---
id: icloud.why-cant-storage-studio-free-a-whole-icloud-folder-on-newer-macos
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/why-cant-storage-studio-free-a-whole-icloud-folder-on-newer-macos
category: "iCloud & iCloud Photos"
subcategory: "Troubleshooting iCloud space"
question: "Why does Optimize Cloud Storage send me to Finder's Remove Download on newer macOS?"
alt_questions:
  - "Optimize Cloud Storage doesn't work on macOS Sonoma"
  - "Remove Download message storage studio"
  - "Can't free iCloud folder macOS 14"
  - "Why can't the app evict a whole cloud folder anymore?"
  - "Optimize Cloud Storage macOS Sequoia"
  - "To evict manually right-click the folder"
short_answer: "macOS 14 and later stopped letting apps free a whole cloud folder in one pass, so Storage Studio points you to Finder's Remove Download. Run Tuhi and Storage Profile's Free up button still free iCloud files on every supported macOS."
tags: ["optimize cloud storage", "macos", "troubleshooting"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/optimize-cloud-storage-freed-no-space", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/how-do-i-make-icloud-drive-files-online-only-with-storage-studio"]
applies_to: "macos>=14"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# Why does Optimize Cloud Storage send me to Finder's Remove Download on newer macOS?

Because macOS 14 and later no longer let apps free a whole cloud folder in one pass the way earlier versions did. Rather than pretend to work, Storage Studio tells you so and points you to the method macOS supports: right-click the folder in Finder and choose **Remove Download**.

You still have two one-tap options inside Storage Studio that work on every supported macOS:

- **Run Tuhi** — its **Keeping cloud files online-only** step frees large downloaded files across your cloud folders.
- **Free up** — next to an iCloud file in Storage Profile's **Biggest space-users** list.

On macOS 13 Ventura, the whole-folder pass still works through the folder you choose.