This guide details the Lite Sync option in the desktop app kDrive (desktop application for Windows). The Lite Sync option is also available on macOS.

Introduction

• The Lite Sync feature saves space by virtually storing your kDrive files on your computer, only downloading them when necessary.
  • Files are always accessible from the kDrive web app (online service ksuite.infomaniak.com/kdrive), but locally they are present in a "dehydrated" form, requiring a loading time to be fully accessible.
  • This allows you to view, complete, and synchronize the content of kDrive without saturating the hard drive.
• The Lite Sync option always applies to:
  • a specific kDrive (in the case where you synchronize several on the application).
  • and to the entirety of the kDrive (or the entirety of an advanced synchronization).
  • and via a specific kDrive app (another user of the same kDrive can make a different Lite Sync choice than you).
• If you encounter any issues, please refer to this other guide for more information.

Enable the Lite Sync option

Prerequisites & scope of use for Lite Sync

• Windows OS version ≥ 10 (21H2) — not available with Linux
• 64-bit processor (ARM64 compatible)
• File storage system using NTFS (FAT32 excluded)

The Lite Sync option can be enabled during application installation (you will be prompted) or later:

1. If necessary, click on the chevron ‍ in your computer's notification area (bottom right on Windows, near the clock) to access the kDrive icon, as Windows hides application icons.
2. Left-click on the app icon.
3. Click on the action menu ⋮ to the right of the kDrive window.
4. Select kDrive Settings.
5. Click on the action menu ⋮ to the right of the current synchronization and the cloud symbol:
   
6. Click on the menu item:
   1. If the cloud icon is crossed out, you can enable Lite Sync because it was not yet active (confirm).
   2. In the same place, you can disable Lite Sync if the cloud icon is not crossed out (see also at the end of this guide).
7. Confirm the operation and wait for the message confirming the end of the operation.

Actions on synchronized data on the disk

Always keep on this device

Once Lite Sync is enabled (and the data on the disk becomes “virtual”), you can still make a folder and its subfolders, or only one or more files, available locally:

1. In Windows File Explorer, navigate to a folder synchronized with kDrive and right-click.
2. Select the Always keep on this device option under kDrive:
   
3. The symbol visible on the icon of the files in question will change to indicate that the file is no longer "in the cloud" but is physically present on your disk.

Free up space

Conversely, once Lite Sync is activated, you can free up space, file by file or within a folder and its subfolders.

1. From the Windows File Explorer, right-click on the folder or file in question.
2. Select the Free up space option under kDrive:
   
3. The symbol visible on the icon of the files/folders concerned will change to indicate that the data is “in the cloud” and no longer fully present on your disk:
   • The Free up space action will free up storage space on your computer.
   • The files will remain visible but will no longer be accessible without an internet connection.

Example of use (storage space required)

If you activate Lite Sync, the space used (900 GB for example) on the Infomaniak server will be freed up on your hard drive, but the reverse is also true (for example, 900 GB of free space is required on your hard drive if you activate the Lite Sync option later).

"Dehydration" of files

As explained in the introduction, a dehydrated file is a kDrive file whose complete version is not present on the hard drive; instead, a 1 KB "shortcut" is displayed. This is normal behavior when Lite Sync is enabled.

In some cases (for example, if you copy files from your hard drive while Lite Sync is enabled, and then start a new synchronization to a new kDrive), the application will block the import of this type of file. To resolve these errors, you can download the complete file from the web app kDrive (online service ksuite.infomaniak.com/kdrive).

Here are the status icons used in Windows Explorer and their explanations:

Status Icons	Description
= online	For a file, this means that it is only stored on the kDrive “in the cloud”; to view it locally, you will need to download it. For a folder, this means that it contains at least one file or subfolder stored on the kDrive “in the cloud”.
= always available	For a file, this means that it is physically available on the disk and synchronized. For a folder, this means that the folder contains only files stored locally.
= available (temporary)	File temporarily downloaded by Windows (may be released by the OS).
= synchronization	The progress circle indicates an action in progress or pending.
= offline / error	Synchronization issue or Lite Sync (contact support).

Disable the Lite Sync option

To do this, follow the steps at the top of this guide. When disabling LiteSync via the kDrive Settings, two scenarios may occur depending on the remaining space on the storage device of the device you are using:

1. If there is enough space on your computer, a message confirming the deactivation will appear; simply click Continue.
2. If there is not enough space on your computer, a message will indicate the amount of space needed to disable Lite Sync; your kDrive synchronization will be paused until you free up space or select the files to synchronize.