If iCloud is not syncing your files and folders from an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac to a Windows PC, this post will help you fix the issue.
Many users have reported experiencing sync issues while using iCloud on Windows. Some have also said that they keep getting sync errors like:
ABC will not be synced because the path is too long.
Why is my iCloud not syncing on Windows?
There can be different reasons why iCloud might not sync data on Windows. The two main reasons for this issue include a server problem and a poor network connection. Besides that, it can also occur if your iCloud Drive is running out of free storage space.
Fix iCloud syncing issues and errors on Windows
If iCloud Drive is not syncing or keeps throwing an error while syncing files on your Windows 11/10 PC, you can follow the below fixes:
- Close iCloud and reactivate it.
- Log out of iCloud and log in again.
- Check the iCloud service status.
- Test your internet connection.
- Make sure iCloud services run at startup.
- Delete special characters from files and folders.
- Make sure iCloud is up-to-date.
- Ensure that you have enough storage space on iCloud.
- Use iCloud on the web.
- Reinstall iCloud.
1] Close iCloud and reactivate it
The first thing to fix the issue is to close iCloud completely, relaunch the app, and set up iCloud Drive again. Here’s how you can do that:
First, exit the iCloud app and then go to your system tray.
The app must be running in the background; open the Task Manager using CTRL+SHIFT+ESC, select the iCloud app from the Processes tab, and press the End task button.
Now, restart the iCloud app and then click on the right arrow button present next to the iCloud Drive app.
After that, enable the Your files stored in iCloud Drive will sync to their own folder in File Explorer toggle.
Next, set the desired location to sync your iCloud Drive files on Windows.
Once done, press the Done button to save changes.
Check if iCloud is syncing your files on your PC correctly or not.
Read: An error occurred during authentication iCloud error in Windows.
2] Log out of iCloud and log in again
If the problem remains, you can sign out of the iCloud app on your PC, restart your computer, and sign in again. To do that, open iCloud and press the Account Details button from the top right corner. After that, click the Sign Out button and log out of your account.
Once done, reboot Windows, reopen the iCloud app, sign in to your Apple ID again, and enable iCloud Drive to fix the issue.
3] Check the iCloud service status
If iCloud services are currently down, you will likely experience sync errors and problems with iCloud Drive on Windows. Hence, rule out the possibility of any ongoing server issues at the end of Apple. You can open the Apple’s System Status page and check whether iCloud Drive services are running.
4] Test your internet connection
Another potential cause of the problem could be a poor internet connection. If your Windows PC is not connected to a stable internet connection, you will likely face sync errors with iCloud. So, make sure your computer has a strong network connection.
Read: iCloud will not let me sign in or sign out on PC.
5] Make sure iCloud services run at startup
You can fix the iCloud sync issues on your PC by running iCloud services at startup. To do that, here are the steps to follow:
- First, launch Task Manager using CTRL+SHIFT+ESC.
- Now, go to the Startup apps tab from the left-side pane.
- Next, select the iCloud app and then press the Enable button to start it at startup.
- Similarly, you can make the iCloud Drive, iCloud Photos, iCloud Keychains, and iCloud Shared Albums apps run at Windows startup.
See if synchronization issues are resolved now.
Read: How to transfer Files from iCloud to OneDrive on iPhone?
6] Delete special characters from files and folders
As per some users’ reports, Windows doesn’t let you sync files and folders having special characters (/, :, *, ?, “, etc.) in their names. Thus, such iCloud files and folders don’t sync on Windows. Hence, if the scenario is applicable, rename your iCloud files and folders and remove special characters from their names.
7] Make sure iCloud is up-to-date
The problem might also occur with an outdated version of iCloud. So, update the iCloud app to its latest version and check if it helps.
To do that, open the Microsoft Store, go to the Library tab, and press the Get updates button. The Store will find outdated apps, including iCloud, and start updating them. Once done, restart iCloud and see if the issue is fixed.
8] Ensure that you have enough storage space on iCloud
When your iCloud storage reaches maximum capacity, it can lead to syncing errors and problems. Hence, you need to ensure enough storage space on iCloud to sync files and folders on Windows.
Open the iCloud app and scroll down to check how much free storage space remains on your drive. If there is insufficient free space, delete some unnecessary files from your iCloud drive and check if the issue is resolved.
See: iCloud Photos not downloading or showing up on Windows.
9] Use iCloud on the web
The next thing you can do to sync your iCloud files and folder on Windows is to use iCloud’s web version. You can open the icloud.com website in a web browser and press the Sign In button. After that, enter your Apple ID and password to sign into your account. Check if your data synchronizes correctly or not.
10] Reinstall iCloud
If the issue is still unresolved, you might be dealing with an incorrect or faulty installation of the iCloud app. You can uninstall the app and then reinstall it to fix the issue.
- First, quit the iCloud app and related processes completely using the Task Manager.
- Now, press Win+I to open the Settings app and go to the Apps tab. Then, click on the Installed apps option.
- Next, click on the three-dot menu button next to the iCloud app and choose the Uninstall option.
- When the app is uninstalled, delete any leftover files related to iCloud on Windows.
- Once done, restart your computer and open the Microsft Store to reinstall the iCloud app.
Now, relaunch iCloud, log into your Apple ID, set up iCloud Drive and other apps, and see if the issue is now resolved.
Read: iCloud has encountered an error while trying to connect to server.
If the issue persists, you can contact the Apple support team to get the necessary help.
How do I fix iCloud for Windows repairs and installation failures?
If you can’t download or install iCloud on Windows, make sure you are well connected to a stable internet connection. Apart from that, install the missing Media Feature Pack on your PC, run the iCloud installer as an administrator, remove the previous installation of the iCloud app, or run the Program Install and Uninstall troubleshooter.
