iCloud

[ashforthmarketing]

When opening files stored on iCloud, most of the time InDesign freezes/crashes (spinning beach ball forever). The file usually opens, but then freezes once you move the cursor around a bit or try clicking a menu, etc. I've tried opening the same files saved to my local drive with no problems. The links in these files also reside on iCloud. If I download the InDesign file first, sometimes it doesn't crash. However, if I have links to update, I have to make sure to update each of them first or InDesign crashes.

InDesign 19.2.0.46
macOS Sonoma 14.3.1
MacBook Pro M3 Max, 36GB RAM

[BobLevine]

This is a known limitation of all cloud services. You have to have the files fully synced locally. That's just the way it is.

[ashforthmarketing]

How can people work then, using iCloud or other cloud services? It defeats the whole point of having all this extra space in the cloud if at the end of the day still need to have all your files also saved locally. It renders cloud services as mere backup rather than usable space for active files. What is the solution here?

[BobLevine]

I gave you the solution. I understand the frustration but it doesn't change the facts.

With a large file and lots of large images linked, they all need to be downloaded and this can cause InDesign to time out while trying to open and check everything.

[ashforthmarketing]

Thanks. I appreciate it...even though it's not the response I hoped to hear.

[rob day]

It renders cloud services as mere backup rather than usable space for active files. What is the solution here?

Hi @ashforthmarketing , It‘s more than a mere backup, it’s an off site backup—when syncing is turned on you have two copies one local and the other remote. If there’s no local copy where is the backup to the cloud copy? With local disk storage running at less than $20 a terabyte, don’t you want the security of two copies?

The other reason for cloud syncing is for remote collaborations. Services like Dropbox let you invite other remote users to sync, which keeps a synced local folder on everyone’s local drive.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

I don't use the iCloud as backup but I use OneDrive, GoogleDrive, Dropbox, and Box without issue. (I was using the Creative Cloud sync too, but no longer.)

The fact you can work on it locally points to either a speed issue--the connection or service cannot keep up with InDesign's requirements.

Try a speed test for your connection. Here is one of many: https://fiber.google.com/speedtest/

Also, if you have a gmail account, you have 15 GBs on Google Drive. Install the desktop software and test.