iCloud Sync Problems on Multiple Macs

[Luna Murasaki]

I have the following devices: iPhone 14 Pro, M4 iPad Pro, M3 MacBook Pro, 2018 Intel MacBook Pro. All devices are running the latest OS releases except the Intel Mac, which can't run Tahoe so it is still on Sequoia 15.7.3.

The iPad and iPhone are syncing great - at least that I have been able to see.

However, the two MacBooks seem to have forked their own separate copies of my bookmarks that are no longer being kept in sync with anything else, including with each other. The one on the Intel MacBook (where I almost never use Safari) seems to be particularly old, with stuff sitting in the Favorites bar that I deleted more than 6 months ago.

Along with the bookmarks issue, I notice that a recent saved password I made on my M3 Mac is not showing up on any other devices. I don't know if this is the same issue or a completely different one.

I tried disabling Safari in the iCloud settings, waiting for a bit, and reenabling it on both Macs. That hasn't helped. The devices have all rebooted multiple times since the sync problem started so that isn't going to help either.

Anyone have any ideas for other things I can try?

Thank you for any help!

 

[ivanwi11iams]

I know this is a few months old, but, were you ever able to resolve this?

On my Mac Mini, running 26.4.1, certain things do not sync with iCloud, example Photos. Everything works fine with my iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iCloud.com. Just the Mac Mini that seems to not sync.

I have unchecked items to be synched, reboot, and even signed out of my Apple ID, and logged back in. None of that help. Chatted with Apple Support, and their response was to "wait" 😭

 

[Luna Murasaki]

No. I was never able to fix it. For a while it seemed to sync. I achieved that by disabling Safari syncing completely, rebooting, waiting an hour, and enabling it again. But that only worked on my M3. When I tried it on the Intel Mac it didn't help. And then about a month later I noticed the M3 had stopped syncing again too.

Seamless integration is the biggest advantage of Apple's ecosystem so this is a real disappointment. Maybe it's time to just switch to Vivaldi and give up. ☹️

 

[blufrog]

It's the nuclear option, but disable sync on ALL devices, delete all sync data, log out of iCloud on ALL devices, reboot them all, and log them all back in. I have had some strange problems with iCloud sync where this was the only option.

 

[John Whyle]

Not only is iCloud not syncing but Gmail will not sync w/ Mail and a P2P app will not download file! After MANY hours and restarting attempt using on-line resourses I finally called Apple Support. After finally making my way to their 3rd level of support [which users will attest means a particularly tough problem] I was told nothing could be done and I was to wait for an update to solve the problem. How long? Who knows! They are aware of the issue.

iMac [2019] 21", i3 chip. OS 15.7.7

 

[NylaTheWolf]

As of right now, I've only had issues with Safari bookmarks not syncing. A few months ago, it managed to fix itself, but I accidentally borked it again when I tried deleting a huge bookmark folder and then changed my mind. And now it's out of sync ONLY ON MY IPHONE. I'm so frustrated and I keep asking every few weeks only to get the same reply: "Engineers are looking into this."

I feel like they're just saying that and they're just forgetting about me 🙁

 

[John Whyle]

The first notice I had of any problem was that Gmail wasn't syncing w/ my Mail client. Only then did I notice, by being asked to open various 'settings' panes, that my iCloud was also offline. Well, as it did last year, Gmail 'automatically' started to sync early this morning and I woke to a full Mail inbox!! There was a pane that showed both Gmail and iCloud off/online buttons, but I can't find it! I hope iCloud is up, as well, but doubt it.

 

[John Whyle]

My bittorrent app is also working, now, too!!!??????

 

[John Whyle]

I had to add this. I mentioned looking for this pane;[ a pane that showed both Gmail and iCloud off/online buttons, but I can't find it! I hope iCloud is up, as well, but doubt it.] Stupidly [for me!!] it's the Accounts pane FFS!!]

My iCloud is 'online' but my Google IMAP acccount, the one syncing to my Mail is down. BUT the emails are flowing in!!!???