Sync
Jotaid is local-first: everything works fully offline and your data lives on your own devices. iCloud sync is an optional layer on top, not a prerequisite.
There Is No Sync Switch
Jotaid syncs through iCloud (CloudKit) to keep your Mac and iPhone in step.
There is no switch in the app. Signed in to iCloud, it syncs in the background; signed out, it works purely locally — fully featured either way. To change that, sign in or out of iCloud in System Settings.
The switch is deliberately absent: it would become a second source of truth you believe you turned off while the system says otherwise.
Multi-project sync is Pro
Syncing the Inbox is free. Syncing across multiple projects needs Pro.
While Offline
Notes saved without a connection are queued and sync themselves once you are back online — you will see a "queued" notice. No manual retry, and no waiting before you can carry on writing.
Sync Health
Settings → Sync Health runs three live checks:
| Check | Looks at |
|---|---|
| iCloud connection | Whether the account is available, signed out, or restricted |
| Sync configuration | Whether iCloud is ready to receive — offering a Fix action when it is not |
| Data integrity | Orphaned attachments and structural problems; paused while a sync is in flight |
It shows no "last synced" time and no pending count. iCloud schedules sync on its own, so those numbers would be neither accurate nor actionable — displaying them would only give you something to stare at anxiously.
Rebuild From iCloud
Sync Health offers Rebuild from iCloud, which clears local data and re-downloads everything.
A last resort
- Local changes not yet synced up are lost
- Jotaid takes a backup first
- A failed rebuild restores your original local library rather than leaving you with neither
- After it clears, you must quit and restart the app to finish re-syncing
Use it only when a device is visibly stuck and you have been advised to.
What Does Not Sync
- AI API keys live in the system Keychain — not in iCloud, and not in backups
- Interface preferences (theme, text size) are per-device
Next Steps
- Backup & Restore — The second safety net, independent of iCloud
- FAQ & Troubleshooting — When sync will not move
- Free vs Pro — Which tier multi-project sync belongs to