I have an M1 iMac that is low on storage space. Running MacOS 13.5.2, I find the settings "store in iCloud" (Under General>storage) and "optimize mac storage" (Under Apple ID>iCloud). These settings seem to do the same or similar thing or are they different? They are two separate settings so there must be a difference and if so, what is the difference? Can anyone explain this to me? Thanks in advance.
iMac (M1, 2021)
Apple menu > System Settings > General > Storage > Store in Cloud gives you access to 3 options in the next screen after you click the Store in iCloud button: 1) Turn on Desktop & Documents option of iCloud Drive 2) Turn on iCloud Photos and Optimize Mac Storage for iCloud Photos and 3)turns on iCloud Messages.
Apple menu > System Settings > [username] > iCloud > Optimize Mac Storage only turns on Optimize Storage for iCloud Drive (it does not turn on Desktop & Documents option of iCloud Drive; it does not turn on iCloud Photos or Optimization of iCloud Photos; does not turn on iCloud Messages; ).
Apple menu > System Settings > General > Storage > Store in Cloud gives you access to 3 options in the next screen after you click the Store in iCloud button: 1) Turn on Desktop & Documents option of iCloud Drive 2) Turn on iCloud Photos and Optimize Mac Storage for iCloud Photos and 3)turns on iCloud Messages.
Apple menu > System Settings > [username] > iCloud > Optimize Mac Storage only turns on Optimize Storage for iCloud Drive (it does not turn on Desktop & Documents option of iCloud Drive; it does not turn on iCloud Photos or Optimization of iCloud Photos; does not turn on iCloud Messages; ).
The buttons come up set to On (defaults) but those settings are only applied if you click the Store in iCloud button.
My Mac is upgraded to Ventura 13.6 and the settings are slightly different.
However, for both macOS versions, I agree, optimization of Desktop and Documents from that setting isn't clear. I suspect that setting does also turn on optimization of iCloud Drive but I can't test it as I have so much free space on my Mac, even if Optimize Storage options are turned on it wouldn't optimize.
What I would do for iCloud Drive, is use Apple menu > System Settings > [username] > iCloud > iCloud Drive > Desktop & Documents folders to turn on Desktop and Documents (if you want Desktop and Documents to sync with iCloud) and then use the Apple menu > System Settings > [username] > iCloud > Optimize Mac Storage to turn on optimization for iCloud Drive (including Desktop and Documents) if you want it optimized. Or contact Apple Support for clarification.
The separate optimization option for iCloud Photos is in Settings (Preferences) inside the Photos app.
Thanks! I am still a bit perplexed. So do I understand correctly the "store" setting stores the Desktop & Documents files in iCloud without the optimization that keeps newer and recently used files on my Mac. It moves copies of all the files to iCloud but the files remain on my computer as well?
If I click on Store in Cloud I see this (does this mean I have Desktop & Documents stored in iCloud that sync with my devices but all files stay on my computer as well unless I choose to optimize?):
In other words the store choice for Desktop & Documents is just to allow syncing with other devices but doesn't free up storage space on my Mac unless I choose to optimize? Is this correct. Sorry for my confusion but I do think this is actually confusing! Not your explanation, the settings. It seems to say storing will save space on my Mac when needed---this sounds like optimization to me but perhaps it's referring to Photos only? Also, does this not actually occur unless I click the Store in iCloud button even though the 2 choices above are already turned on?
Settings for storage on my iMac
