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description: "Jotaid's iCloud sync: no switch to flip, it follows your Apple ID — plus Sync Health's three checks and Rebuild from iCloud as a last resort."
---
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# 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](https://docs.jotaid.com/en/guide/pricing).

## 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](https://docs.jotaid.com/en/guide/backup) — The second safety net, independent of iCloud
- [FAQ & Troubleshooting](https://docs.jotaid.com/en/guide/troubleshooting) — When sync will not move
- [Free vs Pro](https://docs.jotaid.com/en/guide/pricing) — Which tier multi-project sync belongs to