# Why collectives are shown as external storage? **URL:** \ **Category:** ℹ️ Support\ **Tags:** general\_question, collectives-app\ **Created:** [November 6, 2022, 6:26pm UTC](https://help.nextcloud.com/t/why-collectives-are-shown-as-external-storage/149281 "2022-11-06T18:26:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![daco](https://help.nextcloud.com/user_avatar/help.nextcloud.com/daco/32/47138_2.png) [@daco](https://help.nextcloud.com/u/daco)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2022, 6:26pm UTC](https://help.nextcloud.com/t/why-collectives-are-shown-as-external-storage/149281/1 "2022-11-06T18:26:29Z")
Hi, I began using the collectives app on my Nextcloud instance a few weeks ago. Today I realized the files on the collectives (under “collectives”) were not syncing and I noted each collective was marked as external storage. ![grafik](https://help.nextcloud.com/uploads/default/original/3X/f/a/faa18dcb5ed773cd83ee23dc63f159f9468041e6.png) Is there a reason for this? Should I not edit the files as normal files or do the files under collectives work as any other .md file? I searched on Google and in this forum and I could not find any information regarding this issue. Thank you in advance for any information 🙂 Best, Diego ---
**Author:** ![mejo](https://help.nextcloud.com/user_avatar/help.nextcloud.com/mejo/32/9592_2.png) [@mejo](https://help.nextcloud.com/u/mejo)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2022, 10:10am UTC](https://help.nextcloud.com/t/why-collectives-are-shown-as-external-storage/149281/2 "2022-11-11T10:10:08Z")
Dear @daco, the files of your collective live in a hidden folder on Nextcloud that is mounted into the home directory of each member of the collective. That’s similar to how groupfolders work. And that’s also the reason why collectives folders are handled as external storage by the sync client. I see your point that’s a bit unexpected to have them excluded from sync per default. ---
**Author:** ![daco](https://help.nextcloud.com/user_avatar/help.nextcloud.com/daco/32/47138_2.png) [@daco](https://help.nextcloud.com/u/daco)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2022, 4:02pm UTC](https://help.nextcloud.com/t/why-collectives-are-shown-as-external-storage/149281/3 "2022-11-11T16:02:40Z")
Hi @mejo , Thank you very much for your response. That explains why the collectives are shown as external storage. And regarding the question of whether it is ok to edit the .md files as normal files? For example on the desktop synced with the desktop app or from a markdown editor on a phone? Best regards Diego ---
**Author:** ![mactrent](https://help.nextcloud.com/letter_avatar/mactrent/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@mactrent](https://help.nextcloud.com/u/mactrent)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2022, 4:07pm UTC](https://help.nextcloud.com/t/why-collectives-are-shown-as-external-storage/149281/4 "2022-11-11T16:07:24Z")
They work as any other .md file, you can safely edit them with whatever program you wish, so long as they get synced back. 👍 ---
**Author:** ![daco](https://help.nextcloud.com/user_avatar/help.nextcloud.com/daco/32/47138_2.png) [@daco](https://help.nextcloud.com/u/daco)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2022, 4:54pm UTC](https://help.nextcloud.com/t/why-collectives-are-shown-as-external-storage/149281/5 "2022-11-11T16:54:10Z")
Hi @mactrent , Thank you for your response! Best regards, Diego ---
**Author:** ![yorados](https://help.nextcloud.com/letter_avatar/yorados/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@yorados](https://help.nextcloud.com/u/yorados)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2024, 8:50am UTC](https://help.nextcloud.com/t/why-collectives-are-shown-as-external-storage/149281/6 "2024-05-22T08:50:44Z")
After editing a collective md file on my pc and syncing it back, the collective web app doesn’t show the new version. I have to open/close it once in the web text editor. Can I configure the collective web app to show me my external edits right away? ---
**Author:** ![mactrent](https://help.nextcloud.com/letter_avatar/mactrent/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@mactrent](https://help.nextcloud.com/u/mactrent)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2024, 5:05pm UTC](https://help.nextcloud.com/t/why-collectives-are-shown-as-external-storage/149281/7 "2024-06-17T17:05:36Z")
If you had the file open in the web text editor (aka “Text”) _while_ you made changes with another program, then this is expected. In order to see changes without closing and re-opening, both devices need to be using Text. If you made changes from another program, synced the changes, _and then_ opened the file with Text, then Text really should show you the latest version without the need to close and open for a second time. If that’s what you’re seeing, then it probably calls for a bug report! ---
**Author:** ![system](https://help.nextcloud.com/user_avatar/help.nextcloud.com/system/32/29333_2.png) [@system](https://help.nextcloud.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2024, 1:22pm UTC](https://help.nextcloud.com/t/why-collectives-are-shown-as-external-storage/149281/8 "2024-09-26T13:22:58Z")
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