Make iCloud Drive Files Available Before You Go Offline
A filename in iCloud Drive does not prove that the complete file is stored on your Mac. Before travelling or working somewhere without reliable internet, prepare the actual documents you need and test them.
Download the working set
In Finder, open iCloud Drive and locate the project folder. Apple documents a Download Now command for items that are stored only in iCloud. Control-click the required files or folders and choose that command, then allow the download to finish.
On macOS versions offering Keep Downloaded, you can use it for material that should remain local even when storage optimisation is enabled. Check for the corresponding status indicator. If that option is absent, consult the guide for your installed release rather than assuming the download has been pinned.
Include dependencies, not just the main document. A presentation may rely on a separate video, and a project may contain linked images or reference PDFs. Download those while the connection is still available.
Rehearse offline access
Close the documents, temporarily disconnect from the network when convenient and reopen them. Confirm that the pages, images and linked material you need are accessible. Use a harmless copy for any editing test, then reconnect and check the expected sync state.
Do not move a folder out of iCloud Drive merely to make it available offline. Apple describes that move as removing the item from iCloud Drive across connected devices. Download controls are the appropriate starting point for local availability.
Remove Download has a different purpose: it removes the local download while retaining the cloud item. Read the command carefully rather than treating all “remove” actions as interchangeable.
Keep an independent backup of important work. Offline availability solves a connection problem; it does not create a separate historical copy protected from every later edit or deletion.
Source: Apple's iCloud Drive file controls.
For help with your Mac, contact AEPC in East Auckland or call 027 908 8880 to discuss your requirements.