---
id: settings.what-does-free-up-space-includes-control
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/settings/what-does-free-up-space-includes-control
category: "Settings & keep-time"
subcategory: "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."
tags: ["free up space", "cloud", "rules"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/settings/what-is-the-hard-floor-setting", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/settings/do-move-rules-skip-files-i-opened-recently"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

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

**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.

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](https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/).