Using Cloud Sync Folders
Works with folders you already sync
LunaFinder does not include its own cloud storage subscription. Instead, it works with folders on your Mac—including folders that Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud Drive, or similar services keep synchronized across devices.
This matches how many people already store large photo archives without paying for terabytes of dedicated photo cloud space.
How to set it up
- Install your sync app (Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.) on each Mac you use.
- Wait until important photo folders are fully downloaded locally (not “online only” placeholders, if your sync app uses those).
- In LunaFinder, click Open Folder and select the synced folder on that Mac.
LunaFinder indexes and tags the local copy it can read.
Using LunaFinder on a second Mac
On another computer:
- Sign in to the same sync service and let the photo folder sync.
- Install LunaFinder and activate with your license.
- Open the same folder path (as far as the sync service mirrors structure).
Keywords sync if companion files sync with the images. Allow time for sync to finish before expecting tags on the second machine.
AI Search on multiple Macs
Each Mac needs:
- LunaFinder installed and licensed
- AI Search enabled
- The model downloaded
- The library indexed on that Mac
AI index data may live in LunaFinder’s hidden project folder inside your library. If that folder syncs, behavior can vary—when in doubt, run Reindex All Images in Settings after a large sync.
Practical tips
| Tip | Why |
|---|---|
| Prefer “available offline” for photo libraries | AI and thumbnails need real files |
| Avoid editing the same file on two Macs at once | Sync conflicts can duplicate or confuse files |
| Open the sync root you actually use | Deep paths are fine if that is your habit |
| Back up externally too | Sync is not a substitute for backup drives |
What LunaFinder does not manage
- Sync conflicts between devices
- Account billing for Dropbox or Google
- Bandwidth or storage limits of your sync provider
Those stay in your sync app’s settings.