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.

Files and folders stored only on the cloud show a cloud icon next to their names.

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 cloud 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 cloud icon since it’s stored on your device.

Once you download a file, it will remain on your device until you manually remove it*. Any changes you make to synced files are automatically updated across all locations where the files are stored.

How to download files

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 cloud icon next to the file name.
• Secondary click (Control-click) on the file to open a menu and select Download now.

How to remove local files

To remove a downloaded file or folder from your device, secondary click the item and select Remove Download from the menu. This will save space on your computer, and the file will still be stored securely on the cloud.

Why are local files disappearing after I upload them to Proton Drive on macOS?

*macOS may automatically remove local copies of synced files(new window) 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 local, secondary click them in Proton Drive and select Download Now.