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Syncing your Vault with iCloud

Updated

iCloud Sync keeps your GIF Vault collection up to date across your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Add or edit an item on one device, and the change will appear automatically on your other devices that use the same iCloud account and have sync enabled.

Pro Feature: iCloud Sync requires GIF Vault Pro. Each device must also be signed in to the same iCloud account.

What Syncs?

Your synced vault includes:

  • GIFs and images
  • Titles and notes
  • Tags
  • Usage history and usage counts
  • Additions, edits, and deletions

App preferences, such as the selected sort order, are specific to each device and do not sync.

Before You Enable Sync

  • Upgrade to GIF Vault Pro or restore your existing Pro purchase.
  • Sign in to iCloud in the Apple Settings or System Settings app.
  • Confirm that every device uses the same iCloud account.
  • Make sure your iCloud account has enough available storage.
  • Use a reliable internet connection and keep GIF Vault open during the first sync, especially if your vault is large.

How to Enable iCloud Sync

  1. Open GIF Vault and go to the Settings tab.
  2. Find the Sync section.
  3. Tap iCloud Sync.
  4. Review the message, then tap Enable and Quit. GIF Vault will close so it can safely configure the synced database.
  5. Open GIF Vault again to begin syncing.
  6. Repeat these steps on each device you want to keep in sync.
First Sync: The first upload or download can take a while for a large vault and progresses while GIF Vault is open. Keep the app open and connected to the internet until Settings shows Synced with iCloud.

What Happens If Devices Already Have Different Vaults?

GIF Vault combines the libraries instead of choosing one device to replace the others. Items found on only one device are added to the shared vault. When the exact same GIF or image exists on multiple devices, GIF Vault removes the duplicate while preserving its tags and usage history. Usage counts from the separate copies are combined.

After the merge, later additions, edits, and deletions are sent to the other synced devices automatically.

Understanding Sync Status

When iCloud Sync is enabled, open Settings and look below the iCloud Sync row:

  • Waiting for iCloud / Preparing iCloud Sync: iCloud is getting the vault ready.
  • Downloading Changes: This device is receiving updates from iCloud.
  • Uploading Changes: This device is sending its updates to iCloud.
  • Syncing with iCloud: Uploads and downloads are both in progress.
  • Synced with iCloud: Sync is working. The row shows when the most recent upload or download completed.
  • Sync Paused / Delayed / Needs Attention: Your local vault remains available, but iCloud could not complete the latest sync.

Turning Off iCloud Sync

  1. Go to Settings > Sync.
  2. Tap iCloud Sync.
  3. Tap Turn Off and Quit.
  4. Open GIF Vault again to finish turning sync off.

Turning sync off does not delete your vault from that device. Content that already synced also remains in iCloud and on your other devices. Changes made on this device while sync is off will stay local until you enable sync again.

Troubleshooting iCloud Sync

iCloud Sync Cannot Be Enabled

  • Confirm that you are signed in to iCloud in Apple Settings or System Settings.
  • Confirm that your GIF Vault Pro purchase is active.
  • If you recently purchased Pro on this device, use Settings > Restore Pro, then try enabling sync again.

Sync Is Paused Because iCloud Storage Is Full

Free some iCloud storage or upgrade your iCloud storage plan. Your GIFs remain safe and usable on the device, and iCloud will retry after storage is available.

Sync Is Delayed or Stuck Waiting

  1. Check that the device has a working internet connection.
  2. Check Apple's iCloud service status if other iCloud apps are also slow.
  3. Keep GIF Vault open for several minutes so pending work can continue.
  4. Open Settings in GIF Vault and check the current status.
  5. If the status does not change, quit and reopen GIF Vault, then check again.

Items Have Not Appeared on Another Device

  • Enable iCloud Sync separately on both devices.
  • Verify that both devices use the same iCloud account.
  • Open GIF Vault on both devices and allow the current sync to complete.
  • Check the sync status and iCloud storage on both devices, not only on the device where the item was added.

Sync Still Needs Attention

Your local vault remains available even if iCloud cannot start or complete a sync. If the issue continues after checking the account, connection, and storage, contact support from Settings > Help and Support > Support. Include the exact sync status shown in Settings and the affected device models.