{"id":"settings.what-does-free-up-space-includes-control","url":"/faq/settings/what-does-free-up-space-includes-control","category":{"id":"settings","title":"Settings & keep-time"},"subcategory":{"id":"rules-safety","title":"Rules and safety floors"},"question":"What can I change under \"Free Up Space includes\" in Settings?","alt_questions":["Free Up Space settings storage studio","Turn on optimise cloud storage in Free Up Space","What does Free Up Space do each step?","Make cloud files online-only during Free Up Space"],"short_answer":"It lists Free Up Space's steps: moving rule-matched folders and cleaning app caches are always on; making downloaded cloud files online-only is off by default and switched on per provider.","answer_markdown":"**Settings → Rules → Free Up Space includes** shows the steps **Free Up Space Now** runs. Moving rule-matched folders to your external drive and cleaning app caches are always on. The third step — making downloaded cloud files online-only — is **off by default** and chosen per provider.\n\nTurn on only the cloud providers you're happy to slim down. Files stay in the cloud and download again when you open them. More in [iCloud and online-only files](/faq/icloud/).","answer_html":"

Settings → Rules → Free Up Space includes shows the steps Free Up Space Now runs. Moving rule-matched folders to your external drive and cleaning app caches are always on. The third step — making downloaded cloud files online-only — is off by default and chosen per provider.

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Turn on only the cloud providers you're happy to slim down. Files stay in the cloud and download again when you open them. More in iCloud and online-only files.

","answer_text":"Settings → Rules → Free Up Space includes shows the steps Free Up Space Now runs. Moving rule-matched folders to your external drive and cleaning app caches are always on. The third step — making downloaded cloud files online-only — is off by default and chosen per provider.\n\nTurn on only the cloud providers you're happy to slim down. Files stay in the cloud and download again when you open them. More in iCloud and online-only files.","tags":["free up space","cloud","rules"],"related":[{"id":"settings.what-is-the-hard-floor-setting","question":"What is the \"Hard floor\" in Storage Studio's Rules settings?","url":"/faq/settings/what-is-the-hard-floor-setting"},{"id":"settings.do-move-rules-skip-files-i-opened-recently","question":"Will a move rule relocate an old file I still open regularly?","url":"/faq/settings/do-move-rules-skip-files-i-opened-recently"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"What can I change under \"Free Up Space includes\" in Settings? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"It lists Free Up Space's steps: moving rule-matched folders and cleaning app caches are always on; making downloaded cloud files online-only is off by default and switched on per provider.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Settings & keep-time","path":"/faq/settings/"},{"name":"What can I change under \"Free Up Space includes\" in Settings?","path":"/faq/settings/what-does-free-up-space-includes-control"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/settings/what-does-free-up-space-includes-control","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"What can I change under \"Free Up Space includes\" in Settings?","alternateName":["Free Up Space settings storage studio","Turn on optimise cloud storage in Free Up Space","What does Free Up Space do each step?","Make cloud files online-only during Free Up Space"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Settings → Rules → Free Up Space includes shows the steps Free Up Space Now runs. Moving rule-matched folders to your external drive and cleaning app caches are always on. The third step — making downloaded cloud files online-only — is off by default and chosen per provider.\n\nTurn on only the cloud providers you're happy to slim down. Files stay in the cloud and download again when you open them. More in iCloud and online-only files.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/settings/what-does-free-up-space-includes-control"}}]},"fragment":"
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Settings & keep-time · Rules and safety floors

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What can I change under "Free Up Space includes" in Settings?

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Short answer: It lists Free Up Space's steps: moving rule-matched folders and cleaning app caches are always on; making downloaded cloud files online-only is off by default and switched on per provider.

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Settings → Rules → Free Up Space includes shows the steps Free Up Space Now runs. Moving rule-matched folders to your external drive and cleaning app caches are always on. The third step — making downloaded cloud files online-only — is off by default and chosen per provider.

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Turn on only the cloud providers you're happy to slim down. Files stay in the cloud and download again when you open them. More in iCloud and online-only files.

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Last reviewed

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Related questions

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