Kempt
In short
When “Optimize Mac Storage” is on, iCloud keeps some files online only, shown with a cloud icon. Opening, previewing or moving them out of iCloud downloads them. Sort the files that are already on your Mac first. Kempt does exactly that: it reads and files the downloaded ones and marks the online-only ones without touching them.
Without any app
See what is online only
In Finder, files with a cloud icon next to their name aren’t on your Mac. View › Show Status Bar also shows what is downloading.
Organize inside iCloud Drive
Moving a file from one iCloud folder to another doesn’t download it. Moving it to a folder outside iCloud does.
Download on purpose
Right-click a folder and choose Download Now when you want to work on it. Remove Download frees the space again later.
With Kempt
Online-only files are left alone
Kempt reads the download status of each file. Files kept only in iCloud are listed as “In iCloud only”, never read, previewed, ticked or moved.
Downloaded files get the full treatment
The rest are named from their content and filed into your library, with Undo, like any other folder.
Point it at any iCloud folder
Use Tidy a Folder… with a folder in iCloud Drive. Only what is already on your Mac is proposed.
$27 once, 14 days freeRuns on every Apple silicon MacA question? Ask a person
Questions people ask
Why do my iCloud files have a cloud icon?
Optimize Mac Storage keeps older or large files online to save space. They download when you open them.
Does an organizer download all my iCloud files?
Some do, because reading a file downloads it. Kempt checks first and skips files that aren’t on your Mac.
Can I search inside iCloud documents that aren’t downloaded?
Spotlight can find them by name. To search what they say, download them first; Kempt then reads and indexes them on your Mac.