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Adobe Is Shutting Down Creative Cloud Files Sync
Adobe announced earlier this week that it will shut down its Creative Cloud Files Sync. Here is a little information about what that means for you. All of Adobe’s Creative Cloud plans come with some cloud storage. Depending on your subscription it is more or less. However, there is not just one “cloud storage” with Adobe. No, that would be way too easy and not confusing enough.
What is Creative Cloud Files Sync?
Creative Cloud Files Sync is a folder on your computer which lets you synchronize all kinds of files of your projects with others or between #your devices.
The folder on your device is called “Creative Cloud Files” and it is Adobe’s version of Dropbox. That is actually all it does. The folder would synchronize with the cloud, and you can have all the files in this folder on every device where you are logged in to your CC account.
What other Cloud Storage is available?
As mentioned, Adobe has multiple types of cloud storage, all included with your Creative Cloud subscription. They are similar but still different.
Creative Cloud Files
This cloud storage type will go away next year on February 1, 2024. More about it later. You can manage the files in this cloud storage on the Creative Cloud website.
Cloud Documents
Here is the description of this storage type directly from the Adobe Homepage.
With cloud documents, your work is always updated wherever you are and saved to the cloud automatically in the background. The shared format for Photoshop, Photoshop on the iPad, and Adobe Fresco, lets you move seamlessly between them, while XD cloud documents allow real-time collaboration. You can manage your cloud documents right in your app’s Home screen or in the Creative Cloud website.
This storage is used by Photoshop or Lightroom CC to synchronize files of your project. For example, you can edit photos with Lightroom CC on your iPad and these photos will then be stored online and you can edit them with Lightroom CC on your computer or other mobile devices. You can decide to upload Smart Previews, which doesn’t count against your storage space, or you can upload the RAW files of your camera. Adobe mentions that you can manage your files in the Creative Cloud website, that is only somewhat true. The RAW files and Smart Previews I uploaded and even shared are not visible on the Creative Cloud website, however, I can see the files in Lightroom CC on Desktop and Mobile as well as in Lightroom “Online”. This makes it even more confusing and harder to manage your files and storage. You don’t really know what gets uploaded to where and when and who has access. It is a bit of a mess. That’s why I stepped away completely from using this storage to share files.
Libraries
Libraries let you collect and share design elements—graphics, images, character styles, brushes, and color palettes—specific to a project or client. Access these assets in your favorite Creative Cloud apps. Libraries help ensure you and your team are using the same elements across documents and projects.
Libraries are actually very useful, and you should use them as well. I have saved my favorite and personalized brushes and color palettes, so I have easy access to them. It makes it also easy if you have to re-install any of the Adobe products or move to a new computer.
You can view your Libraries on the Creative Cloud website, but it is easier to manage the items in the App, for example Photoshop. Creative Cloud Libraries Website.
The End of Creative Cloud Files
For individuals, synchronizing of Creative Cloud files will stop on February 1, 2024. For teams and enterprise accounts, the feature will ultimately shut down on October 1, 2024.
What will happen after the deadline?
The deadline depends on your type of account. Once you have passed the deadline, files won’t synchronize anymore, and you can’t access the files anymore online as they will get deleted. Remember, this only affects files stored in Creative Cloud Files part of your cloud. Cloud Documents and Libraries are not affected by this change.
Files located on your computer in the Creative Cloud Files folder will still be available after the deadline. Instead of being a synced folder, the folder will become a regular folder once you passed the deadline.
Be Aware:
Files uploaded via the web interface won’t sync automatically to your computer. Make sure you download all your files before the service gets shut down.
What should you do?
I highly recommend that you backup all your files right away and stop using the service all together. Even back up your files when you have them also locally in your Creative Cloud Files folder. There might be something going wrong once the folder just becomes a standard folder and not synced anymore. Rather be safe than sorry.
If you were heavily relying on this service, you might want to look into other 3rd part cloud storage options. You might already have some.
- Microsoft OneDrive: 5 GB free and with a MS Office (now Microsoft 365) you can get up to 1 TB storage.
- Google Drive: 15 GB for free and the cheapest plan gives you 2 TB
- Dropbox: 2 GB free and the cheapest plan gives you 2 TB
These are just a few cloud storage providers I have experience with. There are many more providers with cloud storage available. Check around and see what best fits your needs.
Peter is an award-winning photographer who travels all over the world to capture the beauty of our planet as well as the achievements of humanity. Follow Peter on his travel blog Gate to Adventures for more amazing places to go and explore.
