My Mac does not appear to sync the data to my iCould Drive
I already use iCloud to sync our iPhones and Macs.
After finding your KB about sync my MD database to iCould drive I started MD, chose File -> Syncing, got a popup where I selected sync method iCould Drive, entered my iCloud password, but when I click OK, nothing happens. What is supposed to happen at this point?
I closed the MD database started it again, looked at syncing again, but it looked like it did no take my previous settings.
Further, I checked my iCloud Drive, and there are no MD data.
What am I doing wrong?
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Support Staff 1 Posted by Maddy on 12 Sep, 2025 03:04 PM
Hi Gerd,
Thank you for contacting Moneydance support.
You may want to open your System Preferences (not Moneydance's) on your computer
Click on Apple ID and select iCloud from the sidebar.
Ensure iCloud Drive is checked.
This procedure should help you be in control on which apps can store files in iCloud Drive, click on Options... next to it and allow Moneydance.
Generally, for sync using iCloud Drive Sync you need to ensure that:
your computer is running Moneydance 2024 or more generally the software is updated to the latest version.
the data file you wish to sync is stored in the default location on the computer where you set up the process. This is crucial!
Your devices are using the same iCloud account
It is not currently possible to sync to multiple iCloud accounts.
Then, if you wish to sync with the mobile app:
On your mobile device/s you need to install the latest iOS mobile app.
Launch the mobile app and choose the same file as your computer.
Enter your Password to match the Passphrase on your computer.
If you are syncing with another computer (same as above) plus the following:
From the secondary computer navigate to File->New->Open synced file
Choose the same sync method as the primary computer
Enter the same Passphrase to match
Finally, enter a "dummy"" transaction on each device and allow a few seconds for them to sync. They should display exactly the same transactions.
I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions or need more assistance.
--
Maddy, Infinite Kind Support
2 Posted by Gerd on 12 Sep, 2025 04:35 PM
Hi Maddy,
I am using MD 2024.4 on the Mac.
I am on my iPad, selected my user id, selected iCould, on the right of the screen I selected Drive, within drive I have 3 options, sync this iPad, which is checked, Manage storage, currently shows 1.03MB (I have 200GB of iCloud storage), then Apps syncing to iCloud Drive = 0.
I must still be missing something.
On the iPad I am on 18.6.2.
3 Posted by Gerd on 12 Sep, 2025 05:40 PM
Hi Maddy,
I just watched the YouTube video. There is one difference on my Mac. On the YouTube video after selecting to sync to could drive, then entering the password and clicking OK, the popup disappeared, where on my Mac the popup is shown again and again. I can click OK as often as I want the popup does not disappear,
that might be the reason, why my sync process does not start.
Support Staff 4 Posted by Maddy on 12 Sep, 2025 05:45 PM
You could try to navigate to File->Preferences/Settings->Network and select the Sync data with mobile devices feature.
Click "OK" and restart Moneydance.
Please keep us posted on your progress, Thank you!
--
Maddy, Infinite Kind Support
5 Posted by Gerd on 12 Sep, 2025 06:39 PM
Hi Maddy,
I am in MD, but in Settings -> Network I don't have any sync option
6 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on 12 Sep, 2025 07:18 PM
I think it’s file/syncing
If I want Dropbox folders, also install Dropbox client.
7 Posted by Gerd on 12 Sep, 2025 08:17 PM
File -> Syncing was what I started with. I don't use Dropbox but rather iCloud Drive after being on a Mac.
After entering my passcode and clicking OK, I hear a beep, but nothing happens and the popup does not close, what I thought it would.
Something is not working yet, but I don't know where else to look.
8 Posted by Gerd on 13 Sep, 2025 09:17 AM
One step closer, BUT the sync does not sync all the data, and did not sync my 2 additional accounts at all.
First, on the Mac I went into my user id, then iCloud, Drive, and here, at the bottom of the screen is a selection Apps syncing to iCloud Drive. I had not look there, as Moneydance was listed, but switched off. Switched it on, closed MD, restarted, went into File -> Syncing, selected iCould Drive, confirmed with OK. This time the popup disappeared, and the sync started.
Back on the iPad I selected iCloud Drive, selected the database name, entered my passcode, and sure enough, I see the 3 accounts.
Now the additional problems. On the checking account I only see transactions from 2025, and 2024, but no older transactions. I hope there is no limit as to the number of transactions that can be displayed,
My savings account only shows the balance on the left, but NO transactions at all, Same for the third account. Only the balance, but no transactions.
The have both MD still running on the Mac and iPad, thus, would have assumed after about 2 hours the database has been synced.
The database I use on the Mac is only 3.8MB big and does not have many transactions.
Is there anything else I have to do to see all transactions for my 3 accounts?
FYI, I have 200GB on iCloud of which I currently have used only 54.1GB.
9 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on 13 Sep, 2025 10:06 AM
I would use toolbox advanced mode (on your primary dataset), advanced options, force REFRESH / push sync...
10 Posted by Gerd on 13 Sep, 2025 02:47 PM
in the toolbox I selected Force a refresh/PUSH of your local dataset to Sync (only when master sync mode)
I let it run for several minutes.
I closed MD and started it again.
On the iPad button left I got an updated time stamp when the last sync occurred, which was just a few minutes after doing the refresh Push.
I went though the Consol Window Log, but I don't see the entries you were referring to, I attached the log that you can have a look.
But on the iPad, I still don't see any more transactions.
11 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on 13 Sep, 2025 03:13 PM
I can’t see that you ran the function in console? Grab console BEFORE you restart.
12 Posted by Gerd on 13 Sep, 2025 03:54 PM
I just created this consol log file after the REFRESH /PUSH sync
13 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on 13 Sep, 2025 04:32 PM
Ok. I can see the sync uploading a new trunk. I would restart all the systems and see what happens?
14 Posted by Gerd on 13 Sep, 2025 04:59 PM
I rebooted the Mac and the iPad. Started MD on the Mac first, then on the iPad. The sync date/time on the iPad got updated to right around now, but no change in the data. Checking account only goes back till September 24, no data on the savings nor the 3rd account I have.
One thing seems odd on the iPad. When I click on iCloud Drive it only shows 1MB of 200GB Used, which might also explain, why I don't get all the transactions.
15 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on 13 Sep, 2025 05:19 PM
The iOS mobile app only shows txns up to 1 year old.
16 Posted by Gerd on 13 Sep, 2025 08:05 PM
I had a suspicion that there must be some kind of limit. That would further explain, why no data is shown for the savings and the 3rd account.
Good to know. It's not a problem, I just wanted to give it a try and see how it works.
So, iPad is not an option for the time being.
Thanks for your explanation.
17 Posted by dwg on 13 Sep, 2025 08:15 PM
The mobile applications are just helper applications with limited functionality. They have a data time limit and do not support all account types to start with.
Their intent is to provide for simple data entry of transactions on the move.
18 Posted by Gerd on 13 Sep, 2025 08:27 PM
Got it.
I normally don't enter my purchases when I am out. I download most of my transactions from the various bank or investment accounts and import them via CSV.
19 Posted by dwg on 13 Sep, 2025 09:39 PM
The current Mobile applications are probably not for you then.
I expect you will have problems importing Investment transactions from a CSV file. Investment accounts are not a table like other account types. There is an extension that can load a limited range of investment transactions from a CSV file but that is all.
With investment accounts, it is best if you can load them with OFX/QFX files (no possibility of category info) or QIF files (which can have category info). FWIW QIF files are easier to create having a much simpler structure.
Gerd closed this discussion on 20 Sep, 2025 10:18 AM.