{
  "schema": "https://storagestudio.us/schema/wiki-page.v1",
  "title": "The cloud folder browser",
  "slug": "the-cloud-folder-browser",
  "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/the-cloud-folder-browser",
  "markdown_url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/the-cloud-folder-browser.md",
  "category": "Data Transfers",
  "category_url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/data-transfers/",
  "tags": [
    "data transfers",
    "cloud accounts",
    "bridge"
  ],
  "summary": "The cloud button beside Source and Destination in New Transfer lets you browse the folders inside a cloud account or a paired device, create a new folder, and pick the exact folder a transfer should use.",
  "published_at": "2026-10-01T06:19:33.000Z",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-01T05:33:56.000Z",
  "headings": [
    {
      "level": 2,
      "text": "Opening it",
      "id": "opening-it"
    },
    {
      "level": 2,
      "text": "Moving around",
      "id": "moving-around"
    },
    {
      "level": 2,
      "text": "Making a new folder",
      "id": "making-a-new-folder"
    },
    {
      "level": 2,
      "text": "Paired devices",
      "id": "paired-devices"
    },
    {
      "level": 2,
      "text": "Messages you might see",
      "id": "messages-you-might-see"
    }
  ],
  "links_out": [
    {
      "slug": "icloud-photos-of-another-apple-id",
      "label": "iCloud Photos of another Apple ID",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/icloud-photos-of-another-apple-id"
    },
    {
      "slug": "google-photos",
      "label": "Google Photos",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/google-photos"
    },
    {
      "slug": "cloud-accounts",
      "label": "Cloud accounts",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/cloud-accounts"
    },
    {
      "slug": "s3-compatible-storage",
      "label": "S3-compatible storage",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/s3-compatible-storage"
    },
    {
      "slug": "bridge-devices",
      "label": "Bridge: connecting another device",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/bridge-devices"
    },
    {
      "slug": "when-an-account-needs-signing-in-again",
      "label": "when an account needs signing in again",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/when-an-account-needs-signing-in-again"
    },
    {
      "slug": "testing-editing-and-removing-an-account",
      "label": "testing, editing and removing an account",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/testing-editing-and-removing-an-account"
    },
    {
      "slug": "data-transfers",
      "label": "Data Transfers",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/data-transfers"
    },
    {
      "slug": "copying-between-two-cloud-accounts",
      "label": "Copying between two cloud accounts",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/copying-between-two-cloud-accounts"
    },
    {
      "slug": "cloud-account-list-is-empty",
      "label": "My cloud accounts list is empty after signing in",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/cloud-account-list-is-empty"
    }
  ],
  "links_in": [
    {
      "slug": "copying-between-two-cloud-accounts",
      "title": "Copying between two cloud accounts",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/copying-between-two-cloud-accounts"
    },
    {
      "slug": "data-transfers",
      "title": "Data Transfers",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/data-transfers"
    }
  ],
  "diagrams": [
    {
      "kind": "flowchart",
      "caption": "Picking a folder with the cloud folder browser",
      "outline": "- Click the cloud button beside Source or Destination\n  - leads to Browse or use the whole account?\n- Browse or use the whole account?\n  - Use the root: leads to The account's top level is filled in\n  - Browse: leads to The browser opens at the top\n- The browser opens at the top\n  - leads to Is the folder you want here?\n- Is the folder you want here?\n  - No, it's deeper: leads to Click a folder to open it\n  - It doesn't exist yet: leads to Click New Folder and name it\n  - Yes: leads to Click Use This Folder\n- Click a folder to open it\n  - leads to Is the folder you want here?\n- Click New Folder and name it\n  - leads to Is the folder you want here?\n",
      "source": "%% caption: Picking a folder with the cloud folder browser\nflowchart TD\n  A[Click the cloud button beside Source or Destination] --> B{Browse or use the whole account?}\n  B -->|Use the root| R[The account's top level is filled in]\n  B -->|Browse| C[The browser opens at the top]\n  C --> D{Is the folder you want here?}\n  D -->|No, it's deeper| E[Click a folder to open it]\n  E --> D\n  D -->|It doesn't exist yet| F[Click New Folder and name it]\n  F --> D\n  D -->|Yes| G[Click Use This Folder]"
    }
  ],
  "images": [],
  "screenshots_pending": [
    {
      "alt": "The cloud folder browser sheet open over New Transfer, showing a connected Google Drive account three folders deep with the breadcrumb path at the top, a list of sub-folders, and the Use This Folder button at the bottom",
      "caption": "Browsing a cloud account for a destination"
    }
  ],
  "faqs": [
    {
      "question": "Can I see all my cloud accounts in Finder on a Mac?",
      "answer": "Yes. Storage Studio adds a \"Storage Studio\" location to Finder's sidebar, with each connected cloud account and paired device as a folder inside, and a Finder button in the app's main window opens it. Files stay in the cloud until you open them. Folders you have visited open straight away and…",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/faq"
