Chapter 7 · 7.6
Selective sync: only certain folders
Do you only want a few folders on this computer, as actual files? Use selective sync. Folders you untick simply stay in your WebOké Nextcloud; they just won't appear on this computer.
During installation
When linking your account in the app, choose Choose what to sync and tick the folders you want. See Installing Nextcloud Files on Windows.
Changing it later
- Click the Nextcloud cloud icon (Windows: bottom right in the taskbar; Mac: at the top in the menu bar).
- Open the app's settings (via your name or profile picture at the top of the window, then Settings).
- Choose your account on the left. You'll see the folder that's being synced.
- Click the three dots next to the folder and choose Choose what to sync. You'll then see the folder list of your Nextcloud.
- Tick or untick folders. Use Sync all and Sync none to turn everything on or off in one go.
- Click Apply.
Please note: if you untick a folder, the app removes that folder from your computer (not from your Nextcloud). Have you changed something in that folder on your computer that hasn't been uploaded yet? Then wait until the cloud icon turns green before unticking the folder.
Selective sync or virtual files?
| Selective sync | Virtual files | |
|---|---|---|
| What do you see on your computer? | Only the folders you've ticked | Everything |
| What's actually on your disk? | Everything in the ticked folders | Only what you open or pin |
| Without internet | All ticked folders | Only what's already downloaded |
| Mac | Only with a classic sync folder | Default (File Provider) |
If you use virtual files, you won't see any tick boxes next to the folders in the settings. That's normal: you then choose per folder with Always keep on this device or Free up space (see Virtual files: see everything, only download what you open).
New large folders
If a new folder is added to your Nextcloud that's larger than a certain size (for example, if a colleague shares a large folder with you), the app may first ask whether you want to download it. You set this in the app's settings, under Advanced. You'll then see the question in the cloud icon's window.
Tip: for files you never want to sync, such as temporary files from a program, add them to the Edit Ignored Files list in the app's settings. An asterisk (*) there stands for any characters, for example *.tmp.