Resetting iCloud Syncing

Updated by George Cox

For v2.9.13+ 

Most problems with iCloud syncing are due to conflicts and throttling by iCloud.

Conflicts occur when the same thing is changed on multiple devices without those devices knowing of each others changes. This can happen when you switch between devices quickly before one device has finished uploading changes it has made. This issue is compounded by aggressive throttling that iCloud imposes.

Throttling occurs when several changes are made in rapid succession. This delays uploading of those changes to iCloud. This is not imposed by Downcast, it is imposed by iOS or OS X.

If something isn't syncing as you expect, please check Downcast's iCloud Syncing setting view to see if any option is stuck on "Uploading (some %)". If so, iCloud is throttling you. The only thing to do here is wait patiently for the upload to complete. There is absolutely nothing Downcast or support can do to about this, it is a behavior enforced by iOS & Mac OS.

If nothing is stuck uploading, check the last known upload/download dates on the same view, but on the device that hasn't yet received the changes you expected it to. If those dates are far out of date, iCloud most likely isn't working correctly. If this is the case, then please follow the instructions for below: 

  1. Disable all of Downcast's syncing options on all of your devices (iOS & Mac included)
  2. Restart all of your devices (iOS & Mac included)
  3. Make sure that you are signed in to iCloud, using the same account on all devices, and that iCloud Drive is enabled on all those devices.
  4. Switch to the device containing the most correct information in Downcast.
  5. If an iOS device, go to iOS' Settings > Tap your Apple ID > iCloud > Manage Account Storage
    1. Find Downcast in the list of apps. For each Downcast entry (there may be two):
      1. Tap Downcast
      2. Tap Delete Data...
      3. Confirm by tapping Delete again.
  6. If a Mac, go to System Preferences > Tap your Apple ID > iCloud -> Manage
    1. Find Downcast in the list of apps. For each Downcast entry (there may be two):
      1. Click Downcast
      2. Click Delete all Files... and confirm by clicking Delete in the alert.
  7. Go to Downcast's iCloud Syncing options view and wait for each option's state to change from Uploading to Up to Date
  8. One by one, open Downcast on each of your other devices and re-enable its iCloud Syncing options and, before moving on, wait for each option's state to change from Downloading to Up to Date. It's possible they'll also change to Uploading, that's okay, just try to wait until they stabilize at Up to Date. This shouldn't be necessary but it should ensure everything gets initially in sync by not causing unnecessary conflicts to occur.

Prior to v2.9.13

If you are encountering recurring issues related to syncing, it is possible that some data in iCloud has become corrupted and needs to be reset.  To do this, please follow these steps exactly:

  1. Disable all of Downcast's syncing options on all of your devices (iOS & Mac included)
  2. Restart all of your devices (iOS & Mac included)
  3. Make sure that you are signed in to iCloud, using the same account on all devices, and that iCloud Drive is enabled on all those devices.
  4. Switch to the device containing the most correct information in Downcast.
  5. If an iOS device, go to iOS' Settings > iCloud > Storage > Manage Storage
    1. Find Downcast in the list of apps. For each Downcast entry (there may be 2):
      1. Tap Downcast
      2. Tap Edit
      3. Tap Delete All and confirm by tapping Delete All again.
  6. If a Mac, go to System Preferences > iCloud > Manage
    1. Find Downcast in the list of apps. For each Downcast entry (there may be 2):
      1. Click Downcast
      2. Click Delete Documents and Data and confirm by clicking Delete in the alert.

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