Keep Downloaded tells your Mac to retain a local copy of an iCloud Drive item. If you have pinned large folders for offline access, that choice can explain why turning on storage optimization has not released the space you expected.
Before changing anything, confirm that you are looking at iCloud Drive in Finder. A similarly named folder elsewhere on your Mac may be a separate local copy.
Match the action to the result you want
- Download Now: fetch an item so you can use it locally.
- Keep Downloaded: retain local availability rather than letting the item become cloud-only.
- Remove Download: remove the local download while keeping the item in iCloud Drive.
- Move to Trash: delete the item, with consequences for synced copies.
Apple documents local download controls in its iCloud Drive files and folders guide. Use the macOS version selector if the controls on your Mac differ.
Review pinned folders before blaming optimization
- Open iCloud Drive in Finder and choose a large folder you do not need offline.
- Check its sync status. Resolve pending uploads or errors before trying to remove its local copy.
- Control-click the item and inspect whether Keep Downloaded is enabled. Turn off that retention choice if you no longer need it.
- Use Remove Download when available, then confirm the cloud-stored item is still present.
Start with one nonessential folder rather than your entire Documents directory. This lets you verify the behavior on your Mac and discover whether an application immediately requests those files again.
Separate Mac capacity from iCloud capacity
A file can occupy both your iCloud allowance and your internal SSD. Buying more cloud storage does not make a deliberately downloaded file stop occupying local space. Conversely, removing a local download does not reduce the size of the cloud copy.
Write down which constraint you are solving: a full Mac, a full iCloud account, or unreliable offline access. The correct action differs for each. Our iCloud storage overview explains the broader setup.
If Remove Download is unavailable
Check whether the item is fully synced, already cloud-only, pinned, or currently in use. Close the application using it, wait for sync to finish, and inspect the item again. Do not substitute Delete just because the action you expected is missing.
If files return, note which application was open when it happened. Opening a document requires local access, so repeat downloads may reflect your workflow. Pin the small set of files you need daily and leave the archive eligible for cloud-only storage.
Make an offline plan before you travel
Keep the next trip’s essential documents downloaded, then open them while you still have a connection. Verify the important files themselves, not just their enclosing folder names. An available Finder listing is not the same as verified offline access.
For troubleshooting beyond pinned files, see why Optimize Mac Storage may not release space. Avoid deleting hidden sync databases to force a smaller storage number. A successful result is a verified cloud copy, enough free local space, and the documents you actually need offline.