Offload Mac Messages attachments to iCloud

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Level 1

4 points

Offload Mac Messages attachments to iCloud

Hi, is there any way to offload imessages attachments to icloud from macos without completely deleting them? on my macbook pro messages use 68GB (!!) out of 500GB drive, that is just insane. i checked those videos and dont want to delete them as those are from our kids when they were small and want to keep it. I pay for family icloud, have enough storage there, but constantly deal with not enough space on my macos. any way to remove from macos but keep accessible on icloud?

MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 15.6

Posted on Jan 10, 2026 1:49 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Richard.Taylor

Level 6

17,377 points

Jan 13, 2026 7:40 AM in response to sykorka

You could save them in Photos and keep them there rather than trying to keep them in Messages and mail. For the Mac, you can use Optimize Storage for the videos and pictures so that they take up maybe less than 10% of the space.

You really need to back up your precious videos and pictures! iCloud isn't meant as a backup, since it copies mistakes as well as pictures. If you use Optimize on your Mac, then backups will catch only the lower resolution optimized versions. Here's a method to use Optimize on the Mac, but periodically backup the Photos Library to an external drive:

Backup iCloud Photos with an Optimized Mac - Apple Community

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Answer 2

sberman

Level 10

272,682 points

Jan 11, 2026 1:55 PM in response to sykorka

See especially “Set up iCloud Photos on your Mac“ here.

Set up iCloud Photos on all your devices - Apple Support

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Answer 3

sberman

Level 10

272,682 points

Jan 11, 2026 2:31 PM in response to sykorka

sykorka wrote:

Thanks, but this is not about photos in photo library, but about history in messages app…

I don’t think so.

From your original post:

I checked those videos

Presumably those videos are on your Mac.

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Answer 4

sykorka Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 13, 2026 10:57 AM in response to sberman

obviously those are on my Mac, but not in the photos app library, but in a folder on hard drive. Example below. So that solution obviously won't work. I can erase this attachments folder, but I don't want to mess up with the database. There must be a way to offload those to cloud the same way iOS does that.

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Answer 5

sykorka Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 13, 2026 10:59 AM in response to Richard.Taylor

true, i could, but that doesn't make any sense from user point of view. Why am I paying for iCloud storage when it then loads the whole history on my drive? I don't have time (nor energy) to go through the attachments one by one, download and somehow backup, that's nonsense...

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Answer 6

Jan 13, 2026 11:27 AM in response to sykorka

sykorka wrote: true, i could,

Yes, you could. I'm a user, and that's what I do, and it seems especially easy. It's pretty straightforward, really.

Why am I paying for iCloud storage

I'm not sure. You may need to re-evaluate. iCloud is not storage-- it's a method of synchronizing your pictures and files on multiple devices. If you didn't understand that, then you may need into other systems.

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Answer 7

sykorka Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 13, 2026 11:39 AM in response to Richard.Taylor

Ok, thanks for the advice, but honestly, this system limitation is just ridiculous…

there must be an automated and easier way, don’t tell me.

and just btw - the description of iCloud clearly states:

”iCloud keeps your iMessages safe and synced across all Apple devices with Messages in iCloud, storing them in the cloud so you see the same conversations everywhere, automatically updating as you send, receive, or delete”

… “storing them in the cloud”, not “storing them on your device”.

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Answer 8

sykorka Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 11, 2026 2:25 PM in response to sberman

Thanks, but this is not about photos in photo library, but about history in messages app…

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