Sync All Your Devices with Infomaniak

We all juggle multiple devices: desktop at the office, laptop on the go, smartphone always at hand. The challenge is keeping our data up to date everywhere, without duplication or loss. Infomaniak, through standard protocols and dedicated applications, enables seamless synchronization of your entire work environment.

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The Cloud Synchronization Principle

Cloud synchronization relies on a simple principle: your data is stored on a central server (Infomaniak) and each device keeps a local copy that it maintains up to date.

When you read an email on your phone, the "email read" information is sent to the server. Your computer retrieves this information and displays the email as read, without you having to do anything.

This principle applies to:

• Emails – Via IMAP, all your devices see the same state of your mailbox
• Calendars – Via CalDAV, an event created on your Mac appears on your iPhone
• Contacts – Via CardDAV, a newly added contact is available everywhere
• Files – Via kDrive, your documents are accessible from all your devices

Syncing Emails (IMAP)

IMAP is the protocol that enables email synchronization between multiple devices. Unlike POP3 which downloads and deletes emails from the server, IMAP maintains a copy on the server accessible from anywhere.

Standard Configuration

Here are the settings to use on all your devices:

Multi-Device Email Best Practices

• Use IMAP everywhere – Never configure POP3, it would break synchronization
• Map folders correctly – Drafts, Sent, Trash should point to the same server folders
• Avoid downloading all emails locally – Sync only the last X days to save space

Syncing Calendars (CalDAV)

CalDAV is the open protocol for calendar synchronization. Infomaniak natively supports CalDAV, enabling synchronization with most calendar applications.

Configuration by Device

iPhone/iPad: Settings → Calendar → Accounts → Add CalDAV Account

• Server: caldav.infomaniak.com
• Credentials: Your Infomaniak email and password

Mac (Calendar): System Preferences → Internet Accounts → Add CalDAV Account

Android: Requires a third-party app like DAVx⁵

• Base URL: https://caldav.infomaniak.com

Thunderbird: Native CalDAV since version 102

Outlook desktop: Requires a connector like CalDAV Synchronizer

Conflict Resolution

What happens if you modify the same event on two devices simultaneously? CalDAV handles this through version numbers (ETag). Generally, the last modification overwrites the previous ones. To avoid surprises:

• Sync frequently (short interval)
• Avoid modifying the same event from multiple devices at the same time
• If a conflict is detected, CalDAV sometimes creates duplicates – clean them up manually

Syncing Contacts (CardDAV)

CardDAV works on the same principle as CalDAV, but for contacts.

Configuration by Device

iPhone/iPad: Settings → Contacts → Accounts → Add CardDAV Account

• Server: carddav.infomaniak.com

Mac: System Preferences → Internet Accounts → Add CardDAV Account

Android: Via DAVx⁵

• URL: https://carddav.infomaniak.com

Thunderbird: Native CardDAV since version 102

Avoiding Duplicates

The main cause of duplicate contacts: having the same person in multiple address books (iCloud + Infomaniak, for example). Solutions:

• Choose a primary address book and migrate all your contacts into it
• Disable synchronization of other address books
• Or clearly define which address book to use for which type of contact (personal vs professional)

Syncing Files (kDrive)

kDrive is Infomaniak\'s cloud storage service. It works like Dropbox or Google Drive: your files are in the cloud and synced to your devices.

kDrive Applications

Install the kDrive app on each device:

• Windows/Mac/Linux: Desktop app with bidirectional sync
• iOS: App Store
• Android: Play Store

Sync Mode

The desktop app offers several modes:

Full synchronization: All files are downloaded locally. Ideal if you often work offline and have enough disk space.

Files On-Demand: Only files you open are downloaded. Saves space but requires a connection to access files.

Folder selection: Choose which folders to sync on each device. Useful if certain folders are only relevant on certain devices.

Web Access: Always Available

In addition to applications, all your Infomaniak services are accessible via browser:

• Webmail: mail.infomaniak.com
• kDrive: kdrive.infomaniak.com
• Infomaniak Manager: manager.infomaniak.com

Web access is valuable when you\'re on a device that isn\'t yours (a client\'s computer, a public terminal). No need to install anything, just a browser.

Practical Example: Complete Setup

Let\'s take the example of a professional equipped with a MacBook, an iPhone, and a desktop PC at the office. How to sync everything?

On the MacBook

1. Email: Configure in Apple Mail via IMAP
2. Calendar: Add CalDAV account in System Preferences
3. Contacts: Add CardDAV account in System Preferences
4. Files: Install kDrive desktop, sync current project folders

On the iPhone

1. Email: Configure in Mail (IMAP)
2. Calendar: Already synced via the CalDAV account added
3. Contacts: Already synced via the CardDAV account added
4. Files: Install the kDrive app for mobile access

On the Desktop PC

1. Email: Configure in Outlook or Thunderbird (IMAP)
2. Calendar: Use CalDAV Synchronizer for Outlook, or native Thunderbird
3. Contacts: Same approach
4. Files: Install kDrive desktop, sync the same folders as the MacBook

Result: emails read on the iPhone appear as read on Mac and PC. An appointment created on the PC appears on all devices. A file modified on the MacBook updates automatically on the PC.

Troubleshooting Sync Issues

Emails Out of Sync

• Verify all devices use IMAP (not POP3)
• Force a manual sync (pull down, refresh button)
• Check mapped folders (Sent, Trash should point to the same server folders)

Calendar Not Up to Date

• Check the sync interval (some apps only refresh every hour)
• Delete and recreate the CalDAV account if problems persist
• Verify you\'re looking at the right calendar (selection in the app)

kDrive Conflicts

• Conflicting files are renamed with "(conflict)" in the name
• Compare versions and keep the right one
• Avoid modifying the same file simultaneously on multiple devices

Multi-Device Security

The more connected devices you have, the larger the attack surface. Some precautions:

Enable 2FA

Two-factor authentication protects your account even if a password is compromised. For applications that don\'t support interactive 2FA, use dedicated app passwords.

Manage Connected Devices

In Infomaniak Manager, you can see devices connected to your account. Revoke access for devices you no longer use.

Use Different Passwords

Each application configured with a dedicated app password allows you to revoke one access without affecting others. Useful if you lose a phone.

Conclusion

With the right protocols (IMAP, CalDAV, CardDAV) and the right applications (kDrive), Infomaniak provides perfect synchronization between all your devices. Emails, calendars, contacts, and files are up to date everywhere, automatically.

The initial configuration investment is quickly repaid by the daily convenience. No more wondering which device has the latest file or whether you\'ve seen that email: everything is synced.

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