Set Up iCloud Syncing in Zinnia (Mac, iPhone, iPad)

Updated

Want to sync your journals across multiple devices? You can, as long as each one is using the same Apple ID with iCloud Drive enabled. This guide walks you through setting up iCloud Syncing in Zinnia—one device at a time.

What You’ll Need

  • The same Apple ID signed in on all devices you want to sync

  • A stable internet connection

  • iCloud Drive available and enabled on each device

  • Zinnia installed and able to open the Journals dashboard

  • Device running iOS 15.5 / iPadOS 15.5 / macOS 12.4 or later
     

What To Do

  1. Confirm same Apple ID on all devices: 
    Sign in with the same Apple ID on every Mac, iPad, or iPhone you plan to sync.
  2. Turn on iCloud Drive on iPad or iPhone: 
    Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Drive and make sure it’s ON.
  3. Turn on iCloud Drive on Mac: 
    Go to System Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Drive and turn it ON. If prompted, enable “Sync this Mac.”

  4. Allow Zinnia to use iCloud Drive.

    On iOS/iPadOS: 
    Settings > [Your Name] iCloud > iCloud Drive > Apps using iCloud Drive > Zinnia = ON
    On macOS: 
    System Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Drive > Apps syncing to iCloud Drive > Zinnia = ON
  5. Enable iCloud Syncing in Zinnia.
    - Open Zinnia to the Journals dashboard
    - Tap or click the more options icon (...) 
    - Turn iCloud Syncing to ON
  6. Wait for the first device to finish syncing. If your library is large or your connection is slow, syncing may take several minutes. Keep Zinnia open during this process.
  7. Repeat on each additional device.
    - Make sure the same Apple ID is signed in
    - Repeat Steps 2–5 on the next device
    - Set up one device at a time for best results
  8. If the iCloud Syncing switch won’t turn on in Zinnia.
    - Restart the device
    - Recheck your device’s iCloud Drive and Zinnia toggle settings
    - Try turning iCloud Syncing ON in Zinnia again
     

 

Tips and Notes

  • Tip: Start setup on the device you’ve used most recently with Zinnia

  • Tip: Pause any heavy streaming or downloads during syncing for better speed

  • Note: Desktop sync tools (like Dropbox) can interfere with iCloud—temporarily disable them if needed

 

FAQ

Q: iCloud Syncing won’t enable in Zinnia.
A: Restart the device, then confirm iCloud Drive and Zinnia toggles are ON in device settings. Try again.

Q: Journals aren’t appearing on another device.
A: Make sure you’re using the same Apple ID and a strong internet connection. Keep Zinnia open for a few minutes to allow syncing (it can take some time).

Q: Sync is very slow.
A: Reduce network load, keep the device awake, and stay on Wi-Fi. Journals with lots of pages or images may take longer to sync.

Q: Only some pages or items show up.
A: Let iCloud finish syncing. Reopen Zinnia and remain on the Journals dashboard to allow background sync time.

Q: Do I need the same Apple ID on all devices?
A: Yes. Real-time syncing only works across devices using the same Apple ID.

Q: How long does the first sync take?
A: It depends on the size of your journal library and your connection. Allow extra time if you have lots of content.

Q: Does syncing use mobile data?
A: It can. Use Wi-Fi whenever possible to avoid data charges and speed up syncing.

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