Want full control over when and how your photos and videos are uploaded to your FOREVER® account? Auto-Sync makes it easy to back up new memories on your terms. Whether you're traveling, attending an event, or just want to ensure certain moments are safely stored, this guide will help you make the most of Auto-Sync on your iPhone.
How Auto-Sync Works
When Auto-Sync is ON, the FOREVER Mobile App will only upload new photos and videos taken from that moment forward. Anything captured before Auto-Sync was turned on will not be uploaded automatically.
Many users choose to keep Auto-Sync OFF for everyday use, and toggle it ON during special events or vacations to ensure important memories are backed up automatically.
Optimize Your Auto-Sync Settings
To ensure smooth and efficient syncing, follow these best practices:
📡 Background App Refresh
Auto-Sync relies on iOS Background App Refresh to work in the background.
To enable:
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Open iOS Settings
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Go to General → Background App Refresh
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Ensure it is enabled for FOREVER
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Set it to Wi-Fi for optimal performance
Tip: Disable Background App Refresh for other non-critical apps to help iOS prioritize FOREVER’s background activity.
NOTES:
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iOS learns your usage patterns over time—syncing may improve over a few days.
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Do not force-close the FOREVER app (i.e., swipe up from the app switcher), as this stops background uploads.
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Uploads happen in small batches and are not immediate after a photo is taken.
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For faster uploads, open the app and keep it active.
☁️ iCloud Photos
Due to Apple’s privacy settings, FOREVER cannot access photos stored only in iCloud.
To ensure access to your photos:
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Go to Settings → [your name] → iCloud → Photos
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If iCloud Photos is ON, make sure to select Download and Keep Originals
If your setting was Optimize iPhone Storage, your full-resolution photos are stored in iCloud and will need to be downloaded to your device before syncing. Here’s how to download originals from iCloud: Apple Support Download Guide
🖼️ Image Format Settings
iPhones default to the HEIF/HEIC image format, which FOREVER does not currently support natively.
To avoid conversion delays during upload:
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Go to Settings → Camera → Formats
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Select Most Compatible (This ensures your iPhone captures images in JPG format, allowing for faster uploads and reducing potential issues)
Other Helpful Tips
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Prevent Sleep During Uploads: Open the Uploads screen in the app when uploading a large batch of files. This will keep the app active. We also recommend plugging your device into power during this time.
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FOREVER Badging: Reinstalling the app removes badges in the Camera Roll that indicate which photos are uploaded. To restore them, perform a device backup.
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Upload Order: The Mobile App uploads oldest photos first. New photos will wait in line behind older ones.
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De-Duplication:
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Already uploaded photos won’t be uploaded again.
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Deleted photos in FOREVER will be uploaded again if they still exist on the device.
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Using Multiple Devices with iCloud: Only use one device to Auto-Sync. Apple delivers slightly different versions of the same photo to each device, which can confuse de-duplication due to size differences.
Using Auto-Sync with the FOREVER Mobile App on iPhone gives you powerful control over how your memories are preserved. Set it up right, follow these tips, and you’ll always have peace of mind knowing your most important photos and videos are safely backed up.