---
id: troubleshooting.online-only-needs-connection
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/troubleshooting/online-only-needs-connection
category: "Troubleshooting & messages"
subcategory: "Cloud accounts and transfers"
question: "What does \"Online only — opening this downloads it, so it needs a connection\" mean?"
alt_questions:
  - "online only opening this downloads it so it needs a connection"
  - "online only file won't open offline"
  - "cloud file needs internet to open"
  - "why won't online-only file open"
short_answer: "The file is stored only in the cloud, so opening it downloads it and needs a connection. Open it while online, or set it to stay downloaded if you'll need it offline."
tags: ["online only", "cloud", "offline"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/troubleshooting/cloud-file-cant-be-opened-on-web", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/troubleshooting/optimising-cloud-storage-didnt-finish"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# What does "Online only — opening this downloads it, so it needs a connection" mean?

The file lives in your cloud account and isn't stored on this Mac — it only takes up space once you open it. Opening it downloads it first, which needs an internet connection.

If you'll need it offline, open it while you're connected, or mark it to always stay on your Mac in the provider's app (in Finder, iCloud and many providers offer a **Keep Downloaded** or **Always keep on this device** option).