iCloud syncing in macOS Monterey

Question

Level 1

10 points

iCloud syncing in macOS Monterey

My old synchronizing program broke when I upgraded my iMac to Monterey. I understood that if I turned on iCloud on both my iMac and my new MacBook Pro M1, files would be synchronized between computers. That doesn't seem to be so. I just opened Documents on each and the files that have later "Date Modified" dates are not synchronized with the earlier files. Obviously my understanding was wrong. Am I doing something wrong? Is there a way to make synchronizing work in iCloud with macOS Monterey?

iMac 27″, macOS 12.1

Posted on Jan 27, 2022 6:53 AM

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Answer 1

lllaass

Level 10

210,513 points

Jan 27, 2022 7:12 AM in response to Tenore Primo

Did you turn on Desktop and Document folder syncing in iCloud

See:

https://www.macrumors.com/how-to/sync-desktop-documents-folders-icloud-mac/

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Answer 2

etresoft

Level 9

56,314 points

Jan 27, 2022 8:38 AM in response to Tenore Primo

Whenever you are having problems with iCloud, a good idea is to test each computer separately. Create a unique folder in an iCloud-managed folder. Then, go to iCloud.com and verify that the new folder exists. This Apple website will show you iCloud "truth" data. It should be easy enough to find out which machine is having trouble. Fixing the problem can be much more challenging however.

In this case, you might not need to do anything. iCloud has been having trouble the past couple of days. Do the test above on each computer and make sure that both are updating the online truth data. Then check your finance app.

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Answer 3

Owl-53

Level 10

102,439 points

Jan 28, 2022 7:47 AM in response to Tenore Primo

Perhaps that is wise move.

To compare - I us a Third Party Application for all banking and investments to keep track of all transactions.

This software purports to use the Apple Sync process but has not performed as expected.

Have reverted to the process you have outlined above and no issues since.

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Answer 4

Owl-53

Level 10

102,439 points

Jan 27, 2022 7:33 AM in response to Tenore Primo

To set up iCloud on your devices, sign in to each of them with the same Apple ID and password.

Set up iCloud on all your devices

How iCloud keeps information up to date across all your devices

Apps and features that use iCloud

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Answer 5

Tenore Primo Author

Level 1

10 points

Jan 27, 2022 7:41 AM in response to Owl-53

Both computers are signed up to the same Apple ID and password. iCloud drive shows a Desktop and Documents folder for each computer. I have a financial program that uses a database in the Documents folder. When I open the application on my iMac, it accesses the database in the iMac Documents folder. When I open it on my MacBook Pro, it accesses the database on the MacBook Documents folder, which has a later "Date Modified" date. I need the app to access the later database from both computers.

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Answer 6

Owl-53

Level 10

102,439 points

Jan 27, 2022 7:52 AM in response to Tenore Primo

Unless the" financial program " is specifically written to use the Apple Sync Process and Monterey compatible - one may have issues that this point.

Apple has very tight control over what Third Party Software and Application can access elements of the Native OS.

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Answer 7

Tenore Primo Author

Level 1

10 points

Jan 27, 2022 7:58 AM in response to Owl-53

I'm not sure what you mean by "access elements of the Native OS." My program is "See Finance." Before turning on iCloud sharing, it worked fine accessing the Documents folder. It still doesn't have a problem with iCloud on. The problem is that the two Documents folders aren't synchronizing. If they were, then the database could be used on either computer.

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Answer 8

Tenore Primo Author

Level 1

10 points

Jan 27, 2022 8:26 AM in response to Owl-53

I am using the latest version of See Finance, and it says it is compatible with iCloud storage. I can go in the program and select to which site it will link.

The problem I am describing is independent of the application.

If iCloud is synchronizing properly, the file should be identical whichever Documents folder is accessed. I have the Documents folders from iCloud for both computers open, and the dates are not identical. When I access these from my program, the information is not the same. This does not seem to be consistent with my understanding of what synchronizing is.

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Answer 9

Tenore Primo Author

Level 1

10 points

Jan 27, 2022 8:59 AM in response to etresoft

I did as you suggested, and the new folders and a test Excel file I created both appeared in iCloud.com in the appropriate place. So, I am confident that the setup is correct. I guess the next test is to copy a file from one computer to the other, and then make a change in the file and see if it synchronizes on the other computer.

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Answer 10

Owl-53

Level 10

102,439 points

Jan 27, 2022 9:56 AM in response to Tenore Primo

Suggest following the advise from previous posting.

Factor in - Any VPN involved, any AntiVirus Software in play, Speed of Internet Connection, size of file, number of changes to file from one computer and time before second computer accesses the same synced file.

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Answer 11

Tenore Primo Author

Level 1

10 points

Jan 28, 2022 7:30 AM in response to Owl-53

I appreciate the help I have received here. I contacted Apple help, and, after checking several things, their conclusion was that the computers had not yet finished synchronizing. It's now a day later and the problem remains. My decision is to stop the attempt to use iCloud for Desktop and Document storage and return to the snail way of synchronizing by connecting the computers and copying the files I need to the unedited computer. Perhaps one of the companies that have Synchronizing apps will figure out how to make them work in Monterey. Until then, I'll just sync the old way.

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