Tutorials → Cloud Sync — Access Your Data Anywhere

Cloud Sync — Access Your Data Anywhere

Set up Dropbox or iCloud sync to keep your Mac and iOS devices perfectly in sync. Changes flow both ways, automatically.

10 min Essential

What You'll Set Up

Two-way sync between your Mac and iPhone/iPad. Make a time entry on your phone during a meeting, and it's on your Mac when you get back to your desk.

TimeNet Law 6 keeps your data in sync across all your devices. Two sync options — Dropbox (recommended) and iCloud Drive — both work seamlessly. Pick one, set it up once, and forget about it.

🎬

DEMO VIDEO: Mac ↔ iPhone Sync — Split screen showing a time entry created on Mac, then pull-to-refresh on iPhone and the entry appears. Then create one on iPhone, refresh on Mac. Two-way magic.

Short looping video — record this weekend

Choosing Your Sync Method

Both options are solid. Here's what to know.

☁️ Dropbox

  • ✅ Most reliable, battle-tested
  • ✅ Works across all your devices
  • ✅ Your data is in your Dropbox — you control it
  • ✅ Automatic token refresh (survives app reinstalls)
  • ✅ Best for multi-device setups (Mac + iPhone + iPad)

🍎 iCloud Drive / Files

  • ✅ No extra account needed (uses your Apple ID)
  • ✅ Built into every Apple device
  • ✅ Good for single-user, Apple-only setups
  • ⚠️ Can be slower with large databases
  • ⚠️ iCloud sync timing is controlled by Apple
Pro Tip

If you're not sure, go with Dropbox. It's what most of our users choose and it's been rock-solid.

📸

Screenshot: Settings screen showing sync options — Dropbox vs iCloud Drive

Setting Up Dropbox Sync

This is the path most users take. Six steps, a few minutes, and you're syncing.

1

Place your data in Dropbox (Mac)

Make sure your TimeNet Law data folder is inside your Dropbox folder — or move it there. Dropbox handles the rest on the Mac side.

2

Connect Dropbox on iPhone/iPad

Open TimeNet Law → Settings → Connect Dropbox.

3

Sign in to your Dropbox account

When prompted, sign in with the same Dropbox account you use on your Mac.

📸

Screenshot: Dropbox sign-in screen on iPhone

4

Select your data folder

Navigate to the folder containing your TimeNet Law database and select it.

📸

Screenshot: Folder selection in Dropbox — picking your TimeNet Law data folder

5

Wait for the initial sync

The first sync pulls your full database. Keep the screen on — TimeNet Law prevents your phone from sleeping during sync, so just let it run.

6

You're done

The sync status card in Settings shows "Connected" with your last sync time. From here on out, everything stays in sync.

📸

Screenshot: Settings showing Dropbox connected with green status indicator and last sync time

🎬

DEMO VIDEO: Full Dropbox setup flow — tap Connect → sign in → pick folder → watch initial sync → done. Shows how easy it is.

Short looping video — record this weekend

Setting Up iCloud / Files Sync

Already all-in on Apple's ecosystem? iCloud Drive works great for single-user setups.

1

Make your data accessible via iCloud Drive (Mac)

Ensure your TimeNet Law data folder is in a location that iCloud Drive can access — typically within your iCloud Drive folder or Documents folder if iCloud Desktop & Documents is enabled.

2

Open Data & Sync settings on iPhone/iPad

Open TimeNet Law → Settings → Data & Sync → Change Folder.

3

Navigate to your data folder

The iOS Files picker opens. Browse to your TimeNet Law data folder in iCloud Drive.

📸

Screenshot: iOS Files picker showing iCloud Drive folder selection

4

Select and wait for initial load

Select the folder and let TimeNet Law pull in your data. This may take a minute depending on database size.

5

Pull to refresh

Once connected, pull down on the Today view to grab the latest data. You're synced.

📸

Screenshot: Settings showing local/iCloud connection with folder path

How Sync Works

Understanding the mechanics helps you get the most out of sync.

Full Sync

Pulls the complete database. Used on first connect and when you tap "Sync" in Settings. Takes a bit longer but gives you a clean, complete copy of your data.

Delta Sync

Only syncs changes since last sync. Used on pull-to-refresh. Much faster — typically takes seconds, not minutes. This is what you'll use 99% of the time.

Two-Way

Changes made on any device flow to all others. Create an entry on iPhone → next sync picks it up on Mac (and vice versa). No direction to configure, no primary device to designate. It just works.

Conflict Resolution

If the same entry is modified on two devices before sync, the most recent change wins. In practice, conflicts are extremely rare since you're typically only working on one device at a time.

Pro Tip

Pull to refresh is your friend. After making changes on your Mac, a quick pull-down on your iPhone triggers a delta sync and you'll see the changes in seconds.

📸

Screenshot: Pull-to-refresh in action on the Today view

Sync Status & Troubleshooting

The Data & Sync card in Settings gives you everything you need at a glance:

  • Source: Dropbox or Local Files
  • Account: Your connected Dropbox account (if applicable)
  • Folder: Which data folder is selected
  • Last sync time: "Today at 2:35 PM" format
  • Sync button: One tap to force a full sync
  • Data stats: Client / Matter / Entry / Timekeeper counts
📸

Screenshot: The full Data & Sync card in Settings showing source, account, folder, last sync time, and data stats

Common Issues

"Sync seems stuck"

  • Check your internet connection
  • Try tapping the Sync button for a full sync
  • Make sure the Dropbox app is running on your Mac (if using Dropbox)

"Data doesn't match between devices"

  • Force a full sync on both devices
  • Check that both devices point to the same data folder
  • For Dropbox: make sure Dropbox has finished syncing on your Mac before syncing iPhone

"Dropbox disconnected after reinstall"

  • Normal behavior — you'll need to reconnect
  • Your tokens are securely stored; just tap Connect Dropbox again
  • All your settings and data are preserved in Dropbox — nothing is lost

Screen Stays Awake During Sync

TimeNet Law automatically prevents your phone from sleeping during sync. This is especially important for the initial full sync, which can take a few minutes with a large database.

You don't need to touch anything — just let it run. The normal idle timer resumes after sync completes. No settings to toggle, no workarounds needed.

Best Practices

  • Keep Dropbox running on your Mac for seamless background sync
  • Pull to refresh on iPhone when you sit down for a meeting — 30 seconds, and you're current
  • Avoid editing the same entry on two devices simultaneously — work on one device at a time for any given entry
  • If you switch between multiple data files on Mac, make sure your iPhone points to the right one
  • Initial sync is the biggest — subsequent syncs are fast because they're delta only
Pro Tip

The best sync habit: pull to refresh when you switch devices. Walk into the office, pull down on your Mac's Today view. Head to court, pull down on your iPhone. Takes seconds, keeps everything current.

You're Multi-Device Now

Cloud sync turns TimeNet Law from a Mac app into a multi-device system. Your desk, your pocket, your iPad on the couch — same data, always current. Set it up once and forget about it.

Ready to keep going? Check out these related tutorials:

Sync Giving You Trouble? Perry's Got You.

Sync issues can be tricky. Don't bang your head — Perry will screen share and sort it out in minutes.

Get Help →
← Previous Voice Time Entry Next up → Security & Permissions