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Forum Discussion

aknyc's avatar
aknyc
Helpful | Level 6
6 years ago

Interface between iCloud and Dropbox

Any idea what this "shall dropbox app use icloud" setting accomplishes on ios?
Mobile
Setting up the apps
  • aknyc's avatar
    aknyc
    6 years ago

    Thanks!  So the pictures that i see on the local phone on the dropbox app in the Cameras Upload folder are saved locally in optimized fashion when this option is enabled?  and otherwise, presumably they are downloaded from the dropbox server on demand, like any other dropbox file?

Walter's avatar
Walter
Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
6 years ago

Hey there aknyc  - how are you today?

I'm not sure I understand your query, could you please elaborate for me please? 

If you have iCloud Photo Library enabled (this is an Apple setting that stores your photos and videos in iCloud), and have its "Optimize iPhone Storage" setting enabled, this will save your full-resolution files in iCloud and store "optimized" versions on your phone while your iPhone must be on WiFi for Camera Uploads to function, even if you've set Camera Uploads to upload over your cellular data connection. If you want your pictures to automatically upload over data using Camera Uploads, you can toggle off the optimize setting in your iCloud Photos settings.

Additionally, note that since the full-resolution images are stored in iCloud, the camera uploads feature needs to connect to the iCloud servers to upload each full-resolution image to Dropbox. This can be a slow process that depends on the strength of the connection to the iCloud servers.

I hope this information helps and let me know if I'm misuderstanding anything. 

  • aknyc's avatar
    aknyc
    Helpful | Level 6
    6 years ago

    Thanks for the quick response Walter, and apologies for the unclear query!

    Here is the question rephrased:  First, I do not use iCloud Photos.  I am just curious what it means when I set the toggle switch under “APPS USING ICLOUD” for the ios Dropbox app to ON, i.e. green?  In what way does the Dropbox app “use” icloud?

     

    Thanks!

    • Walter's avatar
      Walter
      Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
      6 years ago

      Thanks for the swift response too aknyc - much appreciated!

      Let me re-iterate my last message and clarify that if you have this option enabled, the files you upload through our camera uploads feature will be saved in full-resolution files in iCloud also storing 'optimized' versions on your phone itself. 

      As full-resolution images are stored in iCloud, the camera uploads feature needs to connect to the iCloud servers to upload each full-resolution image to Dropbox. 

      This can prove to be a slow process as it's depending on how strong the connection to the iCloud servers is. 

      Let me know if you have any more questions!

      • aknyc's avatar
        aknyc
        Helpful | Level 6
        6 years ago

        Thanks!  So the pictures that i see on the local phone on the dropbox app in the Cameras Upload folder are saved locally in optimized fashion when this option is enabled?  and otherwise, presumably they are downloaded from the dropbox server on demand, like any other dropbox file?

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