If your Mac is running out of space, you can free up Mac storage using iCloud. Apple’s iCloud Drive and iCloud Photos can help reduce the amount of storage used on your Mac while keeping your files and photos available across your Apple devices.
One option is to use Apple’s iCloud service.
iCloud allows you to store files, photographs and other information online and access them across your Apple devices. With the correct settings enabled, your Mac can keep smaller or recently used versions of files locally while storing the originals in iCloud.
This can be particularly useful if you have a Mac with a relatively small internal storage drive.
In this guide, I’ll explain how iCloud works, how to set it up and how to use it to free up storage space on your Mac.
What is iCloud and how does it work?
iCloud is Apple’s online storage and synchronisation service. It allows you to store information online and access it from your Mac, iPhone, iPad and other supported devices.
For example, you can use iCloud to:
- Store documents and files.
- Store photographs and videos.
- Synchronise your Desktop and Documents folders.
- Keep information such as contacts, calendars and notes up to date.
- Access your files from other Apple devices.
Your iCloud storage is linked to your Apple Account.
Apple provides a limited amount of free iCloud storage (5 GB), but if you have a large collection of photographs, videos or documents, you may need to purchase additional storage through an iCloud+ plan.
Important: iCloud is primarily a synchronisation service, not a complete backup of your Mac. If you delete a photograph or document from an iCloud-synchronised location, that deletion can also synchronise to your other devices.
Make sure you have a separate backup of important files, preferably using Time Machine or another suitable backup method.
1. Check how much storage space is available on your Mac
Before changing anything, it is useful to see how much storage your Mac is currently using.
- Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen.
- Select System Settings.
- Select General.
- Click Storage.
Your Mac will display a breakdown of how its internal storage is being used.
You may see categories such as:
- Applications
- Documents
- Photos
- iCloud Drive
- Messages
- macOS
- System Data
This will help identify where most of your storage is being used.
If your Documents and Photos categories are particularly large, iCloud may be able to help.
2. Check how much iCloud storage you have
Before moving files or photographs into iCloud, check how much online storage is available.
- Open System Settings.
- Click your name at the top of the sidebar to open your Apple Account settings.
- Select iCloud.
- Look at the storage bar to see how much space is being used and how much remains.
Apple provides 5GB of free iCloud storage with an Apple Account.
If you need more space, you can upgrade to an iCloud+ storage plan.
Remember that iCloud storage is shared between your Mac, iPhone and iPad, including photographs, files, messages and device backups.
If your iCloud storage is full, new files and photographs may stop synchronising until you make more room or upgrade your plan.
3. Using iCloud Drive to free up Mac storage
One of the most useful ways to free up space on your Mac is to use iCloud Drive.
You can store files in iCloud Drive and access them through Finder, just as you would with files stored locally on your Mac.
To enable iCloud Drive:
- Open System Settings.
- Click your name at the top of the sidebar.
- Select iCloud.
- Select Drive.
- Turn on Sync this Mac.
You can also enable Desktop & Documents Folders.
This allows the files in your Mac’s Desktop and Documents folders to synchronise with iCloud Drive.
Your files will still appear in their usual locations on your Mac, but they will also be available through iCloud on your other devices.
Enable Optimise Mac Storage
This is the important setting if your aim is to free up Mac storage using iCloud on your Mac.
- Open System Settings.
- Click your name.
- Select iCloud.
- Select Drive.
- Turn on Optimise Mac Storage, if the option is available.
When your Mac needs more storage space, macOS can remove local copies of older files while keeping them stored in iCloud.
The files remain visible in Finder. When you need one again, you can download it from iCloud.
For example, you may have a large folder of documents that you haven’t opened for several months. Those files can remain available in iCloud without all their contents needing to occupy space on your Mac.
Tip: You need an internet connection to download files that are stored only in iCloud. If you regularly work without internet access, make sure important files are downloaded and available locally before you go offline.
