When you sync Scrivener projects to the cloud, you can easily access them on other devices. But there are some points you need to be aware of to make sure you don’t lose data.
One of the best things about modern computing is the availability of “the cloud,” allowing us to sync files from device to device without using floppy discs, thumb drives, or complex network connections to file servers. With cloud services such as Dropbox, iCloud Drive, Google Drive, OneDrive, and others, this syncing mostly just works. You put files in a folder on your computer, and they sync to the cloud, and you can access the same files on another computer or device.
But when you’re syncing Scrivener projects to cloud services, there are some rules to respect. Here’s how you can use Scrivener with the cloud.
What is the cloud?
The cloud is just someone else’s computer. Of course, it’s not a single computer, or even a single data center: large cloud storage systems use networks of servers around the world to ensure that files are available anywhere. This is especially important when you’re sharing folders with colleagues: they may be in a different country and need quick updates when you add, remove, or change files.
You could also have a “personal cloud.” There are companies that sell devices, such as network-attached storage devices (NAS), that you can access from anywhere. But for this article, I’m going to discuss the main cloud storage services that are accessible to all.
Why use the cloud?
There are two main reasons to use the cloud for your Scrivener projects. The first is that you may be collaborating with someone, you want them to have access to your projects, and you need access to theirs. The second, and most common, is to sync your projects from one device to another.
Let’s say you work on a desktop computer, and sometimes want to work on a laptop. The easiest way to always have access to your files is to store them in the cloud. Or if you want to switch from working on a computer to an iPad or iPhone, the cloud also lets you access your files. You can also transfer files directly from a computer to an iPad or iPhone, but the cloud is much easier. (See this article about copying files to and from Scrivener on an iPhone or iPad.)
About Scrivener Projects
Scrivener projects are made up of files and folders. If you use a Mac, iOS, or iPadOS, they look like single files, but within each project, there are multiple items. (The technical term for these on Apple devices is *packages*.) On Windows, you see projects as folders, and you can easily navigate within them to see all the items they contain.
For this reason, you need to treat Scrivener projects a bit differently than other types of files. When you save a file from most apps, the file is written to your computer’s drive, and, if it’s in a folder that syncs to the cloud, that file syncs. But with Scrivener, since there are multiple items in a project, many of which aren’t changed and aren’t synced, you need to be careful.
When you’re working with any Scrivener project that syncs to the cloud, you must close it on one computer or device before you open it on another. If not, you’ll get a warning from Scrivener that the project may be open on another computer, and you may lose data. If you don’t close the project and open it on another device, Scrivener will warn you of potential conflicts. (See the Scrivener manual, section 14.2.2, for more on resolving conflicts.)
When closing a project, especially a large project with lots of research files, don’t shut down your computer or put it to sleep until you’re sure the project has been uploaded to the cloud. If you don’t wait, it may only partially sync, and if you then open it on another computer, you may lose data.
The same is the case when you open or start up your other computer. Give the cloud service enough time to download the project to make sure you have all of its elements. Opening your project too soon could lead to data loss.
Make sure to keep local backups of your Scrivener projects in case you have any issues with cloud syncing. How to Back Up Your Scrivener Projects explains how to do this.
Issues with various cloud services
Different cloud services work in different ways, and some may work better for syncing Scrivener projects. In Using Scrivener with Cloud Sync Services, you’ll find information about specific issues. These change over time, so check this article to see the latest information about cloud syncing.
Scrivener for iPad and iPhone has Dropbox baked into the app, and syncing with Dropbox, if you follow the correct procedure, is robust. See [Sync Scrivener for iPad and iPhone Projects Using Dropbox, the Finder, or the Apple Devices App](https://www.literatureandlatte.com/blog/sync-scrivener-for-ipad-and-iphone-projects-using-dropbox-itunes-or-the-finder) to learn how to use Dropbox with the iPhone and iPad versions of Scrivener.
It’s worth noting that Apple’s iCloud changed in late 2024, making it safer to use than in the past. iCloud Drive didn’t always download all the files within a project, leading to potential data loss. Apple added an option to iCloud in iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia in late 2024 to tell iCloud to keep certain files and folders downloaded.
You can use Scrivener with iCloud Drive if your Mac is running macOS Sequoia or later, and *if you enable this option* for the folder containing your Scrivener projects. On a Mac, right-click the folder containing your Scrivener projects and choose Keep Downloaded. On an iPhone or iPad, tap and hold the folder in the Files app and choose Keep Downloaded. This ensures that your devices always download all the files in this folder.
Note there is an Alternative Method of Keeping Projects Synced. This involves using Scrivener’s backup feature, which saves projects as ZIP archives, which you can sync to any service without worrying about data loss, because each backup is a single file.
Kirk McElhearn is a writer, podcaster, and photographer. He is the author of Take Control of Scrivener, and host of the podcast Write Now with Scrivener.