How to download the Zoho Docs app and sync files to your desktop?

Overview

Zoho Docs for your desktop lets you to sync your files in Zoho Docs to your computer and vice versa. The syncing is instantaneous, meaning, the syncing happens whenever you modify or add a new file or a folder either in Zoho Docs or in your computer. This helps you to work on your files offline, which gets updated to your Zoho Docs as soon as you go online. You can even sync your files to multiple computers using the same Zoho Docs account, which enables you to work from any of your computer, be it  your office or a home computer.

Download and Install Zoho Docs for your Desktop

Zoho Docs for Desktop can be installed on a Windows, Mac, or Linux computers. The details of the supported OS are given below:

Installation Procedure

1. Download the Zoho Docs Sync.exe to the computer where you wish to install
2. Double-click to execute the EXE and follow the instructions to complete the installation.

1. Download the ZohoDocs.dmg to the computer where you wish to install
2. Double-click the ZohoDocs.dmg. This opens the installation window
3. Drag the Zoho Docs icon to the Applications folder to begin the installation and follow the instructions to complete

1. Depending on whether the OS is 32-bit or 64-bit, download the ZohoDocs.tar.gz
2. Extract the downloaded file.
3. Double click on the Zoho Docs Installer file to complete the installation.

Login using Credential

After Successful installation, Zoho Docs login screen is displayed

Specify your Zoho username and password to sign-in. After signing in, you will be asked to choose the sync folder to which the files from Zoho Docs be synced

Setup Completion

The default sync folder location will be c:\users\<user name>\Zoho home/<username>/Zoho home/<username>/Zoho. You can change it to a preferred location. The next step is to choose the folders in your Zoho Docs to be synced to your computer. Click Zoho Docs Folders button

The default option is to sync all the folders in your Zoho Docs account. You can choose to sync only the selected folders from your account. Select the required option and click OK. Click Next to see the summary of your setup.

Click Finish to complete the setup and to start syncing. You can verify the status of the sync from the Zoho Docs icon available in your menu barsystem traysystem tray.

Configuring Proxy Server

If the computer do not have a direct internet connection, you can specify how Zoho Docs should reach the internet. You can get into this screen by either clicking the Configure Proxy link on your login screen or by choosing the Settings option by right-clicking the Zoho Docs icon from your menu barsystem traysystem tray.

Specify the details of the Proxy server and the authentication details, if required, and click OK.

Bandwidth Settings

Zoho Docs lets the users set the bandwidth limit for upload and download. While the default is set at "Low" for both upload and download, the users can change as per their requirement.

Select Folders to Sync

By default, Zoho Docs will sync all the files from your Zoho Docs account to your computer. If you have missed to choose the folders during the initial setup or if you wish to change the setting at a later point, you can do by choosing the Settings right-click menu from the Zoho Docs icon in the menu barsystem traysystem tray.

Click the Zoho Docs folder and choose the required option

Choose the Folders that you would need to sync and click OK.

True Syncing of Read-only Folders to Desktops

Zoho Docs for Desktop syncs read-only folders to your desktop with their original permissions intact. Folders shared with read-only permission are not meant to be edited or changed in any manner, be it on the web or your desktop. To maintain the authenticity of read-only folders, Zoho Docs for Desktop restricts the following activities on read-only folders synced to desktops:

• Editing files within read-only folders.
• Renaming, moving, or deleting a read-only folder or the files within it.
• Adding or creating files in a read-only folder.

If you happen to perform these actions unknowingly on a read-only folder synced to your desktop, you'll get error messages reminding you of your permissions. For example, if you try to edit a file within a read-only folder, an error will tell you that the file is locked or that you don't have permission to edit the file.

Similarly, trying to delete, move, rename, or add files may trigger an error if you do not have the proper permissions. The system reaction to this error will differ depending on your operating system.

Error restricting the user from editing a read-only file.

The Move to Trash option is absent in the dropdown menu. The options Cut, Move to, and Rename are disabled.

Moving the Sync folder

Having the flexibility to move your Zoho Docs folder can be helpful in a number of situations: when re-allocating disk space on a Windows/Linux machine; when re-installing your OS or reformatting a particular drive; or when you want to have all your Zoho Docs files under a specific folder on your desktop for easy access.

Moving the Zoho Docs folder is quite simple, though there are a couple of things to take into consideration:

• Always move the folder from the application settings window. Dragging and dropping the folder manually will break the link between your desktop and Zoho Docs.
• Never move the folder to an external hard drive or network drive, as that will prevent Zoho Docs from accessing or syncing your files.

To move your Zoho Docs folder:

1. Click the Sync icon on your desktop. Select Preferences from the menu that appears.
2. Click Folder.
3. If you're using Windows or Linux, the current location of your Zoho Docs folder will be displayed. Click Move next to this field. Your local directory will appear.

   If you're using Mac, click the drop-down arrow next to Zoho Docs Location. Click Choose another location. Your local directory will appear.

4. Choose the location you want to move your Zoho Docs folder to, and click Select Folder (in Windows) or Open (in Mac).
5. A dialogue box will appear asking you for confirmation. Click Move to proceed. Once the folder has been moved, Zoho Docs will restart.

