storing files on iCloud drive but not on computer HD

[robcrouch]

Hi all, I purchased 2TB of iCloud storage under the impression i could store videos from memory cards on my iCloud drive. The problem is i only have a 500gb HD in my iMac and when i try to copy files to iCloud drive it seems to be also copying them to my local HD which i obviously don't want. How can i resolve this?

Thanks

 

[Brookzy]

If you turn on Optimise Storage in > About This Mac > Storage > Manage, local files will be deleted, with originals saved on iCloud, automatically as and when your local storage requirements increase.

For example, say you have a 500GB disk with 100GB free. You have 200GB on iCloud which is also saved locally. That 200GB will be labelled by macOS as "purgeable". If you copy 150GB of new files to that disk, 50GB (or more) of purgeable storage will be immediately and automatically erased.