1. Download the Sync Client for your system from the Downloads page.
2. Open the downloaded file and follow the steps. The defaults are fine.
3. You need administrator rights on your computer. On a computer managed by your institution, ask your local IT helpdesk.

Windows and macOS: the Switch Drive Sync Client is offered on the Downloads page.

Linux: there is no Switch Drive-specific client. Install nextcloud-desktop from your package manager (or the AppImage from nextcloud.com) and enter https://drive.switch.ch as the server.

Updating from the old ownCloud client? Install the new client over the old one. Your settings are kept. If the old client is still listed in your installed programs afterwards, you can uninstall it.

1. Open the Switch Drive program.
2. A sign-in window opens. Sign in with your Switch edu-ID and click Authorize.
3. Done. The next time, it starts quietly in the background.

Look for the small Switch Drive icon in the menu bar (Mac) or system tray (Windows).

• Green: everything is up to date.
• Anything else: Switch Drive is still syncing, or there is a problem. What to do.

This is useful for big folders, such as "Movies" or "Backup", that you don't need on every computer.

1. Click the Switch Drive icon and open Settings.
2. In the Account tab, choose which folders to sync and untick the ones you don't want.
3. Confirm.

Unticked folders are not deleted. They stay in Switch Drive and in your browser, but are removed from this computer. To get a folder back, tick it again.

Keep the default location, normally inside your home folder, on your computer's internal drive.

Do not put it on a network drive or a USB stick or external disk that is sometimes not connected. If the client cannot find the folder, it may think you deleted everything and move all your files to the trash.

Tip for staying organised: use a few top-level folders, for example Institution (work files), Private and Projects. If you leave your institution, it is then easy to see which files stay with your team and which are yours.

When someone shares a folder with you, it appears at the top level. Move it wherever you like and rename it if you wish. This does not change anything for the owner.

Pause syncing when you need all your bandwidth, for example for a video call.

1. Click the Switch Drive icon (right-click on Windows).
2. Choose Pause synchronisation. The icon shows a pause symbol.
3. When you are ready, open the same menu and choose Resume synchronisation.

• The icon: a blue icon in the menu bar (Mac) or system tray (Windows) means files are being uploaded or downloaded.
• The progress bar: open the Switch Drive settings. A progress bar shows how many files are left and roughly how long it will take. Hold the mouse over it to see the speed and the file in progress.

Syncing takes longer when you have many or large files, a slow internet connection, or when the Switch Drive servers are busy.

Use the Sync Client for very large files. It uploads them in small pieces, which is more reliable than the browser.