4. Using iCloud Photos to Free Up Mac Storage Using iCloud Photos
Photographs and videos can occupy a surprising amount of storage space, particularly if you have been using your iPhone for several years.
iCloud Photos can help you to free up Mac storage using iCloud your original, full-resolution photographs and videos in iCloud while keeping smaller, space-saving versions on your Mac.
To enable iCloud Photos:
- Open the Photos app on your Mac.
- Select Photos from the menu at the top of the screen.
- Select Settings.
- Click the iCloud tab.
- Make sure iCloud Photos or Sync this Mac is enabled.
- Select Optimise Mac Storage.
Make sure you select Optimise Mac Storage, rather than Download Originals to this Mac, if your intention is to save space.
Your full-resolution photographs and videos are stored in iCloud. Your Mac keeps smaller versions locally when storage optimisation is needed.
When you open a photograph or video, the original can be downloaded when required.
This is particularly useful if you have thousands of photographs but only regularly look at a small proportion of them.
Important: Do not manually delete photographs from the Photos app simply to free up space if you want to keep them in iCloud. With iCloud Photos enabled, deleting a photograph from one device also deletes it from your other synchronised devices.
5. Understand the difference between iCloud and an external hard drive
It is worth understanding that iCloud and an external hard drive work differently.
An external hard drive stores a separate copy of your files. You can disconnect it and keep those files independently of your Mac.
iCloud synchronises files between your devices and Apple’s online storage.
This means that iCloud is convenient for accessing documents and photographs from different devices, but it should not be your only method of protecting important information.
For a proper backup of your Mac, I recommend using Apple’s Time Machine with an external hard drive.
This gives you another copy of your information should something happen to your Mac or iCloud account.
6. I want to free up Mac storage using iCloud but iCloud storage is full?
If you have enabled iCloud Drive and iCloud Photos but your Mac is still reporting that your iCloud storage is full, you have a few options.
Option 1 — Upgrade your iCloud storage
You can purchase additional iCloud storage through an iCloud+ plan.
This is often the simplest option if you have a large collection of photographs and documents that you want to keep synchronised.
Option 2 — Review what is using your iCloud storage
Go to:
System Settings → Your Name → iCloud
Select the storage management option to see which services are using the most space.
You may find that old device backups, photographs, messages or documents are taking up more space than expected.
Only remove information that you are certain you no longer need.
Option 3 — Use an external drive
If you have a particularly large collection of photographs, videos or documents, an external drive may be a more economical option than continually increasing your iCloud storage.
You can also use an external drive alongside iCloud, rather than choosing one or the other.
7. Has iCloud actually freed up space on your Mac?
Once you have enabled the relevant settings, allow time for your files and photographs to upload and synchronise.
The first upload can take quite a while, particularly if you have a large photo library or a slow internet connection.
To check whether space has been freed:
- Open System Settings.
- Select General.
- Select Storage.
- Check the available storage space on your Mac.
You may not see an immediate improvement. macOS manages local storage automatically and may only remove local copies when additional space is needed.
If your Mac still has plenty of free storage, it may keep more files locally for convenience.
Is iCloud the best way to free up space on your Mac?
For many Mac users, iCloud is a convenient way to make more room on their internal storage drive, particularly if photographs and documents are taking up most of the available space.
It also makes it easier to access your information from an iPhone, iPad or another Mac.
However, iCloud isn’t necessarily the best solution for everyone.
If you have a large collection of videos, photographs or other files, an external drive may be more economical. If your Mac is very old or has a small internal drive, it may also be worth considering whether a hardware upgrade or replacement is a better long-term option.
The important thing is to understand where your storage is being used before deciding what to do.
Need help with your Mac?
If your Mac is running out of storage, displaying disk-full warnings or becoming increasingly slow, iTech WA can help.
I can check what is using your storage, help configure iCloud, organise your photographs and documents, and explain the best options for keeping your information safe.
Need help with your computer or technology?
iTech WA provides friendly, professional IT support for homes and small businesses in Bridgetown and the South West.
With more than 40 years of IT experience, I provide practical, plain-English advice and personal service.
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Also Check the Apple Support Website for specific Apple products.
