{"id":"bridge-devices.what-happens-when-both-macs-change-the-same-file","url":"/faq/bridge-devices/what-happens-when-both-macs-change-the-same-file","category":{"id":"bridge-devices","title":"Bridge & your devices"},"subcategory":{"id":"collab-sync","title":"Collab Sync"},"question":"What happens in Collab Sync when both Macs change the same file?","alt_questions":["Collab Sync conflict","Which version wins in Collab Sync?","Files changed on both Macs","Restore the other version Collab Sync","Conflict copy in synced folder"],"short_answer":"The newer version wins and the other is kept beside it with “conflict” in its name, so nothing is lost. Review the “Files changed on both Macs” note and click Restore to keep the other version instead.","answer_markdown":"The newer version is kept, and the other is saved right beside it with “conflict” in its name — nothing is lost. You'll get a notification and a **Files changed on both Macs** note.\n\nOpen Collab Sync and **Review** the note to see each file; if you'd rather keep the other version, click **Restore** and it syncs back across.\n\nTimes are compared carefully, so a Mac with a wrong clock can't quietly win; if a clock looks wrong, Storage Studio tells you to check it.\n\n- [“In use by …”](/faq/bridge-devices/what-does-in-use-by-mean-in-collab-sync)","answer_html":"

The newer version is kept, and the other is saved right beside it with “conflict” in its name — nothing is lost. You'll get a notification and a Files changed on both Macs note.

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Open Collab Sync and Review the note to see each file; if you'd rather keep the other version, click Restore and it syncs back across.

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Times are compared carefully, so a Mac with a wrong clock can't quietly win; if a clock looks wrong, Storage Studio tells you to check it.

\n","answer_text":"The newer version is kept, and the other is saved right beside it with “conflict” in its name — nothing is lost. You'll get a notification and a Files changed on both Macs note.\n\nOpen Collab Sync and Review the note to see each file; if you'd rather keep the other version, click Restore and it syncs back across.\n\nTimes are compared carefully, so a Mac with a wrong clock can't quietly win; if a clock looks wrong, Storage Studio tells you to check it.\n\n- “In use by …”","tags":["collab sync","conflicts"],"related":[{"id":"bridge-devices.what-does-in-use-by-mean-in-collab-sync","question":"What does “In use by …” mean in Collab Sync?","url":"/faq/bridge-devices/what-does-in-use-by-mean-in-collab-sync"},{"id":"bridge-devices.what-is-collab-sync","question":"What is Collab Sync?","url":"/faq/bridge-devices/what-is-collab-sync"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"What happens in Collab Sync when both Macs change the same file? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"The newer version wins and the other is kept beside it with “conflict” in its name, so nothing is lost. Review the “Files changed on both Macs” note and click Restore to keep the other version instead.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Bridge & your devices","path":"/faq/bridge-devices/"},{"name":"What happens in Collab Sync when both Macs change the same file?","path":"/faq/bridge-devices/what-happens-when-both-macs-change-the-same-file"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/bridge-devices/what-happens-when-both-macs-change-the-same-file","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"What happens in Collab Sync when both Macs change the same file?","alternateName":["Collab Sync conflict","Which version wins in Collab Sync?","Files changed on both Macs","Restore the other version Collab Sync","Conflict copy in synced folder"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The newer version is kept, and the other is saved right beside it with “conflict” in its name — nothing is lost. You'll get a notification and a Files changed on both Macs note.\n\nOpen Collab Sync and Review the note to see each file; if you'd rather keep the other version, click Restore and it syncs back across.\n\nTimes are compared carefully, so a Mac with a wrong clock can't quietly win; if a clock looks wrong, Storage Studio tells you to check it.\n\n- “In use by …”","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/bridge-devices/what-happens-when-both-macs-change-the-same-file"}}]},"fragment":"
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Bridge & your devices · Collab Sync

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What happens in Collab Sync when both Macs change the same file?

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Short answer: The newer version wins and the other is kept beside it with “conflict” in its name, so nothing is lost. Review the “Files changed on both Macs” note and click Restore to keep the other version instead.

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The newer version is kept, and the other is saved right beside it with “conflict” in its name — nothing is lost. You'll get a notification and a Files changed on both Macs note.

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Open Collab Sync and Review the note to see each file; if you'd rather keep the other version, click Restore and it syncs back across.

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Times are compared carefully, so a Mac with a wrong clock can't quietly win; if a clock looks wrong, Storage Studio tells you to check it.

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Last reviewed

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Related questions

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