The Clio Desktop comprises Clio Drive—a virtual drive where you can create, access, and edit documents in files and folders right from your desktop—and Clio Timekeeping for Desktop—an AI-powered feature that allows you to track time on your activities outside of the Clio app.
Install Clio Desktop App
Clio Drive and Clio Timekeeping for Desktop is accessible from the Clio Desktop app, which you can install directly from within Clio Manage.
Note: After installing, Mac users may be prompted to allow their device to connect to Clio Drive. Learn more about what you should do when you see this prompt here. Windows users may need to allow Clio Desktop app to communicate through the firewall.
- Go to Documents.
- Click Desktop access in the top right and select Install for Windows/Install for Mac.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to install the Clio Desktop App.
Once connected, Clio will sync your data from Clio Manage to Clio Drive before you can access it with File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac). This may take several minutes to an hour depending on how many files you have in Clio Manage. The following table provides estimated wait times before syncing is complete.
| File count | Estimated wait time |
|---|---|
| Up to 200,000 | <5 minutes |
| Up to 500,000 | <10 minutes |
| Up to 1 million | <20 minutes |
| Up to 2 million | <30 minutes |
| Up to 5 million | <45 minutes |
| 5 million+ | 45+ minutes |
Clio Drive syncs between your computer and Clio Manage, which makes it easier to collaborate across your firm. You can make changes in either Clio Drive or Clio Manage, and those changes will be mirrored.
Clio Drive system requirements
Important: To use Clio Drive, your Clio desktop app must meet the minimum version requirement. Regular updates ensure access to the latest features, security enhancements, and bug fixes. Although Clio typically releases updates once a month, your desktop app may require additional updates to address important security or compliance issues. Staying up to date ensures Clio Drive continues to function and complies with industry best practices.
To use Clio Drive, your computer must have minimum i5 with a performance core base clock speed ≥ 2GHz. Further, your operating system should meet the following requirements:
Windows users
- Windows 10 or 11 (Windows in S mode is not supported)
- 8 GB of RAM or more recommended
- 5 GB or more of hard drive space/Local disk space
For macOS users
- macOS 11 Big Sur, with MacOS 15 Sonoma or newer recommended
- 8 GB of RAM or more recommended
- 5 GB or more of hard drive space/Local disk space
Usage thresholds
Clio Drive is best for firms with specific usage thresholds, as outlined below. Clio Drive may begin to see reduced performance beyond these thresholds. This limit depends on your computer's specifications and how your documents are organized. If you experience unexpected performance issues, you can use Clio Manage to access all your case files with ease.
| Category | Threshold |
|---|---|
| Total items (across all matters, contacts, and clients) | 3,500,000 |
| Contact folders (total across all contacts and clients) | 180,000 |
| Files in any given folder | 5,000 |
| Individual file upload limit | 5 GB |
Up next
- Learn about Clio Drive in Get started with Clio Drive
- Learn about tracking activities outside of your Clio app in Enable Clio Timekeeping for Desktop