{"id":"icloud.how-do-i-keep-an-icloud-folder-always-downloaded","url":"/faq/icloud/how-do-i-keep-an-icloud-folder-always-downloaded","category":{"id":"icloud","title":"iCloud & iCloud Photos"},"subcategory":{"id":"online-only-files","title":"Online-only files and Optimize Mac Storage"},"question":"How do I keep an iCloud Drive folder always downloaded on my Mac?","alt_questions":["Keep Downloaded iCloud folder Mac","Stop macOS from removing my iCloud files","Pin iCloud folder offline","How do I stop a folder going online-only?","Always keep this iCloud file on my Mac","Prevent iCloud from evicting a folder"],"short_answer":"Right-click the folder in Finder and choose Keep Downloaded (on recent macOS). In Storage Studio, the automatic cloud step is opt-in per provider, so you can leave iCloud Drive switched off in Preferences → Rules.","answer_markdown":"In recent versions of macOS, right-click the folder in Finder and choose **Keep Downloaded**. macOS then keeps that folder's files on your Mac even when it's freeing iCloud space.\n\nIf you use Storage Studio's optional **Optimise cloud storage locally** step (in **Preferences → Rules → Free Up Space includes**), it's switched on per provider, so you can leave iCloud Drive off there if you rely on local copies.\n\nBear in mind that **Run Tuhi** also has a step that frees large downloaded cloud files. If there's a folder you always want local, mark it **Keep Downloaded** in Finder so macOS keeps it on your Mac.","answer_html":"

In recent versions of macOS, right-click the folder in Finder and choose Keep Downloaded. macOS then keeps that folder's files on your Mac even when it's freeing iCloud space.

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If you use Storage Studio's optional Optimise cloud storage locally step (in Preferences → Rules → Free Up Space includes), it's switched on per provider, so you can leave iCloud Drive off there if you rely on local copies.

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Bear in mind that Run Tuhi also has a step that frees large downloaded cloud files. If there's a folder you always want local, mark it Keep Downloaded in Finder so macOS keeps it on your Mac.

","answer_text":"In recent versions of macOS, right-click the folder in Finder and choose Keep Downloaded. macOS then keeps that folder's files on your Mac even when it's freeing iCloud space.\n\nIf you use Storage Studio's optional Optimise cloud storage locally step (in Preferences → Rules → Free Up Space includes), it's switched on per provider, so you can leave iCloud Drive off there if you rely on local copies.\n\nBear in mind that Run Tuhi also has a step that frees large downloaded cloud files. If there's a folder you always want local, mark it Keep Downloaded in Finder so macOS keeps it on your Mac.","tags":["icloud drive","keep downloaded","offline","finder"],"related":[{"id":"icloud.can-i-open-online-only-icloud-files-without-internet","question":"Can I open online-only iCloud files without an internet connection?","url":"/faq/icloud/can-i-open-online-only-icloud-files-without-internet"},{"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":"How do I keep an iCloud Drive folder always downloaded on my Mac? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"Right-click the folder in Finder and choose Keep Downloaded (on recent macOS). In Storage Studio, the automatic cloud step is opt-in per provider, so you can leave iCloud Drive switched off in Preferences → Rules.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"iCloud & iCloud Photos","path":"/faq/icloud/"},{"name":"How do I keep an iCloud Drive folder always downloaded on my Mac?","path":"/faq/icloud/how-do-i-keep-an-icloud-folder-always-downloaded"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/how-do-i-keep-an-icloud-folder-always-downloaded","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"How do I keep an iCloud Drive folder always downloaded on my Mac?","alternateName":["Keep Downloaded iCloud folder Mac","Stop macOS from removing my iCloud files","Pin iCloud folder offline","How do I stop a folder going online-only?","Always keep this iCloud file on my Mac","Prevent iCloud from evicting a folder"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"In recent versions of macOS, right-click the folder in Finder and choose Keep Downloaded. macOS then keeps that folder's files on your Mac even when it's freeing iCloud space.\n\nIf you use Storage Studio's optional Optimise cloud storage locally step (in Preferences → Rules → Free Up Space includes), it's switched on per provider, so you can leave iCloud Drive off there if you rely on local copies.\n\nBear in mind that Run Tuhi also has a step that frees large downloaded cloud files. If there's a folder you always want local, mark it Keep Downloaded in Finder so macOS keeps it on your Mac.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/how-do-i-keep-an-icloud-folder-always-downloaded"}}]},"fragment":"
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iCloud & iCloud Photos · Online-only files and Optimize Mac Storage

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How do I keep an iCloud Drive folder always downloaded on my Mac?

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Short answer: Right-click the folder in Finder and choose Keep Downloaded (on recent macOS). In Storage Studio, the automatic cloud step is opt-in per provider, so you can leave iCloud Drive switched off in Preferences → Rules.

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In recent versions of macOS, right-click the folder in Finder and choose Keep Downloaded. macOS then keeps that folder's files on your Mac even when it's freeing iCloud space.

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If you use Storage Studio's optional Optimise cloud storage locally step (in Preferences → Rules → Free Up Space includes), it's switched on per provider, so you can leave iCloud Drive off there if you rely on local copies.

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Bear in mind that Run Tuhi also has a step that frees large downloaded cloud files. If there's a folder you always want local, mark it Keep Downloaded in Finder so macOS keeps it on your Mac.

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