---
id: icloud.does-icloud-store-my-mac-apps
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/does-icloud-store-my-mac-apps
category: "iCloud & iCloud Photos"
subcategory: "iCloud Drive basics"
question: "Does iCloud back up my Mac's apps?"
alt_questions:
  - "Are Mac apps stored in iCloud?"
  - "Reinstall apps from iCloud Mac"
  - "Does iCloud save my applications?"
  - "new mac get apps from icloud"
short_answer: "No — iCloud doesn't store your Mac's apps. Re-download App Store apps from your purchases and others from their makers; some apps sync their settings or documents through iCloud. Use Migration Assistant to move everything to a new Mac."
tags: ["apps", "icloud", "migration"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/is-icloud-drive-a-backup", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/can-time-machine-back-up-to-icloud", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/what-is-icloud-drive-on-a-mac"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# Does iCloud back up my Mac's apps?

No. iCloud doesn't keep copies of your Mac's apps. Apps from the **App Store** can be downloaded again any time from your purchases; apps from elsewhere come back from their makers' websites or installers. Some apps keep their **settings or documents** in iCloud, which return when you sign in again.

To move everything — apps, settings and files — to a new Mac, use **Migration Assistant** with a Time Machine backup or the old Mac. Apps Storage Studio moved stay on your external drive — see [Backups](https://storagestudio.us/faq/backups/) for protecting everything.