What to Do When Adobe Creative Cloud Sync Is Stuck?

You just sat down to work on a deadline project. You open Adobe Creative Cloud, and there it is: the sync icon spinning endlessly, going nowhere. Your files are stuck in limbo. Your libraries refuse to update. The progress bar seems frozen in time. Sound familiar?

Adobe Creative Cloud sync getting stuck is one of the most frustrating issues that designers, photographers, and content creators face on a regular basis. It can halt your entire workflow, prevent you from accessing critical assets, and waste hours of your valuable time.

The good news? This problem is almost always fixable without needing to contact Adobe support.

This guide will walk you through 12 proven, step by step solutions to get your Creative Cloud sync back on track. Whether your sync is caught in a loop, frozen on “Getting storage information,” or simply refusing to upload or download files, you will find the answer here.

In a Nutshell

• Restart the Creative Cloud desktop app completely from the system tray or menu bar before trying anything else. A simple relaunch clears many temporary sync glitches and refreshes the connection to Adobe servers.
• Check your internet connection and disable any active VPN that might interfere with Adobe’s cloud servers. A weak, unstable, or VPN filtered connection is one of the most common causes of stuck sync processes.
• Sign out of your Adobe account and sign back in to force a fresh authentication. Expired tokens or corrupted session data can silently block the sync process without showing a clear error message.
• Delete the CoreSync database files located in the AppData (Windows) or Application Support (Mac) folders. These database files can become corrupted over time and trap the sync process in an endless loop.
• Reset the Creative Cloud desktop app using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Alt + R on Windows or Cmd + Opt + R on Mac. This built in reset function can resolve deep configuration issues without a full reinstall.
• Perform a clean uninstall and reinstall of the Creative Cloud desktop app as a last resort. Use the Adobe Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool to remove all leftover files before reinstalling from scratch for a fresh start.

Why Does Adobe Creative Cloud Sync Get Stuck?

Understanding the root cause helps you pick the right fix faster. Creative Cloud sync relies on a background process called CoreSync that constantly monitors your local files and compares them to what is stored on Adobe’s servers. When something disrupts this process, the sync can freeze.

Common causes include corrupted database files that CoreSync uses to track file changes. These small .db files can become damaged after a crash, unexpected shutdown, or even a routine update. When they are corrupted, CoreSync does not know which files to sync, so it loops endlessly.

Network issues are another frequent culprit. Adobe’s sync requires a stable connection to its cloud servers. VPNs, firewalls, proxy servers, and even DNS problems can interrupt this connection. The sync may appear to start but never actually transfers any data.

Outdated software also plays a role. Running an older version of the Creative Cloud desktop app can create compatibility problems with Adobe’s servers. The same is true for operating system updates that change how background processes behave.

Finally, storage conflicts can cause the sync to hang. If your cloud storage is full, or if there are file conflicts between your local machine and the cloud, the sync process may freeze while trying to resolve what to do with those files.

Restart the Creative Cloud Desktop App

The simplest fix is often the most effective. Before you try anything else, fully close the Creative Cloud desktop app and reopen it. This is not the same as clicking the X button, which may only minimize the app to the system tray.

On Windows, right click the Creative Cloud icon in the system tray near the clock. Select “Quit Creative Cloud” from the context menu. Wait about 10 seconds, then relaunch the app from your Start menu or desktop shortcut.

On Mac, click the Creative Cloud icon in the menu bar. Click on your profile icon or the three dot menu, then select “Quit Creative Cloud.” Again, wait a few seconds before reopening. This gives the CoreSync process enough time to fully shut down.

A simple restart clears temporary memory and resets the sync connection. Many users in Adobe’s community forums report that this single step resolved their stuck sync. If the sync begins working after the restart, you may have just had a temporary server communication issue.

Check Your Internet Connection and Disable VPN

A stable internet connection is essential for Creative Cloud sync to function. Even if your browser works fine, Adobe’s sync process may struggle with packet loss, high latency, or restricted ports that do not affect regular web browsing.

Start by running a quick speed test to verify your upload and download speeds. Creative Cloud sync needs both, so even if your download speed is fast, a slow upload speed can cause the sync to stall. Ideally, you want at least 5 Mbps upload speed for smooth syncing.

If you are using a VPN, try disabling it temporarily. VPNs route your traffic through different servers, which can interfere with Adobe’s authentication and data transfer protocols. Many users on Reddit and Adobe forums have confirmed that turning off their VPN immediately fixed a stuck sync.

