large number of files syncing with the Windows desktop client

[moose999]

I have a large number of files (8M+), and its taking an extremely long time to sync with the Windows desktop client - its only sync’d 0.5M files in 4 hours in virtual file mode.

Also, when my PC goes to sleep, the process starts back from the beginning, which means it will probably never finish!

The MacOS desktop client completed the entire sync in a matter of minutes.

I have tested this across 4 different machines.

[Floweb05]

Hi,

I may be wrong, but the Mac VFS had this option “fast sync” that disapeared and got default way to sync VFS now. And this basically sync folders and content when you actually visit it, so it doesnt actually sync everything from start.

And I feel like there is no “Fast sync” on PC yet, it still write every virtuals files on the hard drive during a first sync.

And I have the same “rate” than you on PC, since it take me like 40min to sync ~130.000 files.

[Floweb05]

Well, good news, it’s coming with next release :

Release Release 33.0.0-rc1 · nextcloud/desktop

”Windows-VFS: Folder contents are now loaded on demand, reducing the initial sync time when connecting to large instances.”

[Mornsgrans]

@moose999

Also, when my PC goes to sleep, the process starts back from the beginning, which means it will probably never finish!

Turn off sleep-mode, while 1st sync still is processing.

[moose999]

That great news, many thanks for letting me know!

Do you have any idea how long the typical RC-to-final cycle takes?

[Floweb05]

I asked here:

ETA for next MacOS VFS release (fixing 4.0.6 sync issues)?

Hi, MacOS Desktop VFS client 4.0.6 have multiple Sync issues, reported on Github and actively worked-on right now. Thanks to @iva.horn who take care of most (if not all) of it and reviewing every reported issues with care. But since thoses bugs can lead to data-loss, or a broken sync that stop to update files/folders, current version 4.0.6 was looking too hasardous to use (and it seems it’s all the 4.x branch) I decided to downgrade to version 3.16.6, but it bring a new problem: Sharing funct…

”We aim for the range of days to a few weeks after the next major server release. We are about to wrap it up but there are few important things left before we can start with release candidates.”

Edit 20-02-2026: @moose999 I tested Beta 33.0.0rc1 : Sync is as fast as on Mac now
(But I still have sync issues [Bug]: Sync Error: Local folders not removed after server-side deletion (Group Folders) on long paths & "Zombie" folder re-uploads · Issue #9425 · nextcloud/desktop · GitHub )