P: Does the deprecation of Synced Creative Cloud Files on Feb 1, 2024 affect Lightroom Syncs?

It is possible that (these are my words, not Adobe) they might have decided to get out of synced files because everybody else was already doing it, and some were doing it better*. That is part of the answer: If possible, use another service that does the same thing, and most people already have one or often two of the following accounts. These include:

Google Drive (not Google Photos, that’s different)

Apple iCloud Drive (not iCloud Photos, that’s different)

Microsoft OneDrive

Dropbox

Do the same thing you would have done in Creative Cloud Files: Export to the local synced contents folder of those similar services, and pick up the files on another workstation signed into the same service. I think all of those services offer link sharing, so that you can let other people use a synced file or folder.

This works fine for workstations where you are usually also signed in into accounts other than Creative Cloud. But, of course, this works less well for those who sign in with Creative Cloud for short periods on other workstations, because now they have to remember to also sign into a second service (e.g., their Google account), and enable that service’s file syncing. But, that’s the situation now.

*The reason I say “some do it better” is that some of those comparable services offered options like keeping only placeholders locally, while keeping originals in the cloud, to save local storage space.

Am I able to some how use the Creative Cloud Desktop "Files" folder as the new place to export?

By @whiten44

Not like before, because although the folder won’t be deleted and you can do whatever you want with its locally available contents, the discontinuation of the service means Adobe will no longer sync files in that folder.

Yes, it can be confusing with the diversity and spread of Adobes markets and products.

However Clous storage used by Lightroom is not affected by the termination of Creative Cloud storage. Creative Cloud storage is used by apps such as Photoshop and Illustrator as file exchane options. 

Lightroom cloud storage is a different entity and is unaffected.

If you 20GB is now too small I suggest look at other options in the subscription service: 

https://www.adobe.com/nz/creativecloud/photography/compare-plans.html - change location to your area

As mentioned this is a different service.

The link you posted is clear about what is being disconinued and states:

"Adobe continues to offer and support cloud storage and syncing across Creative Cloud with Cloud Documents, Creative Cloud Libraries, Lightroom Cloud storage, and Frame.io cloud storage. None of these cloud storage solutions are impacted by this change."

"if this applies to the files that I have synced to lightroom.adobe.com."

"Synced" how?  If you mean you manually placed files in the {Creative Cloud Files}FOLDER that appears in the OS File browser, then yes, these files will be affected.

Did you actually read the Rikk Flohr pinned reply at-

https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic-discussions/p-does-the-deprecation-of-synced-creative-cloud-files-on-feb-1-2024-affect-lightroom-syncs/td-p/13977917

Why are you thinking that you might be losing all your images at the end of January 24th? If you are referring to the Adobe announcement that the Creative Cloud Synced Files service is being discontinued on February 1st, be aware that there is absolutely no impact on Lightroom by that change. 

No, you’ll be fine, and your workflow will be unchanged. Adobe uses many different kinds of cloud sync to tie together their apps, and what they call “synced files” is a Dropbox-like service that is not used by any Lightroom desktop or mobile apps. (It’s tied to the Creative Cloud Files folder you may see on your computer or devices.)

It is confusing because there is a long list of Creative Cloud sync services, with many names, doing different things, some affecting Lightroom but most of them don’t. Unfortunately, Adobe could do a better job of helping users understand which one is which, and affecting what apps in what ways…there is a lot of confusion over this, and even the article they posted doesn’t make it clear enough.

Lightroom is not impacted by the depracation of Creative Cloud file sync. Your Lightroom sync workflow should not change at all.

Creative Cloud sync is/was a service kind of like DropBox, where you could store any files to be synced. That is what is being retired. The cloud sync functions of all the apps with cloud documents are not changing, so you can continue using Lightroom just as you have been.

No impact on Lightroom (all versions).

Lightroom is not being discontinued (all versions).

Read the pinned reply from RIkk Flohr.

Creative Cloud File storage is separate and different to the Lightroom 'Sync' ecosystem for the Lightroom Apps.

I can't figure out how to delete this post heh but I think I've determined that what is ending is different than what I've described here 🙂  I think I was having a bug where my syncing had stopped for a while and I got paranoid! I think I got it to start working again properly now though yay!