Also check your firewall settings. Some firewalls block the specific ports that Adobe uses for cloud communication. Make sure that the Creative Cloud desktop app and CoreSync are both allowed through your firewall. On Windows, you can check this in Windows Defender Firewall settings. On Mac, check the Firewall tab in System Settings under Network.

If you are on a corporate or school network, the network administrator may have restrictions in place that block cloud sync services. In that case, try syncing from a different network, such as a mobile hotspot, to confirm the issue is network related.

Sign Out and Sign Back Into Your Adobe Account

Authentication problems are a sneaky cause of sync failures. Your Creative Cloud app might look like it is logged in, but the session token may have expired or become invalid behind the scenes. This prevents the sync engine from communicating with Adobe’s servers.

To sign out, open the Creative Cloud desktop app. Click on your profile icon in the top right corner. Select “Sign Out” from the dropdown menu. The app will close all active Adobe applications, so make sure you save your work in Photoshop, Illustrator, or any other open Adobe apps first.

After signing out, wait at least 30 seconds before signing back in. This gives the system enough time to clear cached credentials. Then relaunch Creative Cloud and log in with your Adobe ID and password.

Once signed in, check the sync status by clicking the cloud icon in the upper right corner of the app. You should see files beginning to sync. If the status still shows stuck, move on to the next solution. But for many users, this fresh login is all it takes to get the sync moving again.

Pause and Resume the Sync Process

Sometimes the sync process gets confused and needs a manual nudge. Adobe provides a built in option to pause and resume syncing, and this simple action can break the loop that keeps your sync stuck.

Open the Creative Cloud desktop app and click the cloud activity icon in the upper right corner. You will see the current sync status and a list of files being processed. Look for a pause button (often shown as two vertical bars) and click it.

Wait for at least 60 seconds after pausing. This is important because pausing does not instantly stop all background processes. CoreSync needs time to wind down its current operations. If you resume too quickly, the same stuck process may simply restart.

After waiting, click the play or resume button. The sync should restart from where it left off, but this time with a fresh connection to Adobe’s servers. Watch the progress for a few minutes to confirm files are actually moving.

If you notice that the sync gets stuck on the same file every time, that specific file may be corrupted or too large. Try removing that file from your sync folder temporarily and see if the rest of the files sync successfully.

Clear the CoreSync Database Files

This is one of the most effective fixes for a sync stuck in a loop. The CoreSync database files track every file change and sync state on your computer. When these files become corrupted, the sync engine cannot function properly.

On Windows, follow these steps. First, quit the Creative Cloud desktop app completely. Open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc and end all processes that contain “Adobe” or “Creative Cloud” in their names. Then open File Explorer and go to AppData\Roaming\Adobe\CoreSync. You will find files ending in .db, .db-shm, and .db-wal. Delete all of them.

On Mac, the process is similar. Quit Creative Cloud and open Activity Monitor. Search for all Adobe related processes and force stop them. Then use Finder and press Cmd + Shift + G to open the “Go to Folder” dialog. Type ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/CoreSync and press Enter. Delete the .db files you find inside.

After deleting these database files, restart your computer. This is a critical step because some Adobe processes restart automatically in the background. A full reboot ensures everything starts fresh. When your computer restarts, open Creative Cloud and let it rebuild the sync database from scratch.

Delete Temporary Files on Your Computer

Temporary files can pile up and cause unexpected problems with Creative Cloud sync. Adobe apps generate large amounts of cache and temp data during normal use, and these files sometimes interfere with the sync process.

On Windows, you can clear temporary files by opening File Explorer and typing %temp% in the address bar. Press Enter to open the Temp folder. Select all files with Ctrl + A and delete them. Some files may be in use and cannot be deleted, which is fine. Skip those and delete everything else.

You can also use the built in Disk Cleanup tool on Windows. Right click your main drive in This PC, select Properties, and click Disk Cleanup. Check the box for Temporary files and click OK. This removes system level temp files that the manual method might miss.

On Mac, open Finder and use the Go to Folder command (Cmd + Shift + G). Type /Library/Caches and delete Adobe related cache folders. You can also go to ~/Library/Caches for user level cache files. Be careful to only delete folders that are clearly related to Adobe or Creative Cloud.

After clearing temporary files, restart the Creative Cloud desktop app. The sync process will start fresh without any leftover data causing conflicts. This fix works especially well when combined with the CoreSync database cleanup described in the previous section.

Reset the Creative Cloud Desktop App

Adobe built a quick reset function directly into the Creative Cloud desktop app. This is faster than uninstalling and reinstalling, and it resolves many configuration issues that cause sync problems.

