Numbers files saved to a shared iCloud folder have zero bytes when synched to iCloud on a pc

Question

Numbers files saved to a shared iCloud folder have zero bytes when synched to iCloud on a pc

I have a PC with iCloud installed which syncs my iCloud files to the PC.

The PC folder is set to “Always keep on this device” so I have a local copy of iCloud on the PC at all times.

I have Time Machine running on a Mac but I also have a backup process running on the PC to backup iCloud every hour. Call me paranoid.

The problem is that Numbers and Pages files that are in a shared iCloud folder always sync to the PC with a file size of 0 bytes. If the file has 0 bytes it can’t be restored with its full contents from the PC

backup.

Incidentally, if a Numbers file is in a folder that isn’t shared, it syncs properly with the correct number of bytes.

Is there a way to get Numbers and Pages files in a shared iCloud folder to sync with the full file size?

Posted on Jan 22, 2025 7:26 AM

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Answer 1

Jan 22, 2025 9:12 AM in response to pointingfinger

Final reply to self.

The process above is flawed, this works better.

Use Files or Finder to move the Numbers or Pages file to a folder that is NOT shared
Edit the file on your iPad or Mac and save it to the unshared folder
Close Numbers or Pages
Use Files or Finder to move the file back to its shared location
Refresh the shared folder on the PC and the date/time and file size will be correct

OR

Don’t save Numbers and Pages files to a shared folder in iCloud if want to backup up those files from the iCloud folder on a PC.

Final thought, this isn’t a problem with Excel files.

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Answer 2

Jan 22, 2025 8:13 AM in response to pointingfinger

Reply to self.

I found that by moving the file out of the iCloud folder and editing the file using the Mac, then moving the file back to its original location using Finder, then refreshing the folder on the PC, the file was updated on the PC with the correct number of bytes.

I’m still not sure why this only affected Numbers and Pages files or what’s going to happen when I edit those files going forward. I’ll keep you posted.

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Answer 3

Jan 22, 2025 8:49 AM in response to pointingfinger

Reply to self.

If I edit the Numbers file in the shared folder in iCloud using an iPad or Mac, the date stamp changes when I save the file and refresh the iCloud folder on the PC but the file size changes to 0 bytes again. The file size is reflected correctly on the iPad and Mac.

If I open the file on an iPad or Mac and move it to an unshared folder and edit it and move it back to the shared folder and save it, the file size in iCloud is reflected correctly.

You have to edit the file outside of iCloud and save it (move it and close the file) to the shared folder in iCloud or it will save with 0 bytes.

Clearly this not the best behaviour and could lead to data loss.

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