faq/external-drives/can-i-use-two-fast-drives-at-the-same-time"},{"id":"external-drives.what-kind-of-external-drive-should-i-use-with-storage-studio","question":"What kind of external drive should I use with Storage Studio?","url":"/faq/external-drives/what-kind-of-external-drive-should-i-use-with-storage-studio"},{"id":"external-drives.can-i-use-a-spinning-hard-drive-as-my-fast-drive","question":"Can I use a spinning hard drive (HDD) instead of an SSD?","url":"/faq/external-drives/can-i-use-a-spinning-hard-drive-as-my-fast-drive"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"Can I use iCloud Drive or another cloud account as my fast drive? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"No — the fast drive must be a physical external drive, since moved apps and folders open straight from it. Use cloud accounts through Data Transfers, and keep cloud files online-only, to save space with the cloud.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"External drives","path":"/faq/external-drives/"},{"name":"Can I use iCloud Drive or another cloud account as my fast drive?","path":"/faq/external-drives/can-i-use-a-cloud-drive-as-the-fast-drive"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/can-i-use-a-cloud-drive-as-the-fast-drive","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Can I use iCloud Drive or another cloud account as my fast drive?","alternateName":["Move apps to iCloud instead of an SSD","Use Google Drive as extra Mac storage for Storage Studio","cloud storage instead of external drive","Can the fast drive be online storage?","Do I need a physical drive or can I use the cloud?","Storage Studio without a USB drive using cloud"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"No. The fast drive must be a physical external drive attached to your Mac, because moved apps and folders are opened straight from it and need it to answer instantly. Cloud storage doesn't work that way.\n\nThe cloud still has a role in Storage Studio: connect your accounts and use Data Transfers to copy, move or sync files there, and keep downloaded cloud files online-only to save space. See Cloud accounts.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/can-i-use-a-cloud-drive-as-the-fast-drive"}}]},"fragment":"
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External drives · Choosing a drive

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Can I use iCloud Drive or another cloud account as my fast drive?

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Short answer: No — the fast drive must be a physical external drive, since moved apps and folders open straight from it. Use cloud accounts through Data Transfers, and keep cloud files online-only, to save space with the cloud.

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No. The fast drive must be a physical external drive attached to your Mac, because moved apps and folders are opened straight from it and need it to answer instantly. Cloud storage doesn't work that way.

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The cloud still has a role in Storage Studio: connect your accounts and use Data Transfers to copy, move or sync files there, and keep downloaded cloud files online-only to save space. See Cloud accounts.

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