iCloud & iCloud Photos · iCloud Drive basics
Is it safe to delete the Mobile Documents folder in my Library?
Short answer: No. Mobile Documents is your iCloud Drive's local folder; deleting from it can delete files from iCloud and every device. Free space safely with Remove Download, Run Tuhi, or Optimize Mac Storage instead.
No. Mobile Documents is where macOS keeps your iCloud Drive on this Mac. Deleting things there by hand can delete them from iCloud and all your devices, or leave iCloud in a confused state.
To get the space back safely, make files online-only instead:
- Right-click folders in iCloud Drive in Finder and choose Remove Download.
- Tap Run Tuhi in Storage Studio to free large downloaded cloud files.
- Turn on Optimize Mac Storage in iCloud Drive's settings.
Storage Studio never deletes from your iCloud folders to free space — only online-only, which keeps every file in iCloud.