Choose the right starting copy

An iPhone and an iPad may begin with different financial histories. Sync setup cannot assume which one you want to keep. Penniva can require a comparison and an explicit source choice before it connects those records.

Read the explanation beside each choice. Using an iCloud copy can replace the local dataset; choosing a local copy as the source can replace the cloud dataset. This is not a promise to combine two independent budgets automatically. Keep a full backup of data you want to preserve before confirming a replacement.

Set up and check the connection

  1. Confirm your devices meet the requirements and are signed into the same iCloud account. Keep compatible Penniva versions on both.
  2. Open Data & Privacy and review the Cloud Sync section. Follow its setup and readiness steps.
  3. If Penniva asks which data to keep, inspect the comparison and replacement explanation before making a choice. Pause here if you cannot identify the intended source.
  4. After setup, review the sync status. When available, Sync Now starts a fresh attempt; check its outcome and the recorded last-sync time rather than assuming an old success describes the current attempt.

Some states need attention before syncing can continue, such as an account change, unavailable iCloud storage or a conflict. Follow the specific message. Reinstalling the app or replacing a dataset is not a general troubleshooting step. Contact support with the version and visible status if the next action is unclear.

Know what travels with your budget

Sync includes transactions, categories, tags, budgets, accounts and Net Worth history, recurring items, loans and payoff scenarios, credit-score entries, import profiles and rules. It uses Apple’s CloudKit private database in your iCloud storage; your financial records do not pass through a Penniva server.

Appearance, dashboard preferences, purchase and device state, and import rollback history stay local. The privacy policy explains encrypted fields and how Apple’s Advanced Data Protection setting affects protection inside iCloud.

Keep sync and backup as separate tools

Turning Cloud Sync off stops that device from sending and receiving further changes. It does not delete the existing iCloud copy. Deleting the iCloud copy is a separate action with its own consequences.

A full local backup preserves a copy you choose to keep. Sync coordinates ongoing changes, so it does not replace that independent copy. If Pro ends, your local records remain readable, and CSV export plus full local backup and restore remain free.