---
id: freeing-space.what-does-free-up-space-now-do
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/freeing-space/what-does-free-up-space-now-do
category: "Freeing up space"
subcategory: "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."
tags: ["free up space", "popover", "menu bar"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/freeing-space/why-is-free-up-space-now-greyed-out", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/freeing-space/what-does-the-free-up-space-result-banner-mean", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/how-do-i-include-icloud-in-free-up-space"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

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

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.

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.

When it finishes, a coloured result banner appears in the popover — see [what the banner colours mean](https://storagestudio.us/faq/freeing-space/what-does-the-free-up-space-result-banner-mean).