This guide details the Lite Sync option of the desktop app kDrive (desktop application for Windows).

Introduction

• The Lite Sync feature saves space by virtually storing your kDrive files on your computer, only downloading them when needed.
• The files are always accessible from the kDrive web app (online service kdrive.infomaniak.com) but locally they are present in a "dehydrated" way, requiring load time to be fully accessible.
• This allows you to view, complete, and sync kDrive content without overwhelming your hard drive.
• The Lite Sync option always applies:
  • for a specific kDrive (in case you are synchronizing several on the application).
  • and on the entire 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).

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 under NTFS / APFS

The Lite Sync option can be activated during the application installation (this is offered to you) or afterwards:

1. Left-click on the app icon in the notification area of your computer (bottom right on Windows).
2. Click on the action menu ⋮ to the right of the kDrive window.
3. Select kDrive Settings.
4. Click on the button in the Synchronization to enable Lite Sync.

The cloud icon will appear to the far right of a sync name in the application, indicating that Lite Sync is enabled. If the cloud icon with a strikethrough appears, this means that Lite Sync is not enabled:

Always keep on this device

Once Lite Sync is activated, you can still make a folder and its subfolders or only one or more subfolders available locally:

1. From Windows Explorer, navigate to a folder synchronized with kDrive and right-click.
2. Select the option Always keep on this device under kDrive:
   

Free up space

On the other hand, once Lite Sync is activated, you can free up space in a folder and its subfolders or only in one or more subfolders.

1. From Windows Explorer, navigate to a folder synchronized with kDrive and right-click
2. Select the option Free up space under kDrive:
   

Example of use #1 (required storage space)

If you activate Lite Sync, the space used (e.g. 900 GB) on the Infomaniak server will be freed up on your hard drive, but the opposite is also true (e.g. 900 GB of free space required on your hard drive if the Lite Sync option is activated midway).

File "dehydration

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

In some cases (e.g., if you copy files from your hard drive while Lite Sync is enabled, and then restart 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 kDrive web app (online service kdrive.infomaniak.com).

Example of use #2 (icon summary)

Files on your hard drive synchronized with the Lite Sync option, everything is in the cloud (on your remote kDrive online):

Deactivation of the LiteSync option, "physical" synchronization begins:

Synchronization complete, the files have been downloaded to your computer and then display the appropriate icon:

To summarize, here are the status icons used in your Windows Explorer:

Status icons	Files	Folders
= online	The file exists on kDrive online and is only virtually on your hard drive; to view it locally, you will need to download it	The folder contains at least one file or subfolder that is not physically present
= offline	Lite Sync is not working properly (contact support)	Lite Sync is not working properly (contact support)
= always available	The file exists on kDrive online and is also physically present on your hard drive	The folder contains only files and subfolders without Lite Sync
= available on this device	The file exists on kDrive online and is only virtually on your hard drive due to reasons decided by Windows (e.g. lack of space)	The folder contains local and temporary files and subfolders
= synchronizing	Synchronization is in progress or pending	Synchronization is in progress or pending
= download in progress	The progress bar indicates a download in progress	The progress bar indicates a download in progress

Disable the Lite Sync option

To do this:

1. Left-click on the app icon in your computer's notification area (bottom right on Windows).
2. Click on the action menu ⋮ to the right of the kDrive window.
3. Select kDrive Settings.
4. Click on the button in the Synchronization to disable Lite Sync.
5. Two scenarios may occur:
   1. If there is enough space on your computer, a message confirming the deactivation will appear; simply click on Continue.
   2. If there is not enough space on your computer, a message will indicate the missing space to allow the deactivation of the Lite Sync; the synchronization of your kDrive will be paused until you select the files to synchronize on your computer.