---
id: icloud.what-does-store-in-icloud-in-macos-storage-settings-do
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/what-does-store-in-icloud-in-macos-storage-settings-do
category: "iCloud & iCloud Photos"
subcategory: "Online-only files and Optimize Mac Storage"
question: "What does Store in iCloud in macOS storage settings do?"
alt_questions:
  - "Store in iCloud recommendation Mac"
  - "System Settings Storage Store in iCloud"
  - "Should I click Store in iCloud?"
  - "macOS storage recommendations iCloud"
  - "Store in iCloud Desktop Documents Photos"
short_answer: "It's a shortcut in System Settings → General → Storage that turns on iCloud syncing for Desktop and Documents and Optimize Mac Storage, so older files stay in iCloud. It uses your iCloud plan and needs a connection for online-only files."
tags: ["macos storage", "store in icloud", "settings"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/what-is-desktop-and-documents-folders-in-icloud", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/what-is-optimize-mac-storage-in-icloud-drive"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# What does Store in iCloud in macOS storage settings do?

It's a shortcut in **System Settings → General → Storage** that turns on iCloud features which move files to iCloud and let your Mac keep only what it needs — typically syncing Desktop and Documents to iCloud and using **Optimize Mac Storage** for iCloud Drive and Photos.

Before you click it, know what it changes:

- Your Desktop and Documents start syncing to iCloud and count against your iCloud plan.
- Older files can become online-only and need a connection to open.

If you'd rather not put everything in iCloud, you can keep files local and move big, non-synced folders to an external drive with Storage Studio instead. See [Desktop & Documents in iCloud](https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/what-is-desktop-and-documents-folders-in-icloud).