iCloud missing upload of files with the same name

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Acje Author

Level 1

9 points

iCloud missing upload of files with the same name

After some weeks of experimenting i have determined the following:

iCloud uploader will NOT upload two photos of the same name (BAD)

example img_0100 taken in 2001 on a canon camera will be uploaded but img-

0100 Taken today will be skipped since it is a ‘duplicate’

2 copies of the same photo with different or the same name but the same metadata will cause one to be skipped (GOOD)

The first issue is a major flaw since it tricks you into believing that all your photos are stored in the cloud and they are not.

Since photos taken on iPhone 6 appears to have the same naming structure I suspect two photos taken on two different iPhones but have the same I’d will result in only one file stored in the cloud.

Mass-Storage Management Software

Posted on Jul 27, 2019 6:39 AM

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Answer 1

brenden dv

Community Specialist

Jul 28, 2019 9:43 AM in response to Acje

Hi there Acje

Thanks for using the Apple Support Communities. I understand you’re having issues uploading photos that share the same name using iCloud for Windows. I’ll be happy to help with this.

First, I want you to know that 2 photos can have the same file name and be uploaded to iCloud. Photos and iCloud stores them using EXIF Data in addition to filename. To verify, are you using the Photos Uploads folder to copy your photos over? If you’re having issues using that feature or not seeing your photos when you expect, check out this link for help:

Get help with iCloud Photos on your Windows PC

This article has some great info on using iCloud Photos on your Windows PC as well:

Set up and use iCloud Photos on your Windows PC

Best wishes.

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Answer 2

Acje Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 28, 2019 7:21 PM in response to brenden dv

So here is ho i spend my day.

I deleted all my 100.000 photos form the cloud and removed them from the recently deleted area.

Essentially leaving icloud with ZERO files.

I placed a folder with 750 files in the upload folder. All different / all different names.

425 of the uploaded. I waited an hour and icloud.exe icon reported done.

Thne i made another copy of the same 750 files in upload. 25 more went to the cloud.

Did that about 4 more times and i am now up to 544 so i am i still short 206 files.

i have tried everything i can think of. copy the files directly to upload. giving them different names. making new folders.

How does people work with the upload folder. You are supposed to drop the files / folders there and they go to the cloud timely.

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Answer 3

Acje Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 28, 2019 10:41 AM in response to brenden dv

I am using the upload folder in windows installed with the iCloud app.

2 senior engineers at Apple have confirmed you are using the following algoritm:

if the file name exists then skip the file.
if a file with the same meta data exist skipe regardless of the name.

since icloudphotos.com seems to have a mind of its own and does not tell you when it is done. (i know you can click on the icon in the right hand tray and see the status). It is almost impossible to determine if it is done or not.

but I set up some tests and waited 48 hours after which icloudphotos reported nothing to upload.

‘Even tried to drop the same folders down again and see if I could trick it into more uploads.

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iCloud missing upload of files with the same name

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