Troubleshooting

Devices can’t pair

• Companion Sync must be ON in Settings, and enabled per library (right-click the library in the sidebar).
• Allow LocalPhotos through the macOS firewall; keep both machines on the same network.
• The PIN rotates every 30 seconds — a “wrong PIN” is usually just a stale one.

A library doesn’t show on the phone

Only libraries with Companion Sync enabled are offered to devices. Right-click the library in the sidebar → Enable Companion Sync.

Mac won’t pair or connect

Same network, Companion Sync on, the Local Network permission granted (Settings → Privacy & Security → Local Network), exact address if discovery fails. The in-app Help floats a “Fix pairing” checklist to the top whenever the link is down.

A Files folder won’t open, or is slow

• A NAS mounted in the Files app can respond slowly — the app detects a slow source and adapts rather than failing. Give a first scan time to finish.
• If a drive or NAS disappears mid-use, an attached originals source detaches itself; reattach it once the folder is back.

Changes not reaching the Mac

Edits made offline queue up. Settings shows Pending Changes with counts — Retry Failed Changes sends them again, Discard drops them. Imports made offline land on the next reconnect.

Mac won’t pair or connect

Same network, Companion Sync on, exact address if discovery fails. The in-app Help floats a “Fix pairing” checklist to the top whenever the link is down.

NAS errors, decoded

NAS failures read: “Couldn’t connect to the NAS. Check the address, share name, username/password, and that you’re on the same network.” — with the technical cause in parentheses:

• STATUS_LOGON_FAILURE — the NAS rejected the username or password.
• STATUS_BAD_NETWORK_NAME — no share by that name on the server; check the exact share name in the NAS’s admin page.
• STATUS_ACCESS_DENIED — the account signed in, but isn’t allowed into that share or folder.
• A timeout with no status — wrong address, or the phone isn’t on the NAS’s network.

First scans of a big share can look quiet for a while — the app deliberately waits out slow responses instead of failing fast.

Changes not reaching the Mac

Edits made offline queue up. Settings shows Pending changes with counts — Retry sends failed ones again, Discard drops them. Imports made offline land on the next reconnect.

Starting over

On a phone: Settings → a library → remove it from this device; the Mac and your source folders are untouched. Disconnecting the Mac keeps local data, and re-pairing picks it back up.