Ambar
← Back to help

iCloud and sync

How to turn on sync across your Apple devices — and what each iCloud “zone” means.

iCloud sync = your devices, same Apple ID. It does not replace Care Circle (other people) or a .ambar file (one-time copy).

How to make sync work

  1. On iPhone: Settings → Apple Account → iCloud — confirm the account is available.
  2. In Ambar: Settings → iCloud Sync → enable “Sync health folder with iCloud”.
  3. Tap “Sync now” (or wait for your chosen frequency).
  4. On the other iPhone/iPad: same Apple ID, same steps, open Ambar and wait for download.
  5. If the folder is empty after reinstall: use “Restore from iCloud” on Home or Help with my data.

What Ambar stores in iCloud (zones)

  • AmbarPrivate — main folder synced across your devices (this is what sync uses).
  • _defaultZone — older data from previous versions; the app imports from here on restore.
  • AmbarShare-… — Care Circle attempt zones (one per shared profile). Not your folder sync; leftover zones after incomplete invites are normal and do not delete AmbarPrivate.

iCloud is optional

Ambar works on iPhone without iCloud. Enable sync only if you want the same data on another iPhone or iPad with the same Apple account.

Who can see your iCloud data

The CloudKit copy lives in your Apple ID (Private Database). The Ambar team does not see your folder contents in normal use — installing the app or joining TestFlight does not open your folder to us.

  • The team Dashboard shows schema and aggregated logs/metrics, not symptoms, exams, or notes.
  • You (with your Apple ID) can see your own records when inspecting that account.
  • For support, we prefer the diagnostics file without clinical content.

Local first, cloud second

Changes are saved on the device first. CloudKit syncs in the background when there is a network and iCloud is available. Sync may therefore take a few minutes.

What can delay sync

  • Unstable or slow internet
  • Low Power Mode
  • Many attachments or large documents
  • iCloud temporarily unavailable
  • Different Apple ID between devices

Item does not appear on another device

  1. Confirm both use the same Apple ID.
  2. Check iCloud is on in Ambar and in system settings.
  3. Connect to Wi‑Fi and wait a few minutes.
  4. Open the app on the other device and use “Sync now”.
  5. After reinstall, if empty, use Restore from iCloud.

iCloud vs Care Circle vs .ambar

  • iCloud sync — you ↔ your devices (same Apple ID).
  • Care Circle — you ↔ another person (different Apple IDs); still evolving.
  • .ambar — a file snapshot; does not sync by itself.

Share with another person: Care Circle.

Export a copy: .ambar files.

Lost your folder? I lost my data.