Sync Creative Cloud files

Learn how to sync Creative Cloud files to access and work on your projects across devices or computers.

Note:

Starting December 11, 2023, new users and organizations will not be entitled to Creative Cloud Synced files. Starting February 1, 2024, Creative Cloud Synced files will be discontinued for personal accounts that existed before December 11, 2023 (learn more here). Starting October 1, 2024, Creative Cloud Synced files will be discontinued for business accounts associated with organizations that existed before December 11, 2023 (learn more here).

The Creative Cloud cloud storage feature lets you sync your content to your desktop via a Creative Cloud Files folder in your native OS file browser. This feature allows you to access and work on your projects across devices or computers.

Syncing replicates of all the files within the Creative Cloud Files folder, occurs automatically by uploading them online. Inversely, if you upload a file to the Creative Cloud web via Your Work section or via a mobile app, it is automatically downloaded to the Creative Cloud Files folder on your desktop. When syncing is enabled, the content is kept identical across devices.

After files have been synced, they can be viewed directly in the browser in native Adobe file formats without having to be downloaded or viewed in the products themselves.

Getting started with file sync

You can sync files from your computer to Creative Cloud web and app and access them from anywhere. Synced files are available on all your connected devices and computers, and in your Creative Cloud Files folder.

The Creative Cloud Files folder is created automatically when using the Creative Cloud desktop app. It is located in the user folder of both Windows and macOS.

Windows: C:\Users\<user>
macOS: Mac HD/User/<user>

With the sync feature enabled, the files placed within the Creative Cloud Files folder are uploaded to your cloud storage and appear online.

Note:

To know the exact location of the Creative Cloud Files folder, select the three vertical dots in the upper-right corner of the Creative Cloud desktop app. Then navigate to Preferences > Creative Cloud > Files. The location of the Creative Cloud Files folder is displayed under Folder Location.

Another way to access the Creative Cloud Files folder from the Creative Cloud desktop app is to select the Files tab, and then select Open Folder.

Sync assets using Creative Cloud desktop application

View synced assets online

You can view your synced files online via the Your Work section of Creative Cloud web. Once the files are synced, they can be accessed from other devices or online by navigating to Your Work > Files > Synced Files.

Creative Cloud Assets Page

Note:

Filenames that contain special characters such as |, ", ?, <, >, /, *, :, and  reserved names, such as AUX or Com1 are not synced. If you receive an error, rename the asset filename to sync it to Creative Cloud. For more information, see Error: "Unable to sync assets."

Upload assets

You can upload files directly to Your Work using any of the following methods.

  • Upload your files on Creative Cloud using the Upload Files button at the upper-right corner of the Your Work page.
Upload Files Button

Note:

When you enable the sync files option, your uploaded files are automatically downloaded to the Creative Cloud files folder.

  • Drag and drop files from your desktop to the Your Work page.
Your Work Page

Note:

Some browsers do not support the syncing of files using drag-and-drop functionality.

  • You can also upload files via mobile apps. With CreativeSync, you can seamlessly move between multiple apps on your mobile device in one workflow. 

Change location of the sync folder

To change the location of the Creative Cloud files folder on your machine, follow these steps.

  1. Launch Creative Cloud desktop app and sign in to your account.

  2. Select the three vertical dots icon at the upper-right of the app, and then choose Preferences.

  3. Navigate to Creative Cloud > Files > Folder Location.

    Folder Location

  4. To open the drop-down list, select the arrow under the Folder Location tab.

  5. Select Change from the list.

    Change Folder Location

  6. Choose the location where you want to place the Creative Cloud files folder.

    The assets and files of your existing sync folder moves to the new location.

    Note:

    Once the location is changed, the folder and files are automatically moved to the new location. Allow the syncing process to complete before changing the folder location.

Enable sync notifications from Adobe

If you want to receive notifications from Adobe, navigate to Preferences > Creative Cloud > Files in Creative Cloud desktop app. Then, check Show OS Notifications under the Notifications tab.

Show OS notifications

Manage sync transfer speed

The Creative Cloud desktop app lets you control the speed in which your files are synced. It helps you manage the transfer speed of your files, both when they are uploaded online and when they are downloaded locally.

To adjust the speed according to available bandwidth, open Preferences from Creative Cloud desktop app. Then, navigate to Files > Creative Cloud > Transfer Speed. Select the download and upload speed options from the drop-down list.

Transfer Speed Option

Check version of Creative Cloud Sync

To check the version of Creative Cloud Sync installed on your system, follow these steps.

  1. In the Creative Cloud desktop app, select the three vertical dots icon at the upper-right, and then select Preferences.

  2. Navigate to Creative Cloud > Files > Sync Version.

    Creative Cloud Sync Version

    You can view the sync version of your Creative Cloud app.

Pause and resume file sync

The pause file sync features let you automatically pause files sync. To know how to use, pause or resume file sync, follow the below steps. 

  1. Select the three vertical dots at the upper-corner of the Creative Cloud desktop app.

  2. To pause or resume the syncing of files, select Pause File Syncing or Resume File Syncing, respectively.

    Pause File Syncing
    Pause File Syncing

    Note:

    When file sync is paused, the changes you make to the files on your computer aren't synced to Creative Cloud app and web. Similarly, any changes you make to the files in your Creative Cloud account (on the web, mobile apps, or another computer) aren't synced back to your computer. 

  3. The sync status in the Files tab changes when you pause or resume the sync feature. 

    File sync paused
    Pause File Sync Status

Turn on/off file sync

File sync can be turned on or off from within the Creative Cloud desktop app. Turning off sync only stops syncing your files, but does not delete them locally.

Note:

We recommend you to leave the sync feature turned on as it is also required for other services, including Libraries and Adobe Fonts.

To enable/disable the file sync feature for your assets, follow these steps.

  1. Select the three vertical dots icon at the upper-right corner of the Creative Cloud desktop app, and then select Preferences.

    Preferences

  2. Navigate to Creative Cloud > Files > Sync On/Off.

    Creative Cloud Sync

  3. To turn on file sync, check the Creative Cloud Sync option. To turn off this feature, deselect this option.

    Turn Sync On or Off

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