iCloud iCloud optimize storage question

[udontno]

I have a ton of documents stored in iCloud as I use multiple devices and like being able to access the documents regardless of which Mac or iPad I am using.

Some of the documents on my MacBook Pro are stored locally and they really don't need to be. When I updated to Big Sur, I had to offload some things to make enough storage space for the update to complete.

Is there a way to keep the file in iCloud, but remove the local copy? I have optimize storage turned on.

 

[0128672]

If you're asking how to upload documents from your Mac to iCloud Drive, you can simply drag them on top of the iCloud Drive folder. Or you can also enable Desktop and Documents, which will store everything in your Documents folder in iCloud (as well as your Desktop) automatically.

Before doing anything, it's good to know the difference between how the options work and, of course, make a backup. This Apple Support document describes how it all works.

Set up iCloud Drive on iPhone

Use the Files app to store files and folders in iCloud Drive.

support.apple.com

 

[udontno]

If you're asking how to upload documents from your Mac to iCloud Drive, you can simply drag them on top of the iCloud Drive folder. Or you can also enable Desktop and Documents, which will store everything in your Documents folder in iCloud (as well as your Desktop) automatically.

Before doing anything, it's good to know the difference between how the options work and, of course, make a backup. This Apple Support document describes how it all works.

Set up iCloud Drive on iPhone

Use the Files app to store files and folders in iCloud Drive.

support.apple.com

I already have everything in iCloud Drive.

I've attached a picture. Assessments & Report Cards have the download icon, meaning that there are documents in that folder that aren't downloaded to the hard drive of the computer, but they are in iCloud and I can download them if I need to. Some of these other folders I don't need a local copy of. It is possible to keep them in iCloud but remove the file from this computer?

 

[0128672]

I'll answer your question with a question: after creating an external backup, when you move (not copy) one of those folders to iCloud, what happens?

 

[udontno]

I'll answer your question with a question: after creating an external backup, when you move (not copy) one of those folders to iCloud, what happens?

Unfortunately, now I've got another question... I have my documents and desktop synced up with iCloud.

Do the folders need to be moved to the iCloud Drive folder?

 

[0128672]

No, if you're using iCloud Drive Documents & Desktop, what you're seeing on your Mac is a pointer to the document stored in iCloud. That would have been an important thing to mention in your first post. So if you delete a document on your Mac from your documents folder, it will delete it in iCloud because that's where it's stored. It works with the same way in iCloud Photos. Here's more details from Apple about how Documents and Desktop works:

Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive - Apple Support

Learn how to share your files from your Mac Desktop and Documents folders to all of your devices with iCloud Drive.

support.apple.com

 

[udontno]

No, if you're using iCloud Drive Documents & Desktop, what you're seeing on your Mac is a pointer to the document stored in iCloud. That would have been an important thing to mention in your first post. So if you delete a document on your Mac from your documents folder, it will delete it in iCloud because that's where it's stored. It works with the same way in iCloud Photos. Here's more details from Apple about how Documents and Desktop works:

Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive - Apple Support

Learn how to share your files from your Mac Desktop and Documents folders to all of your devices with iCloud Drive.

support.apple.com

Let me see if you can answer this...

The screenshot is from my work computer. All of the documents are in iCloud. Why are they taking up so much space on my computer? How can I stop that?

 

[vetoes]

Right click on downloaded file and choose remove download to delete local copy freeing some space.

 

[udontno]

Right click on downloaded file and choose remove download to delete local copy freeing some space.

thank you! That was the answer I was looking for!

 

[Duncan-UK]

I've been doing something similar with Apple Books. I have a ton of books in the iCloud and I dont need them stored locally. So I went into iCloud Drive and chose the option to view the books in finder. I then chose the option to delete the local copy - great!

But now my Mac insists on downloading the whole collection (about 150gb) which will leave me with very little space on my internal drive. Obviously I can wait til the download is completed and then delete the local copies but how do I prevent this cycle from restarting?

If I could change the default location for the iCloud Drive folder on my Mac that would be fine - I could point it at a permanently attached large SSD but Apple's "nannying" prevents this as far as I can see.

I can't be the only person in this position whereby due to the extortionate price that Apple charges for internal SSD I chose 256GB as I couldn't afford to go higher (2018 Mini BTW).

Any help appreciated