What does right click remove download do?

[MacLover2011]

I am using macOS Monterey. If I have a file on my desktop and right click on it, I will see the option to "remove download." This can be for a file or folder. I'm curios what this remove download option is for?

 

[pigoo3]

Here's an excerpt from the following OWC article:

macOS Catalina Tips, Tricks, and More

Discover some of the new features of macOS Catalina along with tips and tricks for using the newest version of the Mac OS.

eshop.macsales.com

"Removing iCloud Drive Files: With Catalina, you can delete an iCloud Drive file you have locally on your Mac while keeping the file available on your iCloud Drive. This can be helpful for reducing the amount of storage you’re using on your Mac.

Files you remove from your Mac are still shown in your iCloud drive, but with an iCloud icon next to their name. If you need the file, you can click or tap the iCloud icon and the file will be restored to your Mac.

To use this feature, open the iCloud Drive folder in a Finder window’s sidebar.

Right-click the file you wish to remove from your Mac and select Remove Download from the popup menu.

The file will be removed from your Mac and an iCloud icon will be placed next to the file’s name to indicate it’s still available in iCloud."

HTH,

Nick

 

[pigoo3]

I should mention I'm running Catalina on my MacBook Pro...and when I do a right-click on any file, folder, or downloaded app on the desktop/Finder...I don't get "Remove Download" as an option.

I don't have anything iCould related turned on...thus this option seems to definitely be iCloud related.

Nick

 

[MacInWin]

Nick, the prompt only appears if you have chosen to store the Desktop and Documents in the cloud. That option is set in System Preferences, Apple ID, iCloud drive, where you can choose to have the Desktop and Documents folders moved to the cloud. Then when you want one, it is downloaded to the appropriate location. Then if you no longer want the local copy, you can "Remove Download." I don't use it, but some folks do.

It's also set if you select "Optimize Mac Storage" on that same Sys Prefs panel.

 

[Rod]

Yes, it sure sounds like you have Optimised Storage or chosen that option at setup of the device. It really annoys me that there really is no proper explanation of what happens if you choose that option.

Effectively everything you have in your Documents folder and Desktop folder are stored in iCloud Drive. This is a space saving thing and it does that but it causes confusion over what is actually on your device and prevents you from accessing those files if you are offline.

So, if you choose to Remove Download on an item on your desktop it will be removed from the desktop but will still be available in iCloud Drive > Desktop. You will need to download it again though if you want to open it.

This is all fine and dandy if you have uninterrupted, unlimited, fast WiFi access but can be a real pain if you don't.

 

[MacLover2011]

Yes, it sure sounds like you have Optimised Storage or chosen that option at setup of the device. It really annoys me that there really is no proper explanation of what happens if you choose that option.

Effectively everything you have in your Documents folder and Desktop folder are stored in iCloud Drive. This is a space saving thing and it does that but it causes confusion over what is actually on your device and prevents you from accessing those files if you are offline.

So, if you choose to Remove Download on an item on your desktop it will be removed from the desktop but will still be available in iCloud Drive > Desktop. You will need to download it again though if you want to open it.

This is all fine and dandy if you have uninterrupted, unlimited, fast WiFi access but can be a real pain if you don't.

I'm back to this subject again.
I still don't get what Remove Download does. When I right-click on my desktop and then choose to remove the download, the file is still on my desktop with an iCloud download icon next to it. However, as far as I can tell, it doesn't change anything from iCloud or my desktop. It's still in both places.

I just woke up, so maybe I need more coffee. LOL. But I would think if I choose Remove Download on my desktop, then the file would be downloaded from iCloud and no longer be on the iCloud.

 

[MacInWin]

I suspect you have turned on to "optimize" your storage, that is, to have your Desktop and Documents stored in iCloud. With that turned on, "remove" does not mean "delete," but just to remove the file from the Mac and replace it with the link to where it is in iCloud so you can download it again when you want/need it. And through the magic of how Finder handles these files, it appears to be in both places, although the "real" file is in iCloud and all you have locally is the pointer. Finder will still show the same metadata about that file (size, dates, etc) even if all you have locally is the pointer.

Hope that helps.