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How Nextcloud sync works
Nextcloud is the server-based option in this guide: your files live on a Nextcloud server, and connected clients access or synchronize them. A change made in a folder selected for desktop sync can travel through the server to other connected desktop clients. The Nextcloud User Manual describes the basic desktop workflow simply: “Simply copy a file into the directory and the Nextcloud desktop client does the rest.”
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This requires a Nextcloud installation on a server you operate or otherwise control. Nextcloud says it can be installed on hardware or run in a virtual machine; its documentation does not establish one best host device for every household. Use a stable HTTPS server URL when connecting clients remotely.
Set up desktop folder synchronization
The Nextcloud desktop client is the best fit when you want local copies of selected folders on Windows, macOS, or Linux computers.
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- Install Nextcloud on a server. Follow Nextcloud’s Linux installation documentation or the instructions for your chosen deployment method. The server must be running and reachable by the devices that need to sync.
- Install and open the Nextcloud desktop client. Connect it to your server using the normal server URL and authenticate.
- Choose the local folder and remote folders. In the client’s sync setup, select where the local copy should live and which folders on the server should synchronize with it. The selected local files use storage on that computer.
- Check client status and activity. Confirm the client reports a connection and review its activity log if a change does not appear on another device. Sync depends on the server and relevant clients being reachable.
Repeat the connection and folder selection on each computer. A file added to a synchronized folder on one machine can then be transferred through the server to the corresponding folder on another connected desktop client.
Use Nextcloud on a phone
Install the official Nextcloud app for Android or iOS and connect it using the same server URL you use in a browser. The mobile app is useful for browsing files and uploading content. Nextcloud’s product overview describes automatic mobile photo and video upload and synchronization for selected files or folders, but mobile behavior is not identical to desktop folder mirroring.
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In particular, the latest Nextcloud user manual page available when consulted—displayed as version 36—says Android two-way synchronization is not fully implemented. Do not assume that selecting a folder on a phone will create a complete, continuously mirrored local copy in both directions. Use the controls available in the app for the specific upload, download, or synchronization workflow you need.
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WebDAV is an alternative for accessing Nextcloud through an operating-system mount or a compatible third-party client. It is not the same as the desktop client’s local-folder synchronization. A mounted WebDAV drive needs a network connection; if you need local files available offline, use the desktop sync client.
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With an official Nextcloud client, enter the normal server URL. A third-party WebDAV tool may require the longer DAV path; find your personal WebDAV URL in the Files settings and follow the tool’s connection instructions. Nextcloud recommends using an app password for a third-party WebDAV client instead of your main account password. You can revoke the app password later. Capabilities vary: third-party clients may not support every feature you expect. See Nextcloud’s WebDAV documentation for its connection details.
Choose the approach that fits
| Approach | Best fit | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Nextcloud desktop sync client | Local folders kept synchronized through a self-hosted server across desktop computers | Requires a running, reachable Nextcloud server; local copies use device storage |
| Nextcloud mobile app or WebDAV client | Accessing or uploading files on a phone; WebDAV when a particular client or mounted-drive workflow is needed | Mobile behavior differs from desktop; third-party features vary, and a network mount is not an offline local copy |
| Syncthing | Direct file replication among devices when they are online together, without a cloud storage server | Different architecture; official Syncthing support for iOS is not planned in the foreseeable future |
Is Syncthing the same as a self-hosted cloud drive?
No. Syncthing exchanges data directly among machines when they are online at the same time; its official FAQ says it does not upload data to the cloud. It can suit device-to-device replication, but it is not a hosted drive with a persistent server-side file browser or web interface. The distinction matters especially if your household needs iPhones or iPads: Syncthing says official iOS support is not planned in the foreseeable future. See the Syncthing FAQ.
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Server requirements and backup
Nextcloud’s version 35 system-requirements documentation covers supported operating systems, web servers, PHP, and databases, and recommends 64-bit CPU, operating system, and PHP. It lists 128 MB RAM per process as a minimum and 512 MB per process as recommended, while noting that actual memory needs vary with users, apps, files, and server activity. These are per-process figures, not a total-server sizing recommendation. See Nextcloud’s system requirements.
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Synchronization is not a complete backup plan: a change or deletion that syncs can propagate to other devices. Nextcloud documents server backup separately as maintenance. Plan a restorable backup that covers the components required by your particular installation, using the guidance in its backup documentation.
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- Subscription-Free Personal Cloud – Store, back up, and manage all your videos, music, and photos and access them anytime without paying any monthly fees.
- Storage Purpose-Built for Data Security – A NAS designed to keep your data safe, the LS200 features a closed system to reduce vulnerabilities from 3rd party apps and SSL encryption for secure file transfers.
- Back Up Multiple Computers & Devices – NAS Navigator management utility and PC backup software included. NAS Navigator 2 for macOS 15 and earlier. You can set up automated backups of data on your computers.
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