Selective sync??

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Level 1

15 points

Selective sync??

I have the smallest Hard drive MacBook Pro, which tbh, isn't a problem.. I don't use it for much, and everything I do use it for is hosted on an External Hard drive.

However, as my iCloud content grows, my MBook gets more and more full. There is only really 3 or 4 folders I want to Sync, instead of my full 10GB Library.

is there a way we can selective sync yet? Everyone but apple seems to have this? Either that or is there a way I can host my iCloud Library on an external drive, so it only syncs when I plug it in?

Otherwise I see no other option but to upgrade to Dropbox or something that allows both of the above, and really don't want to have to transfer my life across!!

Thanks,

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7)

Posted on Oct 16, 2016 11:04 PM

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Answer 1

Mar 27, 2017 8:06 PM in response to gail from maine

I have the same issue, but I'm referring to files stored on iCloud under iCloud Drive, NOT iCloud Photo Library, Contacts, Calendars or Notes, or any other data from any other app.

I have a bunch of random files organized into folders on iCloud. These files are taking up quite a bit of space only on iCloud (which as tons of storage so I'm not worried about it), but my MacBook Pro has limited storage right now.

When I turn on iCloud Drive on my MacBook Pro (Yosemite) ALL the files that are stored on iCloud under iCloud Drive, are copied / synced to my MacBook Pro, which causes my machine to start losing storage space, so I have to turn it off.

This is because ALL the files from ALL the folders are being downloaded from iCloud to my MacBook Pro.

So, the question for me is, does selective sync exist: Can I select which files or folders get copied from iCloud to my MacBook, rather than having them ALL get copied to my machine, when I turn on iCloud Drive on my MacBook?

Thank you!

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Answer 2

Mar 27, 2017 8:40 PM in response to jrabbitt06

If you are running mac OS Sierra, you can set your Mac to Optimize iCloud Drive Storage by going to System Preferences>iCloud>iCloud Drive>Options, and turn on Optimize Mac Storage. It will dynamically store older documents on iCloud Drive only (as opposed to also on the Mac) as storage is needed.

Cheers,

GB

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Answer 3

léonie

Level 10

200,699 points

Mar 28, 2017 12:04 AM in response to jrabbitt06

So, the question for me is, does selective sync exist: Can I select which files or folders get copied from iCloudto my MacBook, rather than having them ALL get copied to my machine, when I turn on iCloud Drive on my MacBook?

As Gail explained - Optimize Mac Storage will remove older documents from your Mac and keep them only in iCloud. But then you can no longer rely on The Machine to be able to restore your iCloud Drive files. You will have to remember to make regularly separate backups of iCloud Drive if you want to keep your photos save.

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Answer 4

Oct 16, 2016 11:12 PM in response to Kiwi-c

Can you be more specific as to what aspect of iCloud you are referring to? iCloud Drive? iCloud Photo Library? Normal iCloud functions like Contacts, Calendars, and Notes?

That would help us to provide you with relevant information to your query.

Cheers,

GB

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Answer 5

léonie

Level 10

200,699 points

Oct 16, 2016 11:17 PM in response to Kiwi-c

If you sync a Photos Library with iCloud, the complete library will sync. You cannot be selective.

But you have two options:

Split the library in two - one to sync with iCloud and one library for local use only. Only one library can be your system photo library and sync with iCloud. Photos from different libraries will be local only.
Move your library to an external drive, where you have more storage. The file system needs to be MacOS Extended (journaled) on that drive, and the drive should have a wired connection, not a network drive.

This help page explains how to switch between multiple Photos Libraries: https://help.apple.com/photos/mac/1.2/?lang=en#/pht6d60b524

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