User level: Level 1 (4 points)I upgraded to Golden gate 27.0 and I think updated icloud drive on my 15-inch M4 2025 Macbook Air. All my files went up to icloud drive. How do I get my files back to my macbook air so that I won't need internet to download and work on my file. The internet at my location is very slow. Thank you.
Posted on Oct 3, 2026 4:55 AM
User level: Level 7 (25,466 points)Oct 3, 2026 7:43 AM in response to ednah
ednah wrote: … All my files went up to icloud drive.
I'm not sure what that means.
If you have Optimize Storage turned on at System Settings>[name]>iCloud>Drive
(you can see here that I don't ) then the Mac will decide which files are not kept locally. Files that you use a lot will be kept on your Mac.
If Optimize has never been turned on, then all your files will be stored locally unless you purposely choose otherwise by right clicking a file and choosing "Remove Download"
If Optimize is not turned on, then your files will be stored in iCloud and also locally on your computer.
If you have had Optimize turned on, and you then turn it off, then any files that you use will remain downloaded as you use them. You can also choose "Keep Downloaded" for each file. You can also choose "Keep Downloaded" for folders, and it will force all of the contents to be downloaded.
See this:
Understanding iCloud Drive - Apple Community
User level: Level 1 (4 points)Oct 3, 2026 7:58 AM in response to Richard.Taylor
Very helpful. Thank you very much.
User level: Level 7 (25,466 points)Oct 3, 2026 8:35 AM in response to ednah
Glad it helped!
Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256369595