---
id: mac-storage-basics.does-time-machine-back-up-icloud-drive
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/does-time-machine-back-up-icloud-drive
category: "Mac storage basics"
subcategory: "Time Machine basics"
question: "Does Time Machine back up files in iCloud Drive?"
alt_questions:
  - "time machine icloud drive files"
  - "are online only files backed up"
  - "time machine optimise mac storage"
  - "backup icloud files locally"
  - "icloud drive backup time machine"
short_answer: "Only files actually stored on the Mac. Online-only iCloud files aren't downloaded for backup, and syncing isn't a backup, so keep an independent copy if you need one."
tags: ["time machine", "icloud drive", "backup"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/are-local-snapshots-a-backup", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-big-should-a-time-machine-drive-be"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# Does Time Machine back up files in iCloud Drive?

Time Machine backs up what is actually stored on your Mac. Files kept only in the cloud (online-only, as with Optimise Mac Storage) aren't downloaded just to be backed up, so they aren't in your Time Machine backup.

iCloud keeps its own copy, but syncing isn't a backup: a deletion syncs everywhere. If you need an independent copy of everything, download it and back it up, or use a backup tool that copies from the cloud. See [backups](https://storagestudio.us/faq/backups/).