On-demand sync on Proton Drive for macOS
Files and folders you sync with the Proton Drive app for macOS are synchronized on demand. This means you can access files stored in the cloud without downloading them on your device.
Instead, files appear as placeholders (only metadata and thumbnails are displayed) and are only downloaded when you access them. This approach helps to save local storage space.
- How file synchronization works across multiple devices
- How to make files available offline
- How to make files online only
- Why are local files disappearing after I upload them to Proton Drive on macOS?
How file synchronization works across multiple devices
If you upload a file to Proton Drive using another device, it will appear in the Proton Drive folder on your Mac with a ☁️ icon, indicating that the file is stored in the cloud and has not been downloaded locally.
If you move or copy a file into the Proton Drive folder on your Mac, it will exist both locally and in the cloud, by default — the file will not have a ☁️ icon since it’s stored on your device.
Once you download a file, it will remain on your device — unless you make it online only, manually remove it, or macOS reclaims space*.
To ensure a file or folder stays on your local device no matter what, make it available offline. This protects content from being removed by macOS and ensures that any new files added to a folder marked with a ✅ icon will be downloaded automatically.
Any changes you make to synced files are automatically updated across all locations.
How to make files available offline
To make a file, folder, or selection of items available offline, you can do one of the following:
- Open or copy the file to another location. It will automatically be downloaded to the Proton Drive macOS app.
- Click on the ☁️ icon next to the file name.
- Secondary click (Control-click) on the file and select Make available offline.
Items available offline display a ✅ icon, so you know which ones you can always access without an internet connection.
How to make files online only
To remove a downloaded file or folder from your device, secondary click the item and select Online Only (Free Up Space). This will save space on your computer, and the file will still be stored securely on the cloud.
Files available only in the cloud display a ☁️ icon.
Why are local files disappearing after I upload them to Proton Drive on macOS?
*macOS may automatically remove local copies of synced files(nova janela) after you upload them to the Proton Drive folder (or any other cloud storage provider, including iCloud) if local storage is low or the files aren’t frequently accessed. To keep files on your local device, secondary click them in Proton Drive and select Make available offline.