---
id: icloud.should-i-store-big-videos-in-icloud-drive
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/should-i-store-big-videos-in-icloud-drive
category: "iCloud & iCloud Photos"
subcategory: "iCloud and external drives"
question: "Is iCloud Drive a good place for big video projects?"
alt_questions:
  - "Video editing projects in iCloud Drive"
  - "Final Cut library in iCloud Drive"
  - "Large files iCloud Drive slow"
  - "Store 4K footage in iCloud?"
  - "Where to keep big media projects Mac"
short_answer: "Usually not for active projects: big media is slow to sync, uses your iCloud plan and isn't available offline once online-only. Keep active projects on your Mac or a fast external drive and use iCloud for finished exports."
tags: ["video", "icloud drive", "external drive"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/should-i-use-icloud-or-an-external-drive"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# Is iCloud Drive a good place for big video projects?

Usually not for active projects. Large media files take a long time to upload and download, count against your iCloud plan, and can't be used offline once they're online-only. Editing apps also expect their project files to stay put and be available instantly.

A better pattern for big media:

- Keep **active projects** on your Mac or a fast external drive. Storage Studio can relocate a big project folder to the external drive and leave a shortcut, so it opens from the same place.
- Use iCloud Drive for **finished exports** you want on other devices.
- Keep a separate **backup** of anything you can't recreate.

See [moving folders to an external drive](https://storagestudio.us/faq/moving-folders/).