iCloud 'Keep Downloaded' Option Included in iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia

In iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia, Apple has added a new "Keep Downloaded" option when browsing items in iCloud, allowing users to designate which files and folders should remain permanently available locally on their device.

macos 15 keep downloaded
In previous versions of iOS and macOS, users had limited control over which files and folders were kept offline. iCloud's automatic management system would offload files from the device to free up space, potentially removing files that you might want to keep available at all times.

Apple offered no straightforward way to prevent this – until now. In macOS Sequoia, when browsing iCloud Drive in Finder, right-clicking a file or folder reveals the new "Keep Downloaded" option. When enabled, the cloud symbol next to the item is opaque instead of transparent, indicating that it will remain on the device.

In iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, the same option can be found in the Files app when a file or folder is long pressed to bring up the contextual menu. Users can now explicitly mark files to remain on their device, regardless of how much storage they take up.

The ability to prevent iCloud items from being offloaded should be particularly welcomed by users who need to frequently access documents or files during travel or in areas with poor connectivity. macOS Sequoia, iOS 18, and iPadOS 18 are available in a beta capacity right now, and are limited to developers. The new option should be available to all users when the software launches to the public this fall.

Related Roundups: iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia
Tag: iCloud

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Top Rated Comments

fatTribble Avatar
10 months ago
Fantastic! ?

At the risk of sounding greedy, can we have this in Photos now? ?
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
robgreene Avatar
10 months ago
Much needed addition. The "Remove Download" and "Keep Downloaded" language still leaves great room for confusion compared to Dropbox's "Make Available Offline" and "Make Online-Only".... the "Remove" language in particular is easily confused with "am I deleting the file if I press this?"
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Fuzzball84 Avatar
10 months ago
A basic option/feature that really should have always been there from the beginning.

I mean in the meetings about how people use such file management did no one put their hands up and mention this one aspect?

Were they more concerned about how thin it was? Offloading files
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
oldmacs Avatar
10 months ago
So so so glad they've added this.

iCloud Drive needs so much more work. It's so limited and does some really stupid things sometimes. Wish there was the ability to sync downloads between devices - really the option to sync more places as well.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
eilavid Avatar
10 months ago
Very happy to see this feature returning. It was removed in Sonoma for some reason, glad it's back.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
joecomo Avatar
10 months ago
Finally - what ever made them wait this out …
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)