iCloud sync isn't working

Get a verdict first

Before changing anything, ask the app what it sees. Open Settings▸iCloud▸Sync Diagnostics and read the verdict — every one it can give is listed below with its fix. The doctor shows counts and set sizes only, never content.

The same check runs in the terminal, if that’s where you live — see the CLI guide for setup:

What each verdict means

The titles are the app’s shipped copy, so you can match them word for word.

• ON — syncing. Mirroring, and iCloud is responding. Nothing to do.
• ON — starting up. Sync just started. Give it a moment and run the doctor again.
• ON — never started. The toggle is on, but iCloud has never responded on this device. Try Reconnect iCloud in Settings — the next section walks through it.
• ON — stalled. This device synced before, then iCloud stopped responding. Reconnect iCloud; if the verdict persists, check that both devices are signed into the same iCloud account.
• OFF — this device is not syncing. The sync toggle is off on this device — turn it on at Settings▸iCloud▸iCloud Sync.
• OFF — requires TypeDock Pro. iCloud sync is a TypeDock Pro feature.
• OFF — couldn’t start. TypeDock couldn’t connect the library to iCloud. Reconnect iCloud.
• OFF — iCloud unavailable. This device isn’t signed into iCloud. Sign in to iCloud in System Settings.

Reconnect iCloud — the fix three verdicts share

Here is what that button actually does: Reconnect iCloud reconnects the mirror without reading, writing, or deleting any row. It’s non-destructive — there is nothing to lose by trying it.

1. 1

   Reconnect

   Open Settings▸iCloud and click Reconnect iCloud.

2. 2

   Give it 45 seconds, then re-run the doctor

   Back in Settings▸iCloud▸Sync Diagnostics, expect “starting up” at first — that’s the deliberate ~45-second window, not a relapse.

3. 3

   Still stalled? Check the account

   Sync goes to your private iCloud, so both devices must be signed into the same iCloud account. Verify that on each device before anything else.

If you’re seeing a banner

Three banners name their cause outright; anything else shows as a generic “Sync paused” banner carrying the specific error message:

• iCloud sync paused. You’re signed out of iCloud. Sign back in via System Settings.
• iCloud storage full. Free up iCloud storage.
• Sync offline. No network right now. Sync resumes automatically — nothing to click.

Reading the “This device ↔ iCloud” table

The diagnostics table shows row counts per type on both sides. Counts that differ for a moment are just sync in flight; divergence that never settles means sync is stuck, not converging. That’s the signal to Reconnect iCloud and re-check the account, per the steps above.

What syncs — and what never does

Sync is one toggle: Settings▸iCloud▸iCloud Sync. It moves snippets and clipboard together, to your private iCloud — there’s no per-type switch, and it requires TypeDock Pro. On a free install nothing syncs; when Pro activates, sync turns on with a one-time notice explaining how to turn it off — unless you had already flipped the toggle yourself, which is always respected.

Quick answers

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