Sync

How do I upload to IDriveSync?

There are several ways to add files/folders to IDriveSync:

• Drag-and-drop files or folders into the IDriveSync folder on your computer.
• Drag-and-drop files from your computer to the IDriveSync website while you're logged in.
• Log in to your account via any web browser, hover over the 'Upload' icon at the top, and select whether you'd like to upload individual files or entire folders.
  

Note: Upload Folder feature is currently supported only on Google Chrome.

How do I download files from my account?

To download data, you can:

• Drag-and-drop files or folders from the IDriveSync folder to your computer.
• Log in to your account online, right-click any file or folder, and then select 'Download' from the pop-up menu.
  
• Log in to your account online, locate the file or folder, click the arrow icon on the right that corresponds to the file/folder, and select 'Download' from the pop up menu.
• You can also select multiple folders (by marking the check boxes next to them) and download them as a zip file by clicking the 'download' arrow icon at the top.
• To download a file, you can also click on the file name and select the 'download' icon from the menu on the opened file.
  

Are there any file size or type limitations?

On the web: There is a 200 MB limit for uploading files through the website.

On a computer: Nope! You can upload files of any size through the software. There is also no limit on the number of files!

So, upload away!

Can I retrieve an earlier version of a file I have synced?

Any time changes are made to a file, IDriveSync saves it as a new version. The 30 most recent versions of all files are kept and you can restore them at any time. See the IDriveSync General FAQ to learn how to restore an earlier version.

Will my files still sync if my computer is off?

No. IDriveSync will not be able to sync or access your data from computers or other devices unless they are turned on and connected to the Internet. If a computer is off when a file is changed from another device, IDriveSync will update that file once the computer is on and successfully connected to the Internet.

What are the blue and green icons over my files in My IDriveSync Folder?

Blue means files are still syncing.

Green means syncing is complete!

I have a lot of files. Is there an easy way for me to search through my stuff?

Yes, there is! Just above the file list online there is a search bar. As soon as you begin typing, IDriveSync begins matching file and folder names.

Note: Empty folders are excluded from the search and will not show up.

How can I see which devices are linked to my account?

Login to IDriveSync via any web browser. Click on your email address at the top right of your screen to pull down the slider. Click 'Linked Devices' under Settings to view all the devices linked to your account.

Note: You can also unlink computers and devices from this page by clicking ‘Unlink’ on the right.

Can I unlink devices from my account?

Yes, you can.

On the web:
Login to IDriveSync via any web browser, click on your email address at the top right of your screen to pull down the slider. Click on 'Linked Devices' under Settings and click on Unlink next to any device you wish to unlink.

On a computer:
You can also unlink individual computers by clicking/right-clicking on the IDriveSync icon in the system tray/menubar. Select the 'Unlink/Logout' button.

No more sync link!

How do I know where My IDriveSync Folder is located? Can I change the location?

Click/right-click the IDriveSync icon in the system tray/menubar and select 'Preferences'. Go to the 'Advanced' tab to view the current location of the IDriveSync Folder. From here, you may choose a new location for the IDriveSync Folder and the software will move your data.

How do I see the status of a sync in progress?

To get sync progress details, you can mouse hover the IDriveSync icon in the system tray/menubar and a tooltip displays how many files are to be synced, the percentage completed, and the speed of the transfer. You can also click the IDriveSync icon to see the sync status within the menu. When syncing is complete, a brief notification is displayed on your screen.

Can I pause a Sync in progress and resume later?

You can easily pause and resume a sync in progress by using the Windows and Mac IDriveSync app! Simply click/right-click on the IDriveSync icon in the system tray/menubar. There is an option to pause the sync in progress. Once the sync has been paused, if you click/right-click on the icon again, the option will change to a resume option.

What is the re-initialize feature and how does it work?

The re-initialize feature matches and syncs the contents of your computer with your IDriveSync account. This is a useful option when you find that your files are not consistent between your computer and IDriveSync account.

To use this feature, click the IDriveSync tray icon (on Windows) or the menubar icon (on Mac) and choose 'Re-initialize IDriveSync' option from the menu.

And now we’re back to business!

Sync slows down my network! How do I fix that?

IDriveSync generally wants to use all of the available bandwidth to Sync and Upload your files as fast as possible. We understand that this can be inconvenient if you have work to do or are sharing a network, so we've built a Bandwidth Throttle feature into the IDriveSync app.

Right-click on the IDriveSync icon in the system tray/menu bar and select 'Preferences' from the drop down menu. If you click on the 'Network' tab, you will see two bars listed as 'PC in use' and 'PC not in use'. Set these bars to let IDriveSync know how much bandwidth to use when you are using the computer and how much to use when you are not using it.

Can I sync my Outlook data files or QuickBooks files to the IDriveSync?

No, IDriveSync cannot sync Outlook (.pst /.ost) or QuickBooks (.qbw) files. This is because when Outlook or QuickBooks files are open, they are continuously being accessed. As a result, the IDriveSync app would be capturing incorrect data.

But, you can use IDrive.com to back up those files!

Why can't I see some files or folders on some devices that are visible on other devices?

Problems with syncing certain files may be caused by the following:

Windows and Mac operating systems each have a set of reserved characters which are not allowed for file/folder names. So, if you created a folder on Web or Mac OS with a character that is incompatible with Windows OS, you may have problems syncing that folder to that computer.

Avoid using the below set of characters, when creating a file/folder:

Platform	Unsupported Characters
Windows	\ / : * ? " < > | Space at end
Mac	:
Web	/
APIs	/

How do I select which folders to sync to my computer?

Using the 'Selective Sync' feature, you can choose which folders you want synced to your computers. It's especially useful if you want to save local space on computers, or if you don't want your personal files (such as your photos folder) syncing to your work computer.

To enable Selective Sync, Right-click the IDriveSync icon in the system tray/menu bar and select 'Preferences' > 'Advanced' tab.

Windows and Mac operating systems each have a set of reserved characters that are not allowed for file/folder names. So if you created a folder on Web or Mac OS with a character that is incompatible with Windows OS, you may have problems syncing that folder to that computer.

Click the 'Selective Sync' button, and a window with a list of all the folders in your IDriveSync folder will appear. By default, all the folders are selected. Uncheck any folder that you don't need to sync to your computer. All the unselected folders in the 'Selective Sync' preferences will be removed from the IDriveSync folder on your computer.

Note: If you create a folder with the same name in the location of an unsynced folder, the new folder will appear with a gray circle and a minus sign overlay. This icon indicates the folder is not being synced to your IDriveSync account. If you resume syncing the original folder with the same name through 'Selective Sync' preferences, the new folder (and its contents) will appear alongside the old folder in your IDriveSync folder and on your online account. The newer folder will keep its name, while the older folder will say 'Selective Sync Conflict'. You can rename these as you wish.

I created a folder in my IDriveSync folder. Why do I see a grey circle with a minus sign in it on the new folder?

This means that the folder is not syncing to your account.

Please see How do I select which folders to sync to my computer? for more information on how to fix this.

And why do I see a conflicted copy?

This means you have created a folder with the same name as a previously synced folder.

Please see How do I select which folders to sync to my computer? for more information on how to fix this.