Upgrade StorageMigrating Zotero files from iCloud to local storage
TLDR: Zotero library saved to iCloud via "Desktop and Documents." Want to safely relocate Zotero library to local hard drive storage asap to avoid data corruption.
My laptop (2017 MacBook Pro; Ventura 13.7.3) is getting old and I was worried about losing access to my Zotero library/notes for my research if my computer fails so I decided to make a Zotero account to set up online data/file syncing through zotero.org. I made the account and turned data/file syncing to "on" in the Zotero application.
Until navigating the Zotero website, I wasn't aware of the risks of saving the Zotero library in cloud-based storage. I checked my Finder/Settings and realized that all of my Zotero files are saved within my Documents folder which is being backed up to my iCloud Drive. I have the option to sync "Desktop and Documents Folders" under iCloud settings turned to "on." I also have "Optimize Mac Storage" set to "on."
Apple Support says, "When you turn off Desktop & Documents Folders, your files stay in iCloud Drive and a new Desktop and Documents folder is created on your Mac in the home folder. You can move files from iCloud Drive to your Mac as you need them, or select all of your files and drag them to the place you want to keep them." https://support.apple.com/en-us/109344?cid=mc-ols-icloud-article_ht206985-macos_ui-02202023
I want to relocate my Zotero library to my hard drive asap if there is a risk of corruption. Is there any risk of corrupting the library files by turning off the Desktop and Documents sync? What is the safest way to transfer from iCloud to local storage?
I am also concerned because Zotero says, "if you only ever use Zotero on one computer and never even set up another instance of Zotero to point to the same cloud storage folder, storing your data directory in cloud storage should be relatively safe...And, of course, if you ever accidentally point another copy of Zotero at the same cloud storage folder in the future, you're likely to corrupt the database at that time."
I have never accessed my library through the web-based version, only the Mac application on this computer but now that I created an account to sync my library with zotero.org, I'm worried that I've stumbled into the situation described above.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!!
My laptop (2017 MacBook Pro; Ventura 13.7.3) is getting old and I was worried about losing access to my Zotero library/notes for my research if my computer fails so I decided to make a Zotero account to set up online data/file syncing through zotero.org. I made the account and turned data/file syncing to "on" in the Zotero application.
Until navigating the Zotero website, I wasn't aware of the risks of saving the Zotero library in cloud-based storage. I checked my Finder/Settings and realized that all of my Zotero files are saved within my Documents folder which is being backed up to my iCloud Drive. I have the option to sync "Desktop and Documents Folders" under iCloud settings turned to "on." I also have "Optimize Mac Storage" set to "on."
Apple Support says, "When you turn off Desktop & Documents Folders, your files stay in iCloud Drive and a new Desktop and Documents folder is created on your Mac in the home folder. You can move files from iCloud Drive to your Mac as you need them, or select all of your files and drag them to the place you want to keep them." https://support.apple.com/en-us/109344?cid=mc-ols-icloud-article_ht206985-macos_ui-02202023
I want to relocate my Zotero library to my hard drive asap if there is a risk of corruption. Is there any risk of corrupting the library files by turning off the Desktop and Documents sync? What is the safest way to transfer from iCloud to local storage?
I am also concerned because Zotero says, "if you only ever use Zotero on one computer and never even set up another instance of Zotero to point to the same cloud storage folder, storing your data directory in cloud storage should be relatively safe...And, of course, if you ever accidentally point another copy of Zotero at the same cloud storage folder in the future, you're likely to corrupt the database at that time."
I have never accessed my library through the web-based version, only the Mac application on this computer but now that I created an account to sync my library with zotero.org, I'm worried that I've stumbled into the situation described above.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!!
I'm not sure if the absence of recent content in the web library is a sync issue or an indication that my library is, in fact, corrupted. I'm wary of doing too much digging in either the web or app versions of the libraries before I know the risks of what I'm doing.
If anyone has any guidance to navigate this situation it would be appreciated!
After that, you can check your database integrity from the Advanced → Files and Folders pane of the Zotero settings to make sure the database is OK.
We can look into the syncing issue after that. (See Changes Not Syncing.)
No errors found in the database after moving and my entire library appears in full on the Zotero Web Library so it appears that there's no syncing issue after all.
Appreciate the help dstillman!