Local Storage and iCloud Explanation

Under "Storage & iCloud Usage," I notice there is data file for a few of the same apps both under "Storage" and "iCloud."I understand that iCloud data will allow you the share data across devices but what's the purpose of data being stored in "Storage"? Most of the apps have the data file under Storage. And if the data file appears in both locations, what happens if one of the file is deleted?

Posted on Feb 18, 2017 9:50 AM

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4 replies

Feb 18, 2017 10:46 AM in response to Carlton Chin

You can selectively delete files in iCloud Storage. If you choose to do so, you will get a dialog box warning you that if you delete that a file from iCloud, it will be deleted on all of your devices that are syncing files with iCloud.


In the Storage setting, you can only delete the entire app which will delete all local data associated with that app. It will not delete the data that is stored in iCloud so that if you download the app again, it will also download all of the data from iCloud.


For instance, if you use the Pages app and you delete it, all of the local data storage goes with it. If you download the app again, the documents that you had in Pages will download from iCloud again.


The obvious caveat to this is that you have to be using iCloud in the first place. If you were not using iCloud and not backing up at all, if you have files in Pages and you delete them, they are gone for good. The exception to that would be if you used file sharing with iTunes and store your files locally on your computer, you could delete the app, download it again and then transfer your files back from your computer to the device.

Feb 20, 2017 7:09 AM in response to Demo

Thanks for responding. Okay, so is the data that is stored on the cloud the same data that is locally stored?


When I launch the app on the iPhone, it behaves like I'm using the app for the first time. It's not linking to the cloud data correctly. I suspect it's creating its own local data. I'm not sure if anything is being saved or overwritten on the cloud.


However, the same app is functioning fine on the iPad. However, when I launch the app, it will prompt me to select either the local or cloud data. The local data is correct so I select that. But the cloud data (not correct) reflects the activity on the iPhone. I deleted the app and local data through storage and reinstalled. No change.


How can I fix it so that the iPad is storing the "preferred data" on the cloud and that my iPhone will access it correctly?


I checked the setting on both devices for storage and cloud is active and saving for the app in question.

Feb 20, 2017 7:24 AM in response to Carlton Chin

Carlton Chin wrote:


Thanks for responding. Okay, so is the data that is stored on the cloud the same data that is locally stored?

The data should be the same locally and in iCloud.


Carlton Chin wrote:


How can I fix it so that the iPad is storing the "preferred data" on the cloud and that my iPhone will access it correctly?


I checked the setting on both devices for storage and cloud is active and saving for the app in question.

Each app that takes advantage of iCloud has a setting that allows you to use iCloud for keeping data in sync across devices. Some apps have it in the Settings app itself and some apps have it in the app itself.


I'm not sure why you are not seeing the documents sync across both devices. What app is it?

Feb 20, 2017 2:57 PM in response to Demo

It's actually a game called Freeblade by Pixel Toys. I normally play it on my iPhone before I installed it on the iPad. Initially, the game on my iPad didn't sync with my iPhone/cloud data. I'm not sure what I changed on the iPad but it eventually synced correctly.


(BTW - My iPad doesn't have cellular capabilities so I use WiFi or Hotspot to connect to the Internet when necessary.)


But when I had to delete the game on my iPhone and reinstall it, that's when the trouble started. The game on the iPhone started at the beginning, I thought I somehow lost the game data that I accrued over time. But my iPad still retained the data but asks me if I want to use the data that's local or from the cloud. The local data is correct.


I think whenever I play the game on the iPhone it obviously replaces the correct cloud data that was saved from the iPad. If I don't play the game on the iPhone at all, my iPad doesn't needs to select the source data.


What can I do to fix it?

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Local Storage and iCloud Explanation

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