# iCloud & NoSync **URL:** \ **Category:** Other\ **Created:** [12 March 2024 17:15 UTC](https://ifnotnil.com/t/icloud-nosync/3886 "2024-03-12T17:15:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![npalardy](https://ifnotnil.com/user_avatar/ifnotnil.com/npalardy/32/10_2.png) [@npalardy](https://ifnotnil.com/u/npalardy)\ **Post date:** [12 March 2024 17:15 UTC](https://ifnotnil.com/t/icloud-nosync/3886/1 "2024-03-12T17:15:04Z")
@JeffT > [iCloud](https://www.apple.com/icloud/) is a powerful utility that allows users to sync files across multiple devices. However, sometimes users may want to prevent certain files or folders from syncing. Apple has a blacklist of file names and extensions that users should avoid using in their iCloud Drive. Adding the extension .nosync to a file is a simple way to prevent iCloud from syncing that file. This technique is useful for selective syncing. However, adding the same extension to a folder will not prevent iCloud from syncing its contents. The only way to prevent an entire folder from syncing is to name it tmp or end it with .tmp. ---
**Author:** ![JeffT](https://ifnotnil.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JeffT](https://ifnotnil.com/u/JeffT)\ **Post date:** [12 March 2024 17:54 UTC](https://ifnotnil.com/t/icloud-nosync/3886/2 "2024-03-12T17:54:42Z")
Cheers… I did find that , but was hoping for a ‘file inside the folder’ solution - I felt sure there was something. It’s incredible that one cannot just exclude a folder using Finder. Apple presumably want everyone to buy storage. Retrospectively, this makes implementing for my existing customers a little problematic I have ‘folderx’ in documents, and would need to switch to ‘folderx.tmp’ I wonder/worry if renaming at next update would cause any issues… iCloud once removed all my documents and lost me months of work when I tried to turn it off . How the default for that is ‘wipe the drive’ rather than ‘pull down as much data as you can before turning off’ is beyond me, (and beyond stupid) ---
**Author:** ![npalardy](https://ifnotnil.com/user_avatar/ifnotnil.com/npalardy/32/10_2.png) [@npalardy](https://ifnotnil.com/u/npalardy)\ **Post date:** [12 March 2024 17:56 UTC](https://ifnotnil.com/t/icloud-nosync/3886/3 "2024-03-12T17:56:56Z")
I would agree that iCloud Sync is perhaps too simplistic in its usage No simple way to say “dont sync now” is a real problem esp if you happen to be tethered to a cellular connection & have data caps As well as other issues that many have noted elsewhere ---
**Author:** ![samRowlands](https://ifnotnil.com/user_avatar/ifnotnil.com/samrowlands/32/121_2.png) [@samRowlands](https://ifnotnil.com/u/samRowlands)\ **Post date:** [13 March 2024 01:23 UTC](https://ifnotnil.com/t/icloud-nosync/3886/4 "2024-03-13T01:23:53Z")
Have you tried setting this property on the file? > **[isExcludedFromBackupKey | Apple Developer Documentation](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/foundation/urlresourcekey/1408756-isexcludedfrombackupkey)** > > A key for indicating whether the system excludes the resource from all backups of app data. ---
**Author:** ![JeffT](https://ifnotnil.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JeffT](https://ifnotnil.com/u/JeffT)\ **Post date:** [13 March 2024 06:39 UTC](https://ifnotnil.com/t/icloud-nosync/3886/5 "2024-03-13T06:39:01Z")
Now thats interesting. File based, not folder based? Again, conflicting info exists online - I see some pages that say ‘It doesnt work’, some that say ‘Apple says never use it on user documents’ and this one which more less says the opposite: > **[Optimizing Your App’s Data for iCloud Backup | Apple Developer Documentation](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/foundation/optimizing_your_app_s_data_for_icloud_backup/)** > > Minimize the space and time that backups take to create by excluding purgeable and nonpurgeable data from backups. To me, backup wouldn’t have included iCloud (mis)management - it feels more like the archived flag in Windows. It’s worth a try. ---
**Author:** ![samRowlands](https://ifnotnil.com/user_avatar/ifnotnil.com/samrowlands/32/121_2.png) [@samRowlands](https://ifnotnil.com/u/samRowlands)\ **Post date:** [13 March 2024 07:34 UTC](https://ifnotnil.com/t/icloud-nosync/3886/6 "2024-03-13T07:34:09Z")
> [@JeffT](#): > > Now thats interesting. File based, not folder based? I don’t know, I’ve never used it. However the article you link to suggests that it can be used for both. > [@JeffT](#): > > To me, backup wouldn’t have included iCloud (mis)management - it feels more like the archived flag in Windows. Don’t know about the Windows flag. > [@JeffT](#): > > It’s worth a try. Yeah, I’m sorry I can’t tell you if it is going to work or not as I’ve never used it, I only recall seeing it when exploring the URLResourceKeys.