To trigger the reset, make sure the Creative Cloud desktop app is in the foreground and active on your screen. On Windows, press Ctrl + Alt + R at the same time. On Mac, press Cmd + Opt + R. A dialog may appear asking you to confirm the reset.

This reset clears the app’s internal configuration and restores default settings. It does not delete your files, libraries, or installed applications. Your Photoshop, Illustrator, and other Adobe apps will remain installed and unchanged. Only the desktop app’s preferences and cached data are affected.

After the reset, the app will restart and you will need to sign in again with your Adobe ID. Once logged in, the sync process should begin fresh. Give it several minutes to re index your files and reestablish the connection with Adobe’s servers.

If the keyboard shortcut reset does not work or the app is unresponsive, you can also use the Windows Control Panel to repair the app. Go to Add or Remove Programs, find Creative Cloud, and select the Repair option. This runs a more thorough repair process that fixes corrupted installation files.

Fix the “Getting Storage Information” Freeze

A specific and common stuck state is when Creative Cloud shows “Getting storage information” indefinitely. The progress bar appears but never moves. This happens when the app cannot communicate with Adobe’s storage servers.

Start by trying the reset shortcut described above (Ctrl + Alt + R on Windows or Cmd + Opt + R on Mac). This alone fixes the storage information freeze for many users. If it does not work, proceed with a full sign out and sign back in.

If the problem persists, you may need to clear the LIBS folder on your computer. On Mac, use Finder’s “Go to Folder” command and type ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Creative Cloud Libraries/LIBS/. Inside, you will find a folder with a long alphanumeric name. Delete this folder entirely.

On Windows, the equivalent path is AppData\Local\Adobe\Creative Cloud Libraries\LIBS\. Find and delete the long named subfolder inside. After deletion, relaunch Creative Cloud. The app will rebuild the libraries folder from scratch by downloading fresh data from Adobe’s servers.

This fix works because the LIBS folder sometimes contains corrupted or outdated sync metadata that prevents the app from reading your storage information. A fresh rebuild forces the app to pull clean data directly from the cloud.

Update the Creative Cloud Desktop App and Your Operating System

Running outdated software is a silent troublemaker. Adobe frequently releases patches and updates for the Creative Cloud desktop app that fix sync bugs, improve server connectivity, and resolve compatibility issues with newer operating systems.

Open the Creative Cloud desktop app and check for updates. Click on the three horizontal lines (hamburger menu) or your profile icon. Look for a “Check for Updates” or “Update Available” notification. If an update is available, install it and restart the app. This single step fixes sync issues caused by known bugs in older versions.

Your operating system matters too. Adobe regularly updates Creative Cloud to work with the latest versions of Windows and macOS. If you recently updated your OS but did not update Creative Cloud, or vice versa, compatibility problems can arise. On Mac, users running macOS Sequoia have reported specific CoreSync authentication issues that Adobe addressed in later updates.

Make sure to also check that your system meets the minimum requirements for the latest Creative Cloud version. Older hardware or OS versions that are no longer supported may cause unexpected behavior, including sync failures.

Perform a Clean Uninstall and Reinstall

If none of the previous solutions work, a clean uninstall and reinstall is the most thorough fix. This removes every trace of Creative Cloud from your system and gives you a completely fresh start.

First, uninstall all Adobe applications individually through the Creative Cloud desktop app. Go to the Apps tab, find each installed app, and click the three dot menu to select Uninstall. Choose the option to remove preferences when prompted.

Next, uninstall the Creative Cloud desktop app itself. On Windows, use Add or Remove Programs in Settings. On Mac, use Adobe’s official uninstaller. Do not simply drag the app to the Trash, as that leaves behind important files.

After uninstalling, download and run the Adobe Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool from Adobe’s official support site. This tool removes all leftover files, preferences, registry entries (Windows), and cache data that a normal uninstall leaves behind. Run it and follow the on screen instructions.

Restart your computer after running the Cleaner Tool. Then download a fresh copy of the Creative Cloud desktop app from Adobe’s website using the “alternative download links” if needed. Install it, sign in, and let it rebuild your sync from scratch. Reinstall your individual apps as needed.

Contact Adobe Support for Persistent Issues

If you have tried every fix in this guide and the sync is still stuck, it may be a server side issue or a problem specific to your Adobe account. In these cases, reaching out to Adobe support is the right move.

