iCloud & iCloud Photos · iCloud Drive basics
What happens to my iCloud Drive files if I turn off iCloud Drive or sign out?
Short answer: Your files stay in iCloud, but they leave this Mac unless you keep a copy when macOS asks. Online-only files can't be kept locally, so download what you need first and check you have the space.
Your files stay safe in iCloud, but they're removed from this Mac unless you choose to keep a copy. macOS asks whether to keep a copy of your iCloud Drive files when you turn it off or sign out; anything online-only at that moment can't be kept locally because it was never on the Mac.
Before you sign out:
- Download anything you'll need on this Mac (Download Now in Finder).
- Check you have the free space for it.
- Choose to keep a copy when macOS asks.
After you sign out, Storage Studio no longer lists iCloud Drive in its menus — that's expected, since the folder is gone.