If iCloud isn't syncing your Scriptation files, check three things first: the file is in iCloud Drive's Scriptation folder (not On My iPad / On My iPhone), iCloud Drive is turned on for every device, and every device is signed in to the same Apple ID. Using Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive instead? Skip to the section for those providers below.

iCloud sync — work through these in order

1. Confirm the file is in iCloud Drive (not On My iPad / iPhone)

Files in the On My iPad or On My iPhone section are local to that device and will not sync to iCloud. To sync a file, copy it into the iCloud folder.

On Mac, iCloud files live in Finder — see Where are my cloud storage folders on Mac?.

2. Make sure iCloud Drive is turned on for every device

If iCloud Drive is off on any device — iPad, iPhone, or Mac — that device won't sync.

On iPad or iPhone

1. Close Scriptation, then open the Apple Settings app;
2. Tap [your name] at the top of the menu;
3. Next to Saved to iCloud, tap See All;
4. If iCloud Drive is off, tap it and turn on Sync this iPad / Sync this iPhone;
5. Go back to the Saved to iCloud list, scroll down, and turn on Scriptation;
6. Reopen Scriptation.

On Mac

1. Quit Scriptation;
2. Open Apple menu → System Settings;
3. Click [your name] at the top of the sidebar, then click iCloud;
4. Under Saved to iCloud, click Drive and turn on Sync this Mac;
5. Reopen Scriptation.

If Scriptation shows an "iCloud disabled" warning, follow iCloud disabled message? Here's how to enable it.

3. Confirm the same Apple ID is signed in on every device

If your iPad and Mac use different Apple IDs, iCloud can't sync between them. See How do I check which Apple ID is logged into my device?

4. Give iCloud time to sync

iCloud uploads can take a few seconds to several minutes, depending on file size and network speed. To push a file right away, use Sync to Cloud — see How do I manually sync a file to the cloud?

5. Restart your devices

Close Scriptation, then turn both devices off and back on. This resets the iCloud connection and clears most temporary sync hiccups.

6. Open the Scriptation folder on Mac

Scriptation creates a dedicated Scriptation folder inside iCloud Drive. On iPad and iPhone, tapping iCloud opens it automatically. On Mac, click into iCloud Drive, then into Scriptation, to see your files.

7. Sign out of iCloud and back in

If steps 1–6 don't fix it, sign out of iCloud on the affected device, restart, and sign back in.

8. Check whether other apps can sync

If no app on your device can sync with iCloud — not just Scriptation — the issue is with iCloud itself, and Apple Support can help.

iCloud's Scriptation folder looks empty

If Scriptation shows no iCloud folders, or the Scriptation folder looks empty when you know files should be there, it's usually temporary:

1. Sign in to iCloud.com and open iCloud Drive → Scriptation. If you see a file with a slightly different name (for example, with a device name added), that's a conflicted copy and your annotations are likely in it;
2. Check that iCloud Drive is still on for that device (step 2 above), then restart the device;
3. Still empty? Use the Send us an email button at the bottom of this page and include a short screen recording plus your device and OS version.

Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive not syncing?

Work through these in order.

1. Confirm the file is in a cloud folder — not local storage

A file only syncs if it lives in a cloud folder. Files in On My iPad or On My iPhone stay on that device.

On Mac, files aren't stored inside Scriptation — they live wherever you opened them from (Desktop, Downloads, or a cloud folder). To make a file available on other devices, click Select File and drag the file into a cloud folder.

2. Make sure every device uses the same cloud provider

Sync only works when every device reads from the same provider and account. If you saved the file to Dropbox on your iPad but only have iCloud set up on your Mac, you won't see it. On Mac, Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive need their desktop apps installed before their folders appear.

3. Check that your provider's sync is running

Open the Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive app on the affected device and make sure sync is active, not paused. A paused provider stops uploads in both directions.

4. Check your network

A weak Wi-Fi or cellular connection can leave one device with an old copy. After you reconnect, give your provider a minute to catch up.

Common causes at a glance

• The file wasn't saved on the device you edited it on. On iPad/iPhone, files sync when you switch tabs or close the document. On Mac, files sync when you save (⌘ + S) or close them with Save-on-Close on. See How do I save my files?
• Different Apple IDs across devices — easy to miss on Mac.
• The file is stored locally (On My iPad / iPhone, Desktop, Downloads) instead of in a connected cloud folder.
• No internet connection when the file was saved. It syncs once the device reconnects.
• The same file was open on two devices at once, which can create a conflicted copy. Work on one device at a time.

Still stuck?

Use the Send us an email button at the bottom of this page. Include your Scriptation version, iPadOS/iOS/macOS version, cloud provider, and the name of the file that isn't syncing.

What's Next

How do I manually sync a file to the cloud?
iCloud disabled message? Here's how to enable it.
How do I sync files across devices?
I have a conflicted copy. What do I do now?

Updated on: 08/10/2026