Syncing Docs to Multiple Computers

If you have multiple computers, say one at the office and one at home, you can still sync the files in your Zoho Docs account to all the computers. All you have to do is to download the Zoho Docs Sync and install on all the computers to which you wish to sync your contents. Follow the steps below:

Download and install Zoho Docs on all the computers to which you wish to sync your contents

Use the same Zoho account to login in all the computers

Follow the setup instructions to configure proxy settings and to choose the folders.

The settings need not be the same in all the computers. For example, you can choose to sync all the folders in one computer and only selected folders in another.

It is all set now. Whenever there is a change in the files in any of the computer, it automatically get updated  in all the other computers and to your Zoho Docs and vice versa

Disconnecting a Computer

When you no longer wish to sync your Zoho Docs and the computer, you can Disconnect that computer. When you Disconnect a computer, the contents of your sync folder in that computer is not deleted, only the sync between that computer and Zoho Docs is stopped.

To Disconnect a computer,

Choose Settings from the right-click menu of Zoho Docs icon from the menu barsystem traysystem tray.

Select the General tab

Click Disconnect This Computer button. Click OK on the confirmation message

Manage Linked Devices

You can view all your linked devices and disconnect any of them right from your Zoho Docs page.

To manage linked devices:

1. From the Settings icon in your Zoho Docs homepage select Connected Devices.

   

2. All your connected devices will be listed here.
3. Click Disconnect to unlink any device from your Zoho Docs account.

Uninstall Zoho Docs Sync app

Important:
During uninstallation, if any files in your Zoho Docs Sync folder have not been fully uploaded to the Docs web, those files will be deleted from your machine. Hence, to avoid any data loss, please ensure that all of your files are uploaded to the Docs web app before you uninstall the app.

1. Click the Zoho Docs icon in the system tray or menu bar. A small screen will open.
2. Click the Settings icon.
3. Select the General tab, then click Disconnect This Computer.
4. Click OK on the confirmation message.
5. Click the Zoho Docs icon in the system tray again, then click Settings > Quit.

Follow the steps below based on your OS.

For Windows

1. Go to Control Panel on your computer.
2. Click Uninstall a program under Programs.
3. Right-click the Zoho Docs app and select Uninstall.
4. In the confirmation dialog, Click Uninstall.

For Mac

1. Open Finder and go to Applications in your computer.
2. Right-click the Zoho Docs app and click Move to Trash.

For Linux

1. Go to the folder where you extracted the Docs app files during installation.
2. Double-click the Uninstaller file.

Delete sync folder

When you uninstall the Zoho Docs Sync app, the files synced to your computer will not be deleted. To remove the synced files from your computer, you need to remove them manually.

Warning: The following steps will help you delete the sync folder from the hard drive permanently. Please take these steps with caution. Back up your files in a different location before deleting them from your sync folder, if needed.

For Windows

1. Open the Run command by pressing Windows+R.
2. Type "cmd" and press Enter to open the command prompt.
3. Copy and paste the following lines into the command prompt, one at a time, pressing Enter after each line.

icacls "<sync folder path>"  /remove Everyone
icacls "<sync folder path>\*" /remove Everyone
rd /s "<sync folder path>"

Replace "<sync folder path>" with your actual Zoho Docs sync folder path in the above lines. Sample sync folder path: C:/Users/James/Zoho Docs

     
For Mac

1. Open your Terminal app (located at Applications>Utilities>Terminal).
2. Copy and paste the following lines into the Terminal, one at a time, pressing Return after each line.

sudo chflags -R nouchg "<sync folder path>"
sudo chown "$USER" "$HOME"
sudo chown -R "$USER" "<sync folder path>"
sudo chmod -RN "<sync folder path>"
chmod -R u+rw "<sync folder path>"
rm -rf "<sync folder path>"
rm -rf ~/.zohodocs

Replace "<sync folder path>" with your actual Zoho Docs sync folder path in the above lines. Sample sync folder path: C:/Users/James/Zoho Docs

Enter your computer user's password (not your Desktop Sync password) after entering the first command. The password field in the terminal will remain blank as you type your password. Press Return once you entered the password.

Note: If you still find Zoho Docs under Favorites/Quick access in Finder, then right-click it and click Remove from Sidebar.

For Linux

1. Open your Terminal app.
2. Copy and paste the following lines into the Terminal, one at a time, pressing Enter after each line 

sudo chown "$USER" "$HOME"
sudo chown -R "$USER" "<sync folder path>"
sudo chattr -R -i "<sync folder path>"
sudo chmod -R u+rw "<sync folder path>"
rm -rf "<sync folder path>"

Replace "<sync folder path>" with your actual Zoho Docs sync folder path in the above lines. Sample sync folder path: C:/Users/James/Zoho Docs

Notes:

• If you still find Zoho Docs under Favorites/Quick access in File Manager, then right-click it and click Remove.
• Since you have already uninstalled the Zoho Docs Sync app, deleting the sync folder will only delete the files locally. Files in the web app will remain intact in the Zoho Docs web app. If you have migrated your data from Docs to WorkDrive, then your files will be available in the WorkDrive web app.