Choose a sync folder

Sval syncs through a folder you choose. Your devices read and write the same folder, and Sval encrypts everything it puts there.

You set up Sval on this computer before you thought about syncing. Now you want your Workspaces on your laptop too, so you choose a folder in iCloud Drive that both computers reach.

Steps

1. Open Settings › Sync and devices.
2. Under Sync, select Choose folder….
3. In the folder picker, choose a folder your other devices can reach, like one in iCloud Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, or on a network drive.
4. On a Mac, if macOS asks whether Sval can use “Sval secrets”, choose Always Allow.

The Sync card shows the folder’s name and where it is, and the line under it says when Sval last synced. Sval then offers to back up your sync key. See Back up your sync key.

Move sync to another folder

1. Open Settings › Sync and devices.
2. Under Sync, select Change….
3. Choose the new folder.

Choose the same new folder on each of your other devices. Each device keeps syncing with the ones that use the same folder.

Details

• Sval makes a folder called “sval” inside the folder you choose, and keeps its files there. Choosing the “sval” folder itself works the same as choosing the folder it’s in.
• Your Workspaces stay on this device whether or not you sync. Sync adds the folder as a place your devices meet.
• To open the folder, select Show in Finder (Show in File Explorer on Windows, Show in Files on Linux).
• Sync now syncs straight away. Sval also syncs on its own.
• The sync folder belongs to this device and doesn’t sync. Each device chooses its own.
• This is how you turn on sync on the first device. To add another device, see Sync another device with this one.

If something goes wrong

• This folder already has Sval Workspaces. Another of your devices already syncs through this folder. To sync with it, follow Sync another device with this one in place of choosing the folder here.
• Sval couldn’t save a sync key on this device, so the folder didn’t change. On a Mac, choose the folder again and select Always Allow when macOS asks.
• Can’t reach this folder yet. Sval syncs when it’s back. Sval keeps the folder you chose and syncs once it can reach it. Reconnect the network drive or USB drive, or check that the cloud service is running.
• Sval can’t find its files in this folder. The folder moved or its drive isn’t connected. Reconnect it, then select Use this folder again, or select Choose another….

Related pages

• How sync works
• Sync settings and controls