iCloud app backups and syncing.

[bollinger]

Will turning off iCloud backup for a specific app, turn off; syncing to another device with the same Apple ID, just backups to iCloud, or both?

I don't want to have iCloud backups turned on for certain apps, if I can still sync to other devices with the same Apple ID.

Thanks in advance.

 

[chscag]

Just for clarification, are you referring to the apps on your iPhone and iPad? Or, do you mean apps such as Pages, Keynote, Numbers, and their documents on your Mac?

 

[IWT]

@bollinger

Whilst we await your response to our Admin chscag's questions, I can make some general comments which may/may not assist you.

On an iPhone, for example; if you go into Settings > Apple ID > iCloud, you will see a heading "APPS USING ICLOUD". Under this, is a large list of apps (Photos, Mail, Contacts, Calendars etc) and beside each, there is an option to toggle On or Off those apps which you wish to back up to and use iCloud and - from there - sync to other Devices.

Let's say you have no need for Notes, Safari or Game Centre to be backed up to, and synced from, iCloud. Toggle Off.

All that means is that on that specific iPhone, those apps will work fine , but not be synced to any other Device.

But say, you have an iPad or a Mac and you have Notes, Safari and Game Centre toggled/turned On to use iCloud, then these apps will still sync between these Devices ; but not to your iPhone.

For example, between my wife and myself, we have two iPhones, two iPads and I have an iMac - all on the same Apple ID.

My wife and I, between us, use Safari on all these Devices; but I only have Safari backed up to iCloud on my iMac because we don't want to sync/share Bookmarks across the other Devices as we have different tastes and they just clutter up Safari and take up space - personal choice.

Was this the sort of thing you meant when you posted your question? Or have I gone down the wrong track?

Ian

 

[bollinger]

Just for clarification, are you referring to the apps on your iPhone and iPad? Or, do you mean apps such as Pages, Keynote, Numbers, and their documents on your Mac?

In this case, I was referring to in the apps on my Mac, such as contacts, notes, etc. I would rather not have for example, my contacts and my notes in the cloud, if it's not necessary....

 

[IWT]

Ahh. OK, my post was pretty pointless. But see bottom line.

On your Mac, Go into System Preferences > iCloud.

Uncheck everything you don't want synced to the iCloud.

If you have any iDevices, then I guess my original post will guide you on how to exclude these from iCloud as well.

Ian

 

[ferrarr]

Backup is different than syncing.

You would have to make sure you were using the "On My Mac" option, in any apps you don't want stored in iCloud. Then deselect them from the iCloud backup option as well.

 

[bollinger]

@bollinger

Let's say you have no need for Notes, Safari or Game Centre to be backed up to, and synced from, iCloud. Toggle Off.

Ian

I think you answered my question with the above statement. Based on the above statement, I am assuming that in order to sync to other devices, you have to have iCloud backup toggled on for each app you want to sync between each of those devices? Is this correct?

 

[bollinger]

Backup is different than syncing.

You would have to make sure you were using the "On My Mac" option, in any apps you don't want stored in iCloud. Then deselect them from the iCloud backup option as well.

That's where I am getting confused, and is actually my question. Do I have to back up to be able to sync or can I sync between devices without iCloud backup? I am guessing the answer is No.

 

[ferrarr]

I "believe" if you are using the "iCloud" option in each app, it automatically goes to Apples iCloud server. If you only use the "On My Device" option, then it stays on whichever device it was created on. I don't understand if the sync and backup options are different. They sound like they work together.

 

[IWT]

I agree with Bob in both his posts and understand the confusion, bollinger.

If you use the sync option on your Mac or on an iDevice, it goes to and via iCloud to those other Devices that have the same options setup to sync.

If your Mac is the ONLY device you own, or the only device from which you have permitted syncing, then those apps you've chosen to sync go to iCloud and stay there. In that sense only, they represent a backup.

But, of course, everyone should have a Backup (BU) strategy that employs Time Machine and/or a cloning app because these are "true" BUs in the sense that your Mac's entire content is backed up.

Hope that is a little clearer?

@bollinger, you asked:

Do I have to back up to be able to sync or can I sync between devices without iCloud backup? I am guessing the answer is No.

From what I've said above, you will understand that to sync apps between devices necessarily means that those apps not only go via iCloud but are kept in iCloud - they can, in fact, be viewed by signing into https://www.icloud.com via your web browser

Ian

 

[bollinger]

I agree with Bob in both his posts and understand the confusion, bollinger.

If you use the sync option on your Mac or on an iDevice, it goes to and via iCloud to those other Devices that have the same options setup to sync.

If your Mac is the ONLY device you own, or the only device from which you have permitted syncing, then those apps you've chosen to sync go to iCloud and stay there. In that sense only, they represent a backup.

But, of course, everyone should have a Backup (BU) strategy that employs Time Machine and/or a cloning app because these are "true" BUs in the sense that your Mac's entire content is backed up.

Hope that is a little clearer?

@bollinger, you asked:

From what I've said above, you will understand that to sync apps between devices necessarily means that those apps not only go via iCloud but are kept in iCloud - they can, in fact, be viewed by signing into https://www.icloud.com via your web browser

Ian

Thank-you very much

 

[IWT]

You're welcome.

Ian