Managing the Lite Sync option on kDrive (macOS)

This guide details the Lite Sync option of the kDrive app on macOS computers.

What is the Lite Sync option?

The Lite Sync feature saves space by virtually storing your kDrive files on your computer, downloading them only when necessary.

The files are always accessible from the Web version of kDrive (Infomaniak server) and locally, they are present but "dehydrated", requiring loading time to be fully accessible. This allows you to view, edit, and synchronize kDrive content without saturating the hard drive.

Example of use #1 (required storage space)

If you activate Lite Sync, the occupied space (e.g., 900 GB) on the Infomaniak server side will be freed up on your hard drive, but the reverse is also true (e.g., 900 GB free space required on your hard drive if Lite Sync option is activated along the way).

"Dehydration" of files

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

In some cases (e.g., if you copy files from your hard drive while Lite Sync is activated, and then re-synchronize 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 online version kdrive.infomaniak.com.

Prerequisites & scope of Lite Sync usage

• macOS version ≥ 10.15 — not available with Linux
• kDrive app macOS version ≥ 3.2

The Lite Sync option always works:

• on a specific kDrive (in case you synchronize multiple ones on the application)
• and on the entire kDrive (or the entire advanced synchronization)
• and through a specific kDrive application (another user of the same kDrive can make a different Lite Sync choice than yours)

Activate the Lite Sync option

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

1. left-click on the app icon in the notification area of your computer (bottom 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 section to enable Lite Sync

The cloud icon will appear to the right of the name of a sync in the application, indicating that Lite Sync is enabled. If the crossed-out cloud icon appears, it means that Lite Sync is not enabled:

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 locally available under kDrive
   

Free up local space

Conversely, 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
   

Summary of icons

To summarize, here are the status icons used in your Windows Explorer:

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 locally synchronized files or subfolders 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 folder transfer and it was interrupted
= download in progress	the progress circle indicates a download in progress	the progress circle indicates a download in progress

Disable the Lite Sync option

To do this:

1. left-click on the app icon in the notification area of your computer (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 section 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 Continue
   2. if there is not enough space on your computer, a message will indicate the missing space to allow Lite Sync deactivation; the synchronization of your kDrive will be paused until you select the files to synchronize on your computer