Apple Finally Solves the iCloud Deleting Local Files Issue: New Version Offers "Keep Downloaded" Feature to Prevent File Deletion
Brook.X
In the latest iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia releases, Apple has introduced a significant update for iCloud Drive users: the "Keep Downloaded" option. This feature allows users to mark files to stay on their device instead of being automatically purged to free up space.
Previously, iCloud would upload user files to the cloud and then automatically delete them from local storage as a means to free up space. This mechanism also subtly encouraged users to subscribe to iCloud, given the premium cost associated with Mac's storage options.
However, Apple didn't offer much offline control to iCloud users, which led to the frequent automatic deletion of some files. Users had to re-download these files for local use, wasting time, data, and bandwidth.
The new "Keep Downloaded" feature, similar to Microsoft OneDrive's "Files On-Demand," allows users to proactively mark files to retain them locally, preventing automatic deletion.
Users can access this option by long-pressing a file to bring up the context menu, where they will find the "Keep Downloaded" selection. Apple has also refined the icons for clarity: a solid gray cloud icon indicates that a file is marked to stay downloaded, whereas an outlined, almost transparent cloud icon shows it's not marked. These icons serve as indicators for users to easily identify the status of their files.
This functionality, arguably overdue since iCloud's inception, addresses a longstanding concern among users who have experienced the inconvenience of having their files unexpectedly deleted and needing to re-download them.
With this update, users might now need to more carefully consider their local storage management. For those with devices featuring smaller storage capacities, it may still be wise to sync less frequently used files to iCloud or other cloud storage services to free up local space, despite the new ability to keep certain files downloaded.
