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RobWlo
User level: Level 1 (4 points)

Files Being Offloaded to iCloud Despite Overriding Settings, Memory, and Usage

Why does my MacBook keep aggressively offloading the files I routinely use to iCloud? Even when I mark a folder as "Keep Downloaded" and have >25 GB of storage left, the laptop keeps removing files I use in my code. It sometimes happens within a few minutes of opening/ editing that file.


My only option is to stop using iCloud, but I pay for it, and I'd really like to keep most of its functionality. My problem is that my own settings are being routinely bypassed, despite still having memory and using the files that are being offloaded.

Posted on Oct 17, 2026 11:23 AM

4 replies

muguy
User level: Level 10 (95,874 points)

Oct 17, 2026 12:04 PM in response to RobWlo

Did you disable optimize files?

Richard.Taylor
User level: Level 7 (25,466 points)

Oct 18, 2026 8:30 AM in response to RobWlo

You have only 25 GB free? That seems pretty tiny. iCloud may be trying to work against that. Many operations use the Mac's empty storage space to move files around. If you run out of storage, then those operations may not be able to be completed and, ironically, that can mean that even deleting doesn't work. If you have less than 15% available, then things can get lost forever. This is also true if your iCloud storage space gets low.

RobWlo Author
User level: Level 1 (4 points)

Oct 18, 2026 12:05 PM in response to Richard.Taylor

Well, I understand it - I'm happy for it to offload my photos and whatnot, but I don't understand how a <1MB folder, which I marked as "Keep Downloaded" and that is being used by VSCode all the time, is the thing that needs to be offloaded. It's not like the fate of Western civilisation depends on my MacBook offloading a tiny .tex/ .jl file that I used a few minutes before and am trying to call now.


Like, on my work desktop I could be pushing a similarly tiny amount of space while working on bigger datasets, but Windows never offloads something I'm using. Am I now supposed to be happy because my laptop kills its functionality (i.e., my ability to do things on it) to conduct some background manoeuvres?

Richard.Taylor
User level: Level 7 (25,466 points)

Oct 19, 2026 6:51 AM in response to RobWlo

Are the files inside the folder marked as "Keep Donwloaded?" There is a limit to how many files you can shift at a time. I don't have any problem with "Kept" files being removed. I also don't use "Optimize," do you?


And, again, having only 25 GB free is very restrictive.

Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256377992