Before contacting support, gather useful information to speed up the process. Note the exact error message or stuck state you see (such as “Syncing files 12 of 17” or “Getting storage information”). Write down your operating system version, Creative Cloud app version, and a brief summary of every fix you have already tried.

Adobe offers support through live chat, phone, and community forums. The community forums are especially helpful because Adobe engineers often respond directly. Many of the fixes in this guide originated from Adobe engineers helping users in those very forums.

In rare cases, the issue may be tied to your cloud user profile on Adobe’s end. Only Adobe’s engineering team can diagnose and fix server side profile corruption. If an engineer determines this is the problem, they may reset your sync profile, which resolves the issue completely.

You can also check Adobe’s system status page to see if there is an ongoing server outage or maintenance window affecting Creative Cloud services. Sometimes the simplest explanation is that Adobe’s servers are temporarily down, and the only fix is to wait.

Tips to Prevent Creative Cloud Sync Issues in the Future

Prevention is always better than troubleshooting. A few good habits can dramatically reduce the chances of your Creative Cloud sync getting stuck again.

Keep your Creative Cloud desktop app and operating system updated at all times. Enable automatic updates if possible. Most sync bugs are fixed in patches that Adobe releases regularly, so staying current protects you from known issues.

Avoid filling your cloud storage to maximum capacity. When your storage is nearly full, the sync process can struggle to manage file uploads and version tracking. Keep at least 10 to 15 percent of your storage free to allow smooth operation.

Do not force quit or shut down your computer while files are actively syncing. Interrupting a sync mid process is one of the most common causes of corrupted CoreSync database files. Always pause the sync before shutting down or restarting your machine.

Use a stable, direct internet connection rather than public Wi Fi or VPN connections when performing large syncs. The initial sync after a fresh install can transfer gigabytes of data, and a reliable connection ensures this process completes without errors.

Periodically clean your system’s temporary files and cache. Monthly maintenance keeps the CoreSync database healthy and prevents the slow buildup of junk data that eventually causes sync problems.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Adobe Creative Cloud sync stuck on “Syncing” but not making progress?

This usually happens when the CoreSync database files have become corrupted. The sync engine keeps trying to process the same files but cannot complete the task. The most effective fix is to quit all Adobe processes, delete the CoreSync .db files from AppData\Roaming\Adobe\CoreSync (Windows) or ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/CoreSync (Mac), and restart your computer. When you relaunch Creative Cloud, it will rebuild a fresh database and sync normally.

Will I lose my files if I reset or reinstall Creative Cloud?

No. Your files stored in the cloud remain safe on Adobe’s servers regardless of what you do on your local machine. Resetting the desktop app, deleting CoreSync databases, or even performing a clean uninstall does not affect your cloud stored files. Once you reinstall and sign in, your files will sync back down to your computer. However, always make sure your most important files have a local backup as a precaution.

How do I fix Creative Cloud sync when it says “Getting storage information” forever?

The “Getting storage information” freeze is a connection issue between the desktop app and Adobe’s storage servers. Start with the keyboard shortcut reset: Ctrl + Alt + R on Windows or Cmd + Opt + R on Mac. If that does not work, sign out of your Adobe account, quit all Adobe processes, delete the LIBS folder in your Creative Cloud Libraries directory, and restart. This forces the app to pull fresh storage data from the server.

Can my VPN cause Creative Cloud sync to get stuck?

Yes. VPNs frequently interfere with Adobe Creative Cloud sync. They can block the specific ports Adobe uses, introduce latency, or trigger security protocols that prevent proper authentication. If your sync is stuck, disable your VPN temporarily and test the connection. If the sync works without the VPN, configure your VPN to whitelist Adobe’s domains or use split tunneling to route Adobe traffic outside the VPN.

How often should I clear Creative Cloud cache to prevent sync issues?

A good practice is to clear your Adobe cache and temporary files once a month. This prevents the gradual buildup of corrupted or outdated cache data that can eventually cause sync problems. You do not need to do it more often unless you are a heavy user who works with large files daily. Combine this with keeping your Creative Cloud desktop app and operating system updated for the best prevention against sync issues.

Does Adobe still support Creative Cloud file syncing?

Adobe announced changes to its Creative Cloud Synced files feature starting in early 2024. The traditional file sync service has been discontinued, but Creative Cloud Libraries syncing remains active and supported. Libraries allow you to sync assets like colors, graphics, fonts, and design components across Adobe apps. If you relied on the old file sync feature, make sure you have downloaded all your synced files to a local folder and consider using Adobe’s recommended alternatives for file storage and sharing.