How sync works
What Filarr syncs between your devices, what stays on each one, and how to read the sync icon, the activity panel and your storage quota.
On this page
Documentation sections
With sync on, you find the same files and notes on every device where you use your account: your computers and the web app. Filarr encrypts everything on your device before sending it. Filarr's servers (hosted by Cloudflare) only store it encrypted.
Filarr sends a change about ten seconds after you make it. It also checks regularly for changes made on your other devices, more often while its window is in front. You never have to press a button, but you can: Sync now starts a sync right away.
What syncs
Sync works profile by profile. On a device, a profile syncs while it is open. For each profile of your account, Filarr syncs:
- your files and folders;
- your notes;
- the layout of your home page;
- the version history of your notes and files.
Your profiles themselves are kept on your account too: when you sign in on a new device, they come back.
What stays out of sync
| What | Where it lives |
|---|---|
| The content of shared vaults | Online, on Filarr's servers. It is not part of your personal sync, and you need a connection to open it. |
| Flashcards decks | On the device where you created them. |
| Display settings such as the theme, plus your favorites and recent files | On each device. |
| A file Filarr can't sync | On the device that holds it, with a gray badge (see below). |
A file Filarr can't sync keeps a gray badge whose tooltip starts with File not synced and ends with kept locally only. It stays on the device where you added it.
The sync icon in the header
The icon appears when your profile is linked to an account. Hover it to read the status. Click it to open the Sync activity panel.
| Icon | Tooltip | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Green | Last sync: and a time | Everything is up to date. |
| Blue, turning | Syncing... | Transfers are running. |
| Red | Sync error, followed by the reason | The last attempt failed. Open the panel to see why. |
| Amber, with a pause sign | Sync paused | Sync is paused for this profile on this device. |
| Gray | Offline or Never synced | No connection, or nothing synced yet. |
A small dot on the icon means something needs you: orange for a conflict, red for a failed transfer.
The Sync activity panel
The panel shows what sync has just done, in plain words.
- Sync now starts a sync. When sync is paused, the button reads Resume sync.
- Recent lists the latest transfers, with their direction (Uploaded or Downloaded).
- Pending lists what is waiting to go out or come in.
- Failed groups Conflicts and Failures. Each failure shows its error. Filarr retries on its own and shows which attempt it is on.
When Filarr gives up after its last attempt, the desktop app offers Retry and Dismiss on that line. Sync conflicts explains how to settle a conflict from this panel.
File badges and progress
In your folders, a small badge on a file tells you its sync state. No badge means the file is up to date.
| Badge | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Upload pending | The file is waiting to be sent. |
| Download pending | The file is waiting to arrive on this device. |
| Sync conflict | The file changed in two places. See Sync conflicts. |
| Available online only | The file is listed, but its content is not on this device yet. |
| Deletion pending | Its deletion hasn't reached the cloud yet. |
| File not synced (gray) | Filarr can't sync this file. It stays on this device only. |
While a file transfers, its badge becomes a small ring that fills up. Hover it to see the percentage, the speed and the time left. A thin bar also runs just below the header while items are waiting to sync, and fades out when everything is done.
Other places that show the status
- The Sync block, if you add it to your home page: Up to date, Some items need your attention or The last sync failed.
- The profile picker: a dot on a profile linked to an account shows its status, for example Sync up to date or Sync paused.
- Settings → Account & Sync, row Sync status: Active or Paused.
If this device's session has ended (password changed on another device, device signed out, or session expired), sync pauses and Settings → Account & Sync offers Sign in again. Your files stay on this device and in your account.
Your storage quota
Go to Settings → Account & Sync. The Cloud storage gauge shows how much you use, out of how much, and the percentage. The sidebar footer (Storage used) shows it too, and so does the Storage quota block if you add it to your home page.
Everything the profiles of your account sync counts, version histories included. Shared vaults have their own space. Plans and limits gives the quota of each plan, and Invite friends and earn space explains how to earn more.
- The gauge turns orange past 80% and red past 90%, where a warning also appears.
- When the quota is full, new uploads stop until you free up space or change plan. The desktop app shows Cloud quota reached. Nothing is deleted, and your files stay on your devices.
Check for unused space
Sometimes your cloud space holds data that none of your files use anymore. To find it:
-
Under the Cloud storage gauge, click Check for unused space.
Filarr counts first and deletes nothing. It shows how much space is unused, or Nothing to free.
-
To reclaim that space, click Free followed by the size.
If Filarr says some remain, run it again.
Pause or stop sync
In Settings → Account & Sync, click Disable on the Disable sync row. Filarr offers two choices:
- Disable only: your cloud data is kept, and you can come back with Resume.
- Disable and delete my cloud data: your local files are kept, the data on Filarr's servers is deleted. You confirm by typing your email address.