{"id":"freeing-space.what-does-free-up-space-now-do","url":"/faq/freeing-space/what-does-free-up-space-now-do","category":{"id":"freeing-space","title":"Freeing up space"},"subcategory":{"id":"free-up-space-wizard","title":"Free Up Space wizard and button"},"question":"What does the Free Up Space Now button in the menu bar popover do?","alt_questions":["Free Up Space Now button explained","What happens when I click Free Up Space Now?","Storage Studio popover blue button","Does Free Up Space Now delete files?","What runs when I press Free Up Space Now?"],"short_answer":"It moves rule-matched folders to your fast drive with a shortcut left behind, then cleans well-known app caches — and, if you've turned it on per provider, makes downloaded cloud files online-only.","answer_markdown":"It runs the day-to-day reclaim in one click: it moves the folders your rules match to your fast drive (leaving a shortcut so they still open from the same place), then cleans well-known app caches. Optionally, it can also make downloaded cloud files online-only for the providers you've chosen — that part is off by default.\n\nWhile it runs, the button shows a spinner and reads **Free Up Space — view live progress**; click it to open the streaming progress sheet. The run continues if you close the sheet.\n\nWhen it finishes, a coloured result banner appears in the popover — see [what the banner colours mean](/faq/freeing-space/what-does-the-free-up-space-result-banner-mean).","answer_html":"

It runs the day-to-day reclaim in one click: it moves the folders your rules match to your fast drive (leaving a shortcut so they still open from the same place), then cleans well-known app caches. Optionally, it can also make downloaded cloud files online-only for the providers you've chosen — that part is off by default.

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While it runs, the button shows a spinner and reads Free Up Space — view live progress; click it to open the streaming progress sheet. The run continues if you close the sheet.

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When it finishes, a coloured result banner appears in the popover — see what the banner colours mean.

","answer_text":"It runs the day-to-day reclaim in one click: it moves the folders your rules match to your fast drive (leaving a shortcut so they still open from the same place), then cleans well-known app caches. Optionally, it can also make downloaded cloud files online-only for the providers you've chosen — that part is off by default.\n\nWhile it runs, the button shows a spinner and reads Free Up Space — view live progress; click it to open the streaming progress sheet. The run continues if you close the sheet.\n\nWhen it finishes, a coloured result banner appears in the popover — see what the banner colours mean.","tags":["free up space","popover","menu bar"],"related":[{"id":"freeing-space.why-is-free-up-space-now-greyed-out","question":"Why is the Free Up Space Now button greyed out?","url":"/faq/freeing-space/why-is-free-up-space-now-greyed-out"},{"id":"freeing-space.what-does-the-free-up-space-result-banner-mean","question":"What do the green, blue and orange Free Up Space result banners mean?","url":"/faq/freeing-space/what-does-the-free-up-space-result-banner-mean"},{"id":"icloud.how-do-i-include-icloud-in-free-up-space","question":"How do I make Free Up Space also free my iCloud Drive files?","url":"/faq/icloud/how-do-i-include-icloud-in-free-up-space"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"What does the Free Up Space Now button in the menu bar popover do? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"It moves rule-matched folders to your fast drive with a shortcut left behind, then cleans well-known app caches — and, if you've turned it on per provider, makes downloaded cloud files online-only.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Freeing up space","path":"/faq/freeing-space/"},{"name":"What does the Free Up Space Now button in the menu bar popover do?","path":"/faq/freeing-space/what-does-free-up-space-now-do"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/freeing-space/what-does-free-up-space-now-do","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"What does the Free Up Space Now button in the menu bar popover do?","alternateName":["Free Up Space Now button explained","What happens when I click Free Up Space Now?","Storage Studio popover blue button","Does Free Up Space Now delete files?","What runs when I press Free Up Space Now?"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"It runs the day-to-day reclaim in one click: it moves the folders your rules match to your fast drive (leaving a shortcut so they still open from the same place), then cleans well-known app caches. Optionally, it can also make downloaded cloud files online-only for the providers you've chosen — that part is off by default.\n\nWhile it runs, the button shows a spinner and reads Free Up Space — view live progress; click it to open the streaming progress sheet. The run continues if you close the sheet.\n\nWhen it finishes, a coloured result banner appears in the popover — see what the banner colours mean.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/freeing-space/what-does-free-up-space-now-do"}}]},"fragment":"
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Freeing up space · Free Up Space wizard and button

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What does the Free Up Space Now button in the menu bar popover do?

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Short answer: It moves rule-matched folders to your fast drive with a shortcut left behind, then cleans well-known app caches — and, if you've turned it on per provider, makes downloaded cloud files online-only.

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It runs the day-to-day reclaim in one click: it moves the folders your rules match to your fast drive (leaving a shortcut so they still open from the same place), then cleans well-known app caches. Optionally, it can also make downloaded cloud files online-only for the providers you've chosen — that part is off by default.

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While it runs, the button shows a spinner and reads Free Up Space — view live progress; click it to open the streaming progress sheet. The run continues if you close the sheet.

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When it finishes, a coloured result banner appears in the popover — see what the banner colours mean.

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Last reviewed

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Related questions

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