This guide details the Lite Sync option of the desktop app kDrive (desktop application on macOS).

Introduction

• The Lite Sync feature saves space by virtually storing your kDrive files on your computer, only downloading them when necessary.
• The files are always accessible from the Web app kDrive (online service kdrive.infomaniak.com) but locally they are present in a "dehydrated" way, requiring load time to be fully accessible.
• This allows you to view, complete, and sync kDrive content without overwhelming the hard drive.
• The Lite Sync option always applies:
  • on a specific kDrive (in case you are synchronizing several on the application).
  • and on the entire kDrive (or the entirety of an advanced synchronization).
  • and via a specific kDrive app (another user of the same kDrive can make a different Lite Sync choice).
• In case of any issues, refer to this other guide on the subject.

Enable the Lite Sync option

Prerequisites & scope of use for Lite Sync

• OS macOS version ≥ 10.15 — not available with Linux
• File system under NTFS / APFS

The Lite Sync option can be enabled during application installation (this is offered to you) or later:

1. Left-click on the app icon in your computer's notification area (top right on macOS).
2. Click on the action menu ⋮ to the right of the kDrive window.
3. Select kDrive Settings.
4. Click on the button in the Synchronization to activate Lite Sync.

The cloud icon will appear to the far right of a sync name in the application, indicating that Lite Sync is activated. If the cloud icon with a strike through appears, this means that Lite Sync is not activated:

Always keep on this device

Once Lite Sync is activated, you can still make a folder and its subfolders, or only one or more subfolders, available locally:

1. From the macOS Finder, navigate to a folder synchronized with kDrive and right-click.
2. Select the option Always keep on this device under kDrive:
   

Free up space

On the other hand, once Lite Sync is activated, you can free up space in a folder and its subfolders or only in one or more subfolders.

1. From the macOS Finder, navigate to a folder synchronized with kDrive and right-click.
2. Select the option free up local space under kDrive:
   

Example of use (storage space required)

If you enable Lite Sync, the space used (900 GB for example) on the Infomaniak server will be freed up on your hard drive, but the opposite is also true (for example, 900 GB of free space required on your hard drive if the Lite Sync option is activated midway).

File "dehydration

As explained in the introduction, a dehydrated file is a kDrive file whose complete version is not present on the hard drive and instead a "shortcut" of 1 KB is displayed, normal behavior when Lite Sync is activated.

In some cases (for example, if you copy files from your hard drive while Lite Sync is activated, and then start a new synchronization to a new kDrive) the application will block the import of this type of file. To resolve these errors, you can download the complete file from the kDrive web app (online service kdrive.infomaniak.com).

To summarize, here are the status icons used:

Status icons	Files	Folders
= online	The file is only on kDrive "in the cloud", to view it locally you will need to download it	the folder contains at least one file or subfolder present on kDrive online
= always available	The file is always available locally and synchronized with the online version	The folder contains only local files or subfolders synchronized with their online version
= synchronization conflict	kDrive encounters a synchronization conflict with the file	kDrive encounters a synchronization conflict with the folder
= transfer error	an error occurred during the file transfer and it was interrupted	an error occurred during the transfer of the folder and it was interrupted
= download in progress	the progress circle indicates an ongoing download	the progress circle indicates an ongoing download

Disable the Lite Sync option

To do this:

1. Left-click on the app icon in your computer's notification area (top right on macOS).
2. Click on the action menu ⋮ to the right of the kDrive window.
3. Select kDrive Settings.
4. Click on the button in the Synchronization to disable Lite Sync.
5. Two scenarios may occur:
   1. If there is enough space on your computer, a message confirming the deactivation will appear; simply click on Continue.
   2. If there is not enough space on your computer, a message will indicate the missing space to allow the deactivation of the Lite Sync; the synchronization of your kDrive will be paused until you select the files to synchronize on your computer.