    }
  ],
  "text": "The cloud folder browser lets you pick a folder deep inside a cloud account, or on a device paired with Bridge, instead of typing its path. Open it from the cloud button beside Source or Destination in the New Transfer sheet, move through the folders, and click Use This Folder . Opening it In Data Transfers , click New Transfer . Beside Source and beside Destination there are two buttons: a folder, for folders on this Mac, and a cloud. Click the cloud to see a menu: Included with your plan — shown first if your plan comes with storage of its own. Your accounts and devices — a Browse entry for each connected cloud account, and for each Bridge device that is connected right now. Below a divider, Use … root entries that fill in the whole account (its top level) without browsing. Some entries appear on one side only: For the Source , each iCloud account you've added for another Apple ID also offers its Photos library — Browse … Photos , or Use all of … Photos for the whole library. It's read-only, so it can only be a source. See iCloud Photos of another Apple ID . A Google Photos account you connected earlier appears only for the Destination , because Google lets an app see only the photos that app uploaded itself. See Google Photos . If you haven't connected anything, the menu says No accounts or connected devices — add one in Cloud accounts first. Moving around The browser opens at the top of the account. Its title names the account and its type. Click a folder to open it. Only folders are listed — files aren't shown, because you're choosing where a transfer reads from or writes to. The path along the top shows where you are. Click any part of it to jump back up; the house button goes back to the top. The arrow button refreshes the list. The line at the bottom shows the exact folder you'll get. Use This Folder picks the folder you're in — at any level, including the top. Cancel closes the browser without changing anything. For S3-compatible storage with a saved bucket, the browser opens inside that bucket, and the house button returns there rather than to a list of every bucket. See S3-compatible storage . Picking a folder with the cloud folder browser Flowchart outline: Picking a folder with the cloud folder browser Click the cloud button beside Source or Destination leads to Browse or use the whole account? Browse or use the whole account? Use the root: leads to The account's top level is filled in Browse: leads to The browser opens at the top The browser opens at the top leads to Is the folder you want here? Is the folder you want here? No, it's deeper: leads to Click a folder to open it It doesn't exist yet: leads to Click New Folder and name it Yes: leads to Click Use This Folder Click a folder to open it leads to Is the folder you want here? Click New Folder and name it leads to Is the folder you want here? Making a new folder Click New Folder , type a name and click Create . The folder is made inside the one you're looking at, and the list refreshes. A name can't contain a slash or a colon, and can't be just \".\" or \"..\". If the account won't allow it, the browser says so — for example \"The cloud refused to create the folder.\" Paired devices Choosing a Bridge device shows Connecting to … while a secure link to it is set up, which can take a few seconds; then the browser opens on that device's shared folders. If the device can't be reached, you'll see \"… isn't reachable. Open Bridge on that device and make sure it's on the same network.\" Only devices connected right now are listed. See Bridge: connecting another device . Messages you might see Message What it means Listing folders… The account is being read. Large accounts can take a moment. No subfolders here This folder has no folders inside it. You can still click Use This Folder , or make one with New Folder . Could not list folders The account couldn't be read. The reason appears underneath. Common reasons under Could not list folders : \"That account needs signing in again — its access has expired.\" — see when an account needs signing in again . \"That account is refusing requests for the moment because it has hit a limit at its provider. Try again shortly.\" \"That account isn't set up on this Mac any more. Remove it and connect it again.\" — see testing, editing and removing an account . Common questions Can I see all my cloud accounts in Finder on a Mac? Yes. Storage Studio adds a \"Storage Studio\" location to Finder's sidebar, with each connected cloud account and paired device as a folder inside, and a Finder button in the app's main window opens it. Files stay in the cloud until you open them. Folders you have visited open straight away and… See also: Data Transfers · Copying between two cloud accounts · My cloud accounts list is empty after signing in",
