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iCloud inconsistency between devices?
- Thread starter SkiHound2
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I have a directory of work files, cleverly named work_data. I have that directory in my home directory on my iMac. I primarily use my iMac for my work. It's name is (obviously, I'm substituting name here).
/Users/name/work_data
I copied that directory to iCloud drive. I'm signed into iCloud on both computers and I can't find any settings that would prevent synching. If I right click on the above directory (physically on my iMac), then select "share" then "more" there is a iCloud icon with a white box with a checkmark and a + sign. Since I wrote the first post I copied the above directory to my iMac desktop and it appears in my desktop folder on my Macbook. Now, that changed all of the folder dates to today, which is not good. I work on a ton of different projects and have projects going back many years in that main directory. The current projects have the most recent dates and that helps me keep them organized. So they are capablel of synching, but I can't seem to just copy a directory to the iCloud drive and have it appear on other devices. Same thing happened using the file app on my iPad.
/Users/name/work_data
I copied that directory to iCloud drive. I'm signed into iCloud on both computers and I can't find any settings that would prevent synching. If I right click on the above directory (physically on my iMac), then select "share" then "more" there is a iCloud icon with a white box with a checkmark and a + sign. Since I wrote the first post I copied the above directory to my iMac desktop and it appears in my desktop folder on my Macbook. Now, that changed all of the folder dates to today, which is not good. I work on a ton of different projects and have projects going back many years in that main directory. The current projects have the most recent dates and that helps me keep them organized. So they are capablel of synching, but I can't seem to just copy a directory to the iCloud drive and have it appear on other devices. Same thing happened using the file app on my iPad.
You still have not said if you have activated iCloud Drive on both macs and on the iPad.
How to activate iCloud Drive: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT204025
iCloud drive will synchronise the Documents and the Desktop folders with iCloud (and with all other devices that also have iCloud Drive activated).
If iCloud Drive is not activated, the device will not automatically synchronise.
More information here: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201104
How to activate iCloud Drive: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT204025
iCloud drive will synchronise the Documents and the Desktop folders with iCloud (and with all other devices that also have iCloud Drive activated).
If iCloud Drive is not activated, the device will not automatically synchronise.
More information here: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201104
As I said, ONLY the “Desktop” and “Documents” folders will synch to iCloud Drive.
Anything else outside of those folders will not.
But shouldn't I be able to see the folder in Finder from both the iMac and Macbook? Thanks for taking the time to help, BTW.
This isn't entirely correct. You should be able to view and sync things within your iCloud Drive as well.
Just to be clear, there are two iCloud settings. The first is turning on iCloud Drive itself. This allows you to view and sync files and folders within your iCloud Drive. The second/optional "sub-setting" is enabling 'Desktop & Documents Folders' to be synced as well, like you mentioned.
Yes, you should be able to see the iCloud folder in Finder. If you don't see it in the sidebar, go to Finder Preferences and make sure it is ticked to be shown.
Yes, things like Preview, Books, Numbers files, Pages files, Mail, etc… but in terms of actual Folders the iCloud Drive will only contain the Desktop and the Documents folders (and everything within those two folders).
It is all very well documented. I suggest the OP takes some time to read the links I posted earlier.
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It's not limited to just the Desktop and Documents folder though (or the others you mentioned). iCloud Drive is Apple's equivalent of Dropbox, OneDrive, or Google Drive; and behaves very similar to those. You can put anything you want in your iCloud Drive through Finder, which is what the OP did. I have 'Desktop & Documents Folders' turned off, so those folders don't show even up for me. I have my own folders that I created and work with them through iCloud Drive in Finder. All my files (pictures, videos, PDFs, zip files, Word, Excel, DMGs, EXEs, etc.) show up on my iPad, iPhone, iCloud.com, and even on my Windows PC with 'iCloud for Windows' installed.
With that said, iCloud Drive is known to not be very reliable sometimes compared to other services. @SkiHound2, another thing you could check is to see if your folder/files have actually uploaded to the cloud by viewing your iCloud Drive at iCloud.com. That would help us determine if you're having issues uploading from the iMac, or downloading on the MacBook. If they're not visible at iCloud.com, you could try uploading them through there and then see if they show up on the MacBook. Also out of curiosity, does your iCloud Drive work in reverse? If you put something in there from the MacBook, does it show up on the iMac?
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In my experience, it can take quite a long time for newly added folders and files to replicate.
Sometimes, I have had to browse a folder on the source device from within iCloud Drive for the replication to begin.
Sometimes, I have had to browse a folder on the source device from within iCloud Drive for the replication to begin.
You can do that, but (as far as I can see) it is not mentioned as a supported method of sharing files and folders between devices.
I don't know why, but Apple are not mentioning it in their literature e.g.:
"Access your files in iCloud Drive
On your Mac
You can access iCloud Drive in the Finder on your Mac.
When you add your Desktop and Documents folders to iCloud Drive, you can access all of the files in those folders wherever you use iCloud."
Why wouldn't they mention adding folders directly to the iCloud Drive root if this is a supported method?
Access and manage your files in iCloud Drive – Apple Support (UK)
iCloud Drive lets you access all of your documents securely from your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac and Windows PC.
It makes me wonder whether folders outside of the system folders are treated differently in relation to synchronisation.
Logic dictates that they shouldn't be, but I've haven't had any synchronisation problems with the system folders (yet?).
Indeed the OP also mentions that his Desktop synchronises without problems.
You could try going into Finder>preferences>sidebar and checking that that the 'icloud drive' folder is ticked on your Macbook, otherwise it won't show up.
If that's ok then go to the cloud online from the Macbook and check you can see it from there.
If that's ok then go to the cloud online from the Macbook and check you can see it from there.
When he says it shows on both desktops after adding it to only one, iCloud Drive is obviously activated…
Edit: just saw in another comment that you came to the same conclusion
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iCloud is still very flawed, always has been since it was me.com and probably always will be. This is unfortunate but expected behaviour, I’ve always had problems with iCloud on all my iPhones and, and with, all my Macs. But there are enough trouble shooting suggestions here, hopefully one will work. 👍🏻
If you've copied your /Users/name/work_data folder to the iCloud Drive folder on your iMac, it will show up in the iCloud Drive folder on any other Mac you're signed into.
It will not be in /Users/name/work_data on any other Mac, because you've only copied it to the iCloud Drive folder.
If you copy the work_data folder to your desktop, it will show up on the desktop of other Macs because iCloud syncs the Desktop and Documents folders.
Thanks for all the advice and comments. It did eventually show up. I just assumed iCloud drive would be like dropbox and those kinds of services. Just wanted to use it as an accessible external drive. Didn't expect it to take hours. The directory was not huge and I've not experienced any kind of time lag like this. Thanks again.
