---
id: icloud.is-my-downloads-folder-synced-to-icloud
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/is-my-downloads-folder-synced-to-icloud
category: "iCloud & iCloud Photos"
subcategory: "Desktop & Documents in iCloud"
question: "Is my Downloads folder synced to iCloud?"
alt_questions:
  - "Does iCloud sync Downloads?"
  - "Downloads folder iCloud Drive"
  - "Can Storage Studio move Downloads if I use iCloud?"
  - "Which home folders sync with iCloud?"
  - "Downloads not in iCloud"
short_answer: "No. iCloud's Desktop & Documents option syncs only Desktop and Documents; Downloads stays local. So Storage Studio can relocate old files from Downloads to your fast drive and check it for duplicates."
tags: ["downloads", "desktop and documents", "icloud drive"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/what-is-desktop-and-documents-folders-in-icloud", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/will-storage-studio-rules-work-on-documents-synced-to-icloud"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# Is my Downloads folder synced to iCloud?

No. iCloud's **Desktop & Documents Folders** option syncs only your Desktop and Documents. Downloads stays a local folder on your Mac unless you move it into iCloud Drive yourself.

That means Storage Studio can treat Downloads like any other local folder — its rules can relocate large, old files there to your fast drive, and **Duplicates** checks it as part of **This Mac**.

If you'd like downloads to sync, save them into an iCloud Drive folder instead; just remember that uses your iCloud plan.