  "markdown": "The **cloud folder browser** lets you pick a folder deep inside a cloud account, or on a device paired with Bridge, instead of typing its path. Open it from the cloud button beside **Source** or **Destination** in the New Transfer sheet, move through the folders, and click **Use This Folder**.\n\n## Opening it\n\nIn **Data Transfers**, click **New Transfer**. Beside **Source** and beside **Destination** there are two buttons: a folder, for folders on this Mac, and a cloud. Click the cloud to see a menu:\n\n- **Included with your plan** — shown first if your plan comes with storage of its own.\n- **Your accounts and devices** — a **Browse** entry for each connected cloud account, and for each Bridge device that is connected right now.\n- Below a divider, **Use … root** entries that fill in the whole account (its top level) without browsing.\n\nSome entries appear on one side only:\n\n- For the **Source**, each iCloud account you've added for another Apple ID also offers its Photos library — **Browse … Photos**, or **Use all of … Photos** for the whole library. It's read-only, so it can only be a source. See [iCloud Photos of another Apple ID](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/icloud-photos-of-another-apple-id).\n- A Google Photos account you connected earlier appears only for the **Destination**, because Google lets an app see only the photos that app uploaded itself. See [Google Photos](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/google-photos).\n\nIf you haven't connected anything, the menu says **No accounts or connected devices** — add one in [Cloud accounts](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/cloud-accounts) first.\n\n## Moving around\n\nThe browser opens at the top of the account. Its title names the account and its type.\n\n- **Click a folder** to open it. Only folders are listed — files aren't shown, because you're choosing where a transfer reads from or writes to.\n- **The path along the top** shows where you are. Click any part of it to jump back up; the house button goes back to the top.\n- **The arrow button** refreshes the list.\n- **The line at the bottom** shows the exact folder you'll get.\n- **Use This Folder** picks the folder you're in — at any level, including the top. **Cancel** closes the browser without changing anything.\n\nFor S3-compatible storage with a saved bucket, the browser opens inside that bucket, and the house button returns there rather than to a list of every bucket. See [S3-compatible storage](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/s3-compatible-storage).\n\n```mermaid\n%% caption: Picking a folder with the cloud folder browser\nflowchart TD\n  A[Click the cloud button beside Source or Destination] --> B{Browse or use the whole account?}\n  B -->|Use the root| R[The account's top level is filled in]\n  B -->|Browse| C[The browser opens at the top]\n  C --> D{Is the folder you want here?}\n  D -->|No, it's deeper| E[Click a folder to open it]\n  E --> D\n  D -->|It doesn't exist yet| F[Click New Folder and name it]\n  F --> D\n  D -->|Yes| G[Click Use This Folder]\n```\n\n*Flowchart — Picking a folder with the cloud folder browser. Outline:*\n\n- Click the cloud button beside Source or Destination\n  - leads to Browse or use the whole account?\n- Browse or use the whole account?\n  - Use the root: leads to The account's top level is filled in\n  - Browse: leads to The browser opens at the top\n- The browser opens at the top\n  - leads to Is the folder you want here?\n- Is the folder you want here?\n  - No, it's deeper: leads to Click a folder to open it\n  - It doesn't exist yet: leads to Click New Folder and name it\n  - Yes: leads to Click Use This Folder\n- Click a folder to open it\n  - leads to Is the folder you want here?\n- Click New Folder and name it\n  - leads to Is the folder you want here?\n\n## Making a new folder\n\nClick **New Folder**, type a name and click **Create**. The folder is made inside the one you're looking at, and the list refreshes. A name can't contain a slash or a colon, and can't be just \".\" or \"..\". If the account won't allow it, the browser says so — for example *\"The cloud refused to create the folder.\"*\n\n## Paired devices\n\nChoosing a Bridge device shows **Connecting to …** while a secure link to it is set up, which can take a few seconds; then the browser opens on that device's shared folders. If the device can't be reached, you'll see *\"… isn't reachable. Open Bridge on that device and make sure it's on the same network.\"* Only devices connected right now are listed. See [Bridge: connecting another device](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/bridge-devices).\n\n## Messages you might see\n\n| Message | What it means |\n| --- | --- |\n| **Listing folders…** | The account is being read. Large accounts can take a moment. |\n| **No subfolders here** | This folder has no folders inside it. You can still click **Use This Folder**, or make one with **New Folder**. |\n| **Could not list folders** | The account couldn't be read. The reason appears underneath. |\n\nCommon reasons under **Could not list folders**:\n\n- *\"That account needs signing in again — its access has expired.\"* — see [when an account needs signing in again](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/when-an-account-needs-signing-in-again).\n- *\"That account is refusing requests for the moment because it has hit a limit at its provider. Try again shortly.\"*\n- *\"That account isn't set up on this Mac any more. Remove it and connect it again.\"* — see [testing, editing and removing an account](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/testing-editing-and-removing-an-account).\n\n- **Can I see all my cloud accounts in Finder on a Mac?** Yes. Storage Studio adds a \"Storage Studio\" location to Finder's sidebar, with each connected cloud account and paired device as a folder inside, and a Finder button in the app's main window opens it. Files stay in the cloud until you open them. Folders you have visited open straight away and… (https://storagestudio.us/faq)\n\nSee also: [Data Transfers](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/data-transfers) · [Copying between two cloud accounts](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/copying-between-two-cloud-accounts) · [My cloud accounts list is empty after signing in](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/cloud-account-list-is-empty)\n"
}