> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://aspect.inc/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Pinning
> Keep complete files and folders on your macOS or Windows computer for offline work and guaranteed local access.
By default, Aspect streams files from the cloud as you open them. Pinning in the desktop app for **macOS or Windows** downloads the complete file or folder and keeps it on your computer.
Use pinning when you need guaranteed access without an internet connection or want important media stored locally before a session.
## When to pin content
Pin files or folders when you are:
* Preparing to work on a plane
* Traveling without reliable internet
* Preparing for an editing session with large media
You do not need to pin everything before using Instant Access. For normal connected work, Aspect streams and caches content automatically.
## Before you pin
Pinned content is downloaded in full, so it requires enough local disk space for the complete file or folder.
Before pinning:
* Check the size of the content.
* Confirm that your computer has enough free storage.
* Leave additional space for your operating system and creative applications.
* Keep the Aspect desktop app running.
* Use a stable internet connection for large downloads.
* Confirm that the project is mounted and available.
A pinned folder requires enough space for all the files inside it.
Pinning a large folder may use significantly more storage than the automatic cache, which may contain only the parts of files you recently accessed.
## Pin a file
Launch the Aspect desktop app and confirm that you are signed in.
Open the project containing the file you want to keep locally.
Mount the project first if it is not already available on your computer. Follow [Mount your first project](/docs/instant-access/mount-a-project) if you need to connect it in the desktop app.
Find and select the file you want to make available offline.
Choose **Pin**.
Aspect begins downloading the complete file to your computer.
Keep the desktop app running until the file shows that pinning is complete.
Do not disconnect from the internet until the complete file is available locally.
## Pin a folder
Pin a folder when you need all of its contents available locally.
Check which files the folder contains and estimate how much local storage the complete folder requires.
Open the mounted project and select the folder you want to keep locally.
Choose **Pin**.
Aspect begins downloading the files inside the folder.
Keep the desktop app running and connected to the internet while the download continues.
Confirm that the folder has finished pinning before going offline.
Files added to a project by other people may require additional downloading before they are available locally. Check the pinning status before disconnecting.
## Check how much space pinning requires
Pinned content uses local storage based on the full size of the selected files.
For a single file, plan for at least the complete file size.
For a folder, add together the sizes of the files inside it. Leave additional free space for:
* Creative application caches and temporary files
* Proxies, render files, exports, and other pinned content
Before pinning a folder, right-click it and select **Show Info**. The **Size** value shows how much local storage the complete folder requires.
Avoid filling your system disk completely. Creative applications and your operating system need free space for temporary files and normal operation.
## Track pinning progress
The Aspect desktop app shows the progress of local downloads.
Before going offline, confirm that:
* The pinning operation finished.
* The selected files or folders show as available locally.
* The desktop app does not show a transfer error.
* Your computer has enough remaining disk space.
* You can open the required files from the mounted drive.
Opening a partially pinned folder does not guarantee that every file inside it is available offline.
## Work while offline
After pinning finishes, you can open the content from the mounted Aspect drive without an internet connection.
Pinned content works like other files on your computer. You can:
* Open media in your editing application.
* Scrub through footage.
* Open project files.
* Edit documents.
Changes made while offline remain on your computer until Aspect reconnects.
Only content that finished pinning is guaranteed to be available offline. Unpinned files may require an internet connection even if you opened them previously.
## Sync changes after reconnecting
When your computer reconnects to the internet, Aspect synchronizes changes back to the project.
Connect your computer to a stable network.
Make sure the Aspect desktop app is running and signed in.
Aspect uploads changes made while you were offline.
Confirm that your saves and new files finished synchronizing before closing the app or disconnecting again.
Other people with access to the project can see the updated files after synchronization completes.
## Unpin content
Unpin files or folders when you no longer need guaranteed offline access.
Open the project and select the pinned file or folder.
Choose **Unpin**.
Allow Aspect to release local data as it manages the cache and check that the expected disk space becomes available.
Unpinning does not delete the original content from Aspect. The file remains in the project and can be streamed again when you are online.
After content is unpinned, Aspect may keep recently accessed parts in the automatic cache until that space is needed.
## Pinning and caching
Pinning and caching both use local storage, but they serve different purposes.
| Cache | Pinning |
| - | - |
| Happens automatically as files are accessed | Starts when you choose to pin content |
| May contain only parts of a file | Downloads the complete file or folder |
| Older cached data may be removed automatically | Content remains available until you unpin it |
| Improves normal streaming performance | Provides guaranteed offline access |
| Controlled by the cache size limit | Requires space for the complete pinned content |
Use caching for normal connected work. Use pinning when you must have complete files available locally.
Control how much local storage Aspect uses for automatically cached media.
## Decide what to pin
You may not need to pin an entire project.
To reduce storage use, pin only:
* The folder for the current edit
* The original media needed for the session
* Project files and supporting documents
* Music, graphics, or reference files needed offline that must remain available locally
Leave files you do not need offline unpinned and stream them when needed.
## Pinning large media
Large video files and folders may take time to download fully.
Before pinning large media:
* Check the total size.
* Connect to a stable network.
* Connect your computer to power.
* Keep the desktop app running.
* Confirm that the cache or storage location remains connected.
* Begin the download early enough for it to finish before you leave.
Pinning does not compress or reduce the size of the original content.
## Pinning, storage tiers, and archived projects
Pinning through Instant Access requires an **Active Storage** project. Choose Active Storage when creating a project you plan to mount and pin. **Cold Storage** projects do not support mounting or pinning through Instant Access.
Archiving a project only moves it to the **Archived** section on the workspace homepage. It leaves the storage tier unchanged, so an archived Active Storage project can still be mounted and pinned.
Open the archived project list to find the project, then mount it and pin the files you need. See [storage tiers and project archiving](/docs/concepts/core-concepts#storage-tiers).
## Troubleshoot pinning
If pinning does not start:
* Confirm that the desktop app is running.
* Confirm that you are signed in.
* Confirm that the project is mounted.
* Confirm that you have access to the content.
* Confirm that the project uses Active Storage.
* Check your internet connection.
* Check available local storage.
If pinning stops before completion:
* Keep the desktop app open.
* Reconnect to the internet.
* Confirm that the local storage location is available.
* Check for a transfer error in the desktop app.
* Free local disk space if the selected content is too large.
If pinned content is unavailable offline:
* Confirm that pinning finished before you disconnected.
* Confirm that you are opening the correct mounted project.
* Confirm that the pinned file still exists at the expected location.
* Reconnect and allow Aspect to finish any incomplete download.
## Related guides
Manage automatic cache usage, size, and location.
Learn how streaming, prefetching, caching, and synchronization work.
Add files and organize the content you want to make available locally.
Mount an Aspect project and open it in Finder on macOS or File Explorer on Windows.