iCloud & iCloud Photos · Storage Studio and iCloud
Is it safe to use Storage Studio on a Mac that uses iCloud?
Short answer: Yes. Storage Studio frees iCloud space only with online-only, never deletion; its rules skip iCloud folders; it won't move iCloud Drive or the Photos library; and duplicates you remove go to the Trash.
Yes. Storage Studio is careful around iCloud: it frees iCloud space only by making files online-only, never by deleting them, and its automatic rules skip iCloud Drive and iCloud-synced Desktop and Documents so it never moves files out from under iCloud's sync.
A few things it deliberately won't do:
- Move your iCloud Drive folder or your Photos library to another drive.
- Download online-only files just to scan them.
- Ask for your Apple Account password.
The one place you can remove iCloud files is the Duplicates window, and only extra exact copies you choose — those go to the Trash, so you can restore them. See privacy and safety.