Articles on: Cloud Storage

My iCloud (or other cloud storage) isn't syncing properly

If your cloud storage isn't syncing Scriptation files between your devices, work through the iCloud checks first — most cases are iCloud, and most iCloud problems come down to three things: your file isn't actually in iCloud Drive, iCloud Drive is turned off on one of your devices, or your devices are signed into different Apple IDs. If you're on Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive instead, skip to the section at the bottom.


📝 NOTE: This video shows a slightly older user interface, but the instructions are still accurate.


💡 TIP: If you haven't set up cloud storage yet, start here: iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive.


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 only and will not sync to iCloud.


To sync a file, copy it into the iCloud folder.



📝 NOTE: On a mac, iCloud files live in Finder. See Where are cloud storage folders on mac?.


2. Make sure iCloud Drive is enabled on every device


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


On iPad or iPhone


  1. Close Scriptation, then open Settings from your home screen.
  2. Tap [your name / photo] at the top of the menu.
  3. Beside Saved to iCloud select See All.
  4. If iCloud Drive is set to Off, enter that menu and toggle on Sync this iPad/iPhone.
  5. Go back to the Saved to iCloud list.
  6. Scroll down and turn the Scriptation toggle on.
  7. 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 toggle on Sync this Mac.
  5. Reopen Scriptation.


If you're seeing an "iCloud disabled" warning inside Scriptation, 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 is on one Apple ID and your mac is on another, iCloud will never 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 anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes depending on file size and network speed. If you just made a change, wait a minute and check the other device.


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. Check the Scriptation sub-folder on mac


Scriptation creates a dedicated Scriptation sub-folder inside iCloud Drive. On iPad and iPhone, tapping the iCloud icon opens that sub-folder automatically. On mac, you need to click into iCloud and then into the Scriptation sub-folder to see your files.



7. Sign out of iCloud and back in


If steps 1–6 don't resolve it, sign out of iCloud on the affected device, restart, and sign back in. This forces a fresh iCloud handshake.


8. Contact Apple


As a third-party developer, we have limited control over iCloud itself. If you can't sync any files in any app (not just Scriptation), the issue is iCloud, and Apple can help — contact Apple Support.


📝 NOTE: Unlike Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive, iCloud does not keep a version history of your files. If a file syncs in a broken state, there's no earlier version to roll back to. For production work, we recommend Dropbox — its built-in version history saves a restorable copy after every change, and we've found it significantly more reliable for syncing across devices that move in and out of Wi-Fi.


Same issue on Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive?


If your file isn't syncing across devices and you're using a third-party cloud provider, the diagnosis is usually slightly different. 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 the On My iPad or On My iPhone directory are 100% local to that device and won't sync anywhere.


💡 TIP: Any file under On My iPad / iPhone is local-only. To sync it, copy it into a cloud folder.



On Scriptation for mac, files aren't stored inside the app — 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 is looking at the same cloud provider


Sync only works when every device is reading from the same cloud provider. If you saved the file to Dropbox on your iPad but only have iCloud connected on your mac, you won't see it.


📝 NOTE: iCloud is built into Finder on mac with a dedicated Scriptation sub-folder. For Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive, you'll need to install each provider's desktop app for the folder to appear on your mac.


3. Check that your provider's sync is actually running


Open the Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive app on the affected device and make sure sync is active and not paused. A paused provider stops uploads in both directions — common cause of a file that uploaded on one device but never appeared on another.


4. Check your network


A flaky Wi-Fi or cellular connection can leave one device with stale files. If you've been moving in and out of Wi-Fi, give your provider a minute to catch up after you reconnect.


Still stuck?


Tap the Send us an email button at the bottom of this page. Include your Scriptation version, iOS/macOS versions, which cloud provider you're using, and the name of the file that isn't syncing.


What's Next


iCloud disabled message? Here's how to enable it

How to sync files across devices with Cloud Storage

I have a conflicted copy. What do I do now?

How often are files uploaded to the cloud?

Updated on: 25/06/2026

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