---
id: icloud.does-deleting-an-online-only-file-delete-it-from-icloud
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/does-deleting-an-online-only-file-delete-it-from-icloud
category: "iCloud & iCloud Photos"
subcategory: "iCloud Drive basics"
question: "If I delete an online-only file on my Mac, is it deleted from iCloud too?"
alt_questions:
  - "Delete iCloud file from Mac only"
  - "Remove file from Mac but keep in iCloud"
  - "Does deleting from iCloud Drive delete everywhere?"
  - "Delete vs Remove Download iCloud"
  - "How to remove iCloud file locally without deleting"
short_answer: "Yes. Deleting from iCloud Drive removes the file from iCloud and all your devices. To free Mac space while keeping it in iCloud, use Remove Download or Storage Studio's online-only steps instead."
tags: ["icloud drive", "delete", "remove download"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/how-do-i-recover-a-deleted-icloud-drive-file", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/how-do-i-remove-the-download-of-an-icloud-file-in-finder"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# If I delete an online-only file on my Mac, is it deleted from iCloud too?

Yes. Deleting a file from iCloud Drive — online-only or downloaded — deletes it from iCloud and from all your devices. To free space on your Mac but keep the file in iCloud, use **Remove Download** instead, never delete.

- **Remove Download** (Finder) or Storage Studio's online-only steps: frees your Mac, keeps the file in iCloud.
- **Move to Trash**: removes the file everywhere once the Trash is emptied (iCloud.com keeps recently deleted files for a limited time).

This is why Storage Studio never deletes iCloud files to free space — it only makes them online-only. See [what online-only means](https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/what-does-online-only-mean-for-icloud-files).