Mail and Messages and Photos taking local storage despite using iCloud Drive

I have "Optimize Mac Storage" selected, but still I have 5G of mail (8G on iCloud), 11G of messages (15G on iCloud), and 4G of photos (25G on iCloud) being stored locally.

Much of the reason for using iCloud is to free up local storage. Why is it doing this and how can I make it stop?

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 14.6

Posted on Feb 12, 2025 6:27 PM

Similar questions

Reduce iCloud Storage if iCloud is not even active I keep getting messages that my iCloud storage is almost full...when I open my finder on my iMac, the first prompt is to TURN ON the iCloud Drive? So, does that mean... that my photos app on my iMac is NOT backed up to iCloud, ...And, that only my other devices are filling my iCloud storage?
223 2
Why does iCloud storage also use space on my Mac? I'm sorry, maybe I'm stupid but I just don't get it with iCloud. I've got all my family photos,videos etc on an external drive. Total space used on the external is about 800gb. I've just bought some more iCloud space, 2 Tb. So I connected the hard drive to my Mac and dragged the photos/videos on to the iCloud drive folder. Took about 4 hrs to complete. It's in my iCloud drive but it's used up the same amount of space on my Mac. So what's the point in paying for iCloud storage, might as well just drag and drop it on to my desktop ! I've checked the iCloud drive on my phone and only about 50% of the photos/videos are there. Why does the space you've paid for on icloud also have to take up space on your devices ?? [Re-Titled by Moderator]
501 3
Why is iCloud auto downloading files I have just bought a new Mac mini and I have noticed how iCloud Drive is auto downloading all my files even though I have told it not to by turning optimize Mac storage off, yet it is still downloading 300 GB of files. As I have said, I have turned off the option to store the iCloud files on the Mac, I have even gone as far as doing a full system restore of erasing MacOS and reinstalling it. This Mac mini only has 512 GB of space and I do not want over 300 GB of that to be taken up with what's in my iCloud. I don't have this issue on iPhone, iPad, and Windows. All I want is to be able to store and upload stuff in iCloud and download it when I need it. [Edited by Moderator]
1166 8

1 reply

muguy

Level 10

94,156 points

Feb 12, 2025 7:40 PM in response to davepaint

Anything in iCloud is also on your device. It seems optimize is working by reducing the size of each on device.

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Mail and Messages and Photos taking local storage despite using iCloud Drive

Welcome to Apple Support Community

A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.

Learn more Sign up