The desktop client syncs your Nextcloud files into a local folder — like Dropbox, OneDrive or iCloud Drive, just on your own cloud. Classic use case for anyone who works with files outside the browser.
Download
From the official Nextcloud repository: Mac, Windows, Linux. We recommend the official version, not app store forks.
For Linux: Flatpak, AppImage or your distribution’s package — whatever you prefer.
First login
- Start the client → Connect to Nextcloud.
- Enter the server URL:
https://<deine-nextcloud-url>. - The browser opens → you log in to Nextcloud → generating an app password is triggered automatically.
- Back in the client: the connection is up.
In the background an app password is created — the client stores that, not your actual password. That’s more secure, and with 2FA setups it’s the only way anyway.
More in Understanding app passwords.
Choosing a sync mode
On first setup the client asks:
Full sync (all files local)
All files are copied to your machine. Advantage: fast access, works offline. Downside: you need as much local space as your cloud is big.
Practical for small setups (<50 GB).
Selective sync
You choose per folder what lands locally. Practical when your cloud holds 500 GB but you only want 10 GB stored locally.
Adjust at any time: client → General settings → Manage folders → Choose what to sync.
Virtual files (VFS)
The “best” mode: files appear locally as placeholders, but are only downloaded when you open them. Works like OneDrive Files On-Demand.
- Mac (macOS 12.3+): uses the macOS File Provider Extension framework
- Windows (Windows 10+): uses the Cloud Files API
- Linux: experimental, we recommend full sync or selective
Advantage: you see the cloud structure 1:1 in Finder/Explorer without using local storage. Files are fetched on demand and “freed up” when unused for a long time.
From our experience: VFS is the mode for most users. Enable it in General settings → Use virtual files.
Where the sync folder lives
Default:
- Mac:
~/Nextcloud - Windows:
C:\Users\<username>\Nextcloud - Linux:
~/Nextcloud
Changeable during setup or later under Manage folders.
Tip for iCloud Drive users on Mac — do not put the Nextcloud folder under ~/Documents, because iCloud will try to sync it too. Use ~/Nextcloud directly in your home directory.
What the client does
- Bidirectional sync: local changes land in the cloud, cloud changes arrive locally
- Conflict detection: on parallel edits of the same file, conflict files are created (
Datei (conflicted copy 2026-05-08).docx) - Bandwidth limits: configurable — useful on a mobile hotspot
- Sync pause: pausable per folder when you don’t want it right now
- Trash: deleted files land in the server trash, not gone immediately
Notification system
The client shows push notifications:
- New files in shared folders
- Sharing requests
- Expiring public links
- Server maintenance notices
Adjustable in client settings → Notifications.
Multiple accounts at once
If you have both a private and a business Nextcloud: client → Add account.
Both accounts run in parallel with separate local folders.
Pitfalls
File names with special characters
Windows / Mac have different restrictions:
- Windows forbids
< > : " | ? * \ /and reserved names (CON,PRN,AUX,NUL, etc.) - Mac tolerates more, but
/is forbidden
If you create files with ? in the name on Linux and then sync to Windows — conflict. Nextcloud marks such files red in the sync status display.
Solution: clean up the file names, then re-sync.
Long paths on Windows
Windows default limit: 260-character paths. Easily hit with a deep folder structure in Nextcloud.
Solution: enable long-path support in Windows (registry edit), or keep the cloud structure flatter.
.DS_Store / Thumbs.db
On Mac, Finder creates .DS_Store files everywhere; on Windows, Thumbs.db appears. They end up in the cloud and annoy other users.
Solution: in client → General → Sync options → Ignored files these are excluded by default. If not: add them manually.
Office files locally vs co-editing
If you edit an office file locally with MS Office while another user edits it in the browser via OnlyOffice: that doesn’t end well. One of you loses changes.
Solution: stay in the browser for co-editing, or “take the file out” by locking it in Nextcloud Files.
Sync hangs
Symptom: sync status stuck at “Syncing…” with no progress.
Possible causes:
- A huge file (>1 GB) is being transferred — wait
- Server connection problems — restarting the client often helps
- A conflict file that can’t be resolved — check manually
In client settings, the conflict dialog shows open conflicts.
Auto-start at login
Default: yes. Adjustable in General → Launch on system startup. If you only need Nextcloud occasionally, turn auto-start off.
Settings we recommend
- Enable VFS (if your platform supports it)
- Set upload bandwidth limits on DSL/mobile connections — otherwise the client eats your whole line
- Leave conflict handling on “create conflict file” (default), not “discard local changes”
- Adjust notifications to taste — many users turn everything off except sharing notifications
Frequently asked questions
How big can the sync folder get? Technically unlimited, practically limited by local disk space. With VFS it’s a non-issue, since only placeholders are local.
Sync isn’t working — what do I do?
- Restart the client
- Account → test connection
- Regenerate the app password
- If none of that helps: open a ticket
Can I work offline? Yes. Files you have locally (full sync or downloaded VFS files) can be edited offline. On the next online sync, changes are uploaded.
What happens with 2FA login in the client? The client opens the browser for login → 2FA step in the browser → after a successful login the client receives the app password. So you never enter 2FA in the client directly.
Can the client show sync logs? Yes. Client → General → Logging. Handy for debugging.
Multiple devices with the same account — does that work? Yes, as many as you like. Each device syncs independently. In Nextcloud under Personal settings → Security → Devices & sessions you see all active devices.
Ending a device session — how? Personal settings → Security → Devices & sessions → trash icon next to the device. Invalidates the app password — the device can no longer sync.
Handy when you’ve lost a device or you’re retiring an old notebook.
Performance problems with large sync volumes — what to do? An initial sync of 100+ GB can take several hours. Don’t write heavily to the local folder during the run.
For persistent problems: use selective sync and only download the folders you actually need.
Mac-specific — volume limits or problems with Spaces? On Apple Silicon Macs, generally no problems. On very old Macs (< 2018) VFS can be unstable — fall back to full sync.
What’s next
First login as a Nextcloud admin
What to do after your Nextcloud is provisioned — login, profile, the important first settings, what we handle and what you handle.
Admin GUI overview — what you'll find where
Nextcloud's administration settings are big. Here's a tour of the sections that matter and what they do.
Creating users and groups
Create users for family, club or team, organize groups, set quotas, control login behavior.
Sharing — files with others, internally and externally
Sharing files in Nextcloud — within your cloud with other users, with groups, or externally via sharing link.