---
id: icloud.should-i-keep-code-or-databases-in-icloud-drive
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/should-i-keep-code-or-databases-in-icloud-drive
category: "iCloud & iCloud Photos"
subcategory: "iCloud Drive basics"
question: "Should I keep code projects, databases or app libraries in iCloud Drive?"
alt_questions:
  - "Git repo in iCloud Drive problems"
  - "node_modules in iCloud Drive"
  - "Lightroom catalog in iCloud Drive"
  - "developer folder in Documents synced to iCloud"
  - "icloud drive conflicts with project files"
short_answer: "Best not to. Code repositories, build and dependency folders, databases and app catalogs change constantly and sync poorly — lagging uploads, conflict copies and evicted files. Keep them outside iCloud-synced folders and back them up separately."
tags: ["icloud drive", "developers", "sync conflicts"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/why-are-there-duplicate-file-2-copies-in-icloud-drive", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/can-i-store-my-photos-library-inside-icloud-drive", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/how-do-i-exclude-a-folder-from-icloud-drive"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# Should I keep code projects, databases or app libraries in iCloud Drive?

It's best not to. Folders that change constantly in many small files — code repositories, build folders, dependency folders, databases and app catalogs — sync poorly: uploads lag behind, devices can see half-written states, and conflicting copies appear. Some files may also be made online-only when a tool expects them on disk.

Keep these somewhere iCloud doesn't sync — a folder in your home folder outside Desktop & Documents, or an external drive — and back them up separately (or use the project's own remote, like a code host). See [the "file 2" duplicates in iCloud](https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/why-are-there-duplicate-file-2-copies-in-icloud-drive).