Windows iCloud sync issues with Advanced Data Protection enabled

Question

Windows iCloud sync issues with Advanced Data Protection enabled

I immediately adopted Advanced Data Protection as soon as it was officially released. Since enabling that feature, I have consistently had sync issues with any changes made to my iCloud Drive on my Windows 11 device. Not a single change even as simple as renaming a file on my PC will sync to iCloud.

Changes made to iCloud on my Apple devices however will sync properly, but those changes do not sync to my PC either. The only way I can get my iCloud to be in sync on my PC is by signing out of iCloud and signing back in. This deletes all of my local iCloud files and then downloads a fresh copy of my file directory.

So long as no changes are made to iCloud, my PC version will remain up to date. But that defeats the purpose of on demand cloud storage, doesn't it? I see that I'm not the only person experiencing this issue on this forum, and I wonder how many people are having this issue and don't realize it.

Windows, Windows 10

Posted on Mar 6, 2023 11:46 AM

Reply

Answer 1

_xrispy_

Level 1

8 points

May 31, 2023 8:13 AM in response to Koning-Benjamin

The latest iCloud for Windows version 14.2.96.0 seems to have fixed the sync issues with iCloud Drive when Advanced Data Protection is enabled. I tested this on Windows 11 Pro version 22H2. I'll keep monitoring it to see if this is really the case.

Reply

Answer 2

chuckbl

Community Specialist

Mar 8, 2023 8:15 AM in response to Koning-Benjamin

Hello Koning-Benjamin,

Let's use the steps from this resource to make sure that Windows is all up to date: Update Windows - Microsoft Support

If Windows is all up to date, does that persist after uninstalling and reinstalling iCloud for Windows? Download iCloud for Windows - Apple Support

Let us know, and we'll keep moving forward based on your results.

Reply

Answer 3

May 24, 2023 4:22 PM in response to Koning-Benjamin

I was able to resolve this by signing in to iTunes and then iCloud on the desktop worked.

Reply

Answer 4

Mar 25, 2023 4:45 AM in response to Koning-Benjamin

Hello

I am facing exactly the same issue,

I had multiple calls with Apple support, they were not able to solve anything despite suggesting basic troubleshooting procedures like rebooting, reinstalling etc

I believe iCloud for windows need a patch urgently

Reply

Answer 5

Isotopex

Level 1

9 points

Apr 24, 2023 12:13 PM in response to Koning-Benjamin

Yes, I'm similarly left with a number of files awaiting upload, and also the inability to download anything stored on on iCloud. Essentially stuck in the middle. Interestingly I have x2 Windows 11 PCs and they are both failing to sync in any direction. iCloud Drive App on Windows is v 14.1.

Interestingly I *disabled* ADP.... but this did not bring back iCloud Drive sync. The windows taskbar app reports 'Initialising' forever with all processes sat at 0% CPU (aka seemingly blocked).

Reply

Answer 6

Apr 24, 2023 12:28 PM in response to chuckbl

I have double checked both of my Windows 11 devices for updates and they are up to date. Uninstalling and reinstalling iCloud seems to force everything to sync at that moment in time. But that’s not what’s happening. It’s simply reinitializing my entire iCloud Drive. That is a time consuming and resource intensive process. If new changes are made to iCloud Drive later, don’t hold your breath for it to sync.

I can make a change to iCloud Drive and watch on the windows task manager the “iCloud Drive” process. It will show a significant increase in CPU usage and disk usage, but no changes to network usage. It stays at 0 Mbps.

Reply

Answer 7

Maik268

Level 1

8 points

Mar 31, 2023 9:20 AM in response to Koning-Benjamin

I have this problem as well. Looking at the reviews of the iCloud app in the Microsoft Store, it seems to affect a lot of people.

It is not possible to upload to iCloud. As soon as I try to upload, my M.2 SSD utilization immediately increases from 0% to 30% and stays there until I deactivate iCloud Drive.

Reply

Answer 8

Isotopex

Level 1

9 points

Apr 24, 2023 1:51 PM in response to Koning-Benjamin

What's the story with iCloud Photos? According to my iCloud App, photos have been updated (as opposed to 'initialising') but Windows 11 cannot build the thumbnails because, in my case, photos are not downloading from iCloud either.

Reply

Answer 9

Nnooo

Level 1

6 points

Jul 11, 2023 5:09 PM in response to Koning-Benjamin

So I’ve recently installed iCloud on my windows PC so that I can use it to sync with my art projects and use the it’s horsepower to edit high res photos.

Or at least that was the plan.

I have 1.7tb of data in iCloud and have had nothing but issues just getting it to sync enough that I can start using it. It’s never completed the first “sync” passed the initialisation period.

I’ve even formatted and reinstalled my ssd with a clean user account and windows install.

after it initilises I can download files by double clicking them. Then I leave it for an hour and it starts “syncing” and never completes.

I’ve created a text file with the line “test” in it and added it to the route of the drive and it’s been sitting at “uploading 1 file, downloading 1917 files” for more than 24 hours!

Task Manager shows 0Mbps of use. The only time it’s been higher was immediately after initialisation completed and I double clicked on two of my 300mb raw photos which downloaded immediately at 75Mbps. Now it won’t even do that.

Tried restarting the machine, tried force quitting and restarting iCloud.

Clean windows with only iCloud installed….

This is embarrassing Apple.

Reply