Can I Force an Upload to Tune in?

I've said on many occasions that the ecosystem is one of Apple's greatest strengths. Being able to offset writing something in my function on my Mac then continue information technology in a coffee shop on my iPad, for case. That should Just Work. We shouldn't need to actively strength an iCloud sync.

Just, every bit I've mentioned on more than than i occasion, that isn't always the instance …

iCloud is both Apple tree's greatest strength and biggest weakness. When information technology works, it delivers a variety of different services, but information technology doesn't always simply piece of work. It falls over far more often than is acceptable in something so fundamental to that ecosystem […]

Things that should be instant sometimes have hours, like creating a new Note on a Mac and waiting for it to appear on an iPad – resulting in ridiculous things similar force-quitting the app and going offline and on again in the hope that might spur the app into checking its iCloud repository. And don't get me started on the Pages document I created on my iPad and and so couldn't admission on a plane an 60 minutes or 2 after because the device had plainly offloaded it to iCloud and non retained a local copy.

I accept to say that things have improved dramatically since I wrote those pieces. Most times, things sync within seconds or a few minutes. Merely notwithstanding not always.

A colleague this forenoon experienced another example I've encountered myself. Yous create a new playlist in the Music app on your iPhone, then open iTunes on the Mac and information technology's nowhere to be seen. In his case, quitting and restarting the app didn't work. Nor did switching iCloud Music off and on again. Nor signing out of iCloud and back in once more.

At some point, it will happen, but there's no telling when, and no reliable way to force an update. So users are forced to try random things: closing and reopening documents, force-quitting and re-opening apps, iCloud logout/login and fifty-fifty device restarts. All without whatsoever ability to predict which – if any – of them volition practise the trick.

I practice become Apple'south goal here. Syncingshould Just Work, so there shouldn't demand to exist whatever user intervention. That's why there'south no sync button in iCloud apps.

And I'thousand not actually asking for one. That would work in some apps, like Pages and Notes, only information technology would be out of place in things similar iTunes – and there only isn't the screen infinite in iPhone apps like Music.

How to strength an iCloud sync

But I practice recall we demandsome style to force an app to consult iCloud and cheque for updates. My suggestion here would be a new universal gesture. That way, information technology is available in any app without cluttering upwards the UI.

Ideally, using this gesture should tell the electric current app to immediately sync with iCloud, merely also send a message to all other devices signed into the aforementioned Apple ID to do as well.

If not a gesture, then a Control Centre button that tells all currently open apps to sync.

Yep, that would involve Apple tacitly albeit that sometimes things don't Only Work – but Apple oft says that its decisions are all most the best user feel. Indeed, Tom Cook reiterated the point over the weekend.

Nosotros focus on the customer, and always ask ourselves, "What more tin we exercise for the client?"

iCloud syncing is a good example of where the customer experience is more important than Apple tree'southward blushes.

What's your view? Would you like to have a uncomplicated and reliable way to force an iCloud sync? Do you take any thoughts every bit to the all-time mode to attain it? Please take our poll and share your thoughts in the comments.

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Source: https://9to5mac.com/2019/05/07/force-an-icloud-sync/

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