How to change iCloud storage location and download from iCloud to an external drive?

You can do both of these things, and the process is straightforward once you separate what you want stored locally versus in iCloud. The key is identifying which types of data are filling your iCloud storage—most commonly Desktop and Documents folders, Photos, iCloud Drive files, and app data—and then redirecting those items to stay on your Mac or an external drive instead.

To stop your Mac from saving Desktop and Documents to iCloud, open System Settings, click your name, then select iCloud and iCloud Drive. Turn off Desktop & Documents Folders and choose Keep a Copy when prompted. This ensures that all existing files remain on your Mac but are no longer synced to iCloud. Going forward, anything saved to your Desktop or Documents will stay local only.

If Photos are using a large amount of storage, you can remove them from iCloud and keep them on your Mac instead. In System Settings → iCloud → Photos, turn off iCloud Photos and choose Download Photos & Videos. Then open the Photos app, go to Photos → Settings → iCloud, and select Download Originals to this Mac. This keeps full-resolution photos stored locally rather than in the cloud.

You can also reduce iCloud usage by limiting which apps sync data. In System Settings → iCloud, scroll through the list of apps and turn off iCloud access for those you do not need to sync, such as Notes or Messages. This prevents new data from continuing to fill your iCloud storage.

Downloading files from iCloud to an external drive is fully supported. On a Mac, connect your external drive, open Finder, and select iCloud Drive. From there, drag the folders or files you want onto the external drive. Make sure the cloud download icon disappears before disconnecting the drive, as this confirms the files have fully downloaded.

For large photo libraries, moving the entire Photos library to an external drive is often the most effective approach. Quit the Photos app, then move the Photos Library.photoslibrary file from your Pictures folder to the external drive. Hold the Option key while reopening Photos, select the library on the external drive, and confirm it as your system photo library if prompted. This keeps your photos off both iCloud and your Mac’s internal storage.

If your Mac does not have enough space to download everything, you can also use iCloud.com. After signing in, you can download files or photos directly from the website and save them straight to an external drive.

A practical cleanup strategy is to first disable Desktop and Documents syncing, then download and relocate large photo libraries to an external drive, and finally move any large iCloud Drive folders you want to keep offline. Once you confirm everything is safely stored locally or externally, you can delete the cloud copies and reduce or downgrade your iCloud storage plan if desired.