After a re-organisation of my databases which are synchronized between MacOS an iPadOS I have now 4 database folders which are shown in the iPad files app and I cannot get rid of them. They were cleared from the synchronisation process and are not shown in the iCloud sync panel anymore. How can I delete those undead „Flying Dutchmen“?
Does deleting them using the DEVONthink ToGo database delete function? Long press on the database name and pick delete.
This has nothing to do with the databases in DEVONthink or DEVONthink To Go. As is documented and often spoken of, your databases aren’t in the sync location, and your databases are local to the device. Deleting a database doesn’t affect the sync data and deleting sync data doesn’t affect the local database.
And @rmschne is correct about removing the database(s).
As I said: Several database folders are shown in the iPad Files app, and it es not possible to delete them. You can trust me that I know how to delete or move folders.
Four of them are old ones which I cannot delete and not even open. In DTTG they are not visible or recoverable.
Did you try deleting them from DEVONthink ToGo and not the iPad Files app? what happened when you tried?
I did not only try but succeded with deleting the databases from DTTG – AFTER I inactivated them from the iCloud (CloudKit) synchronization panel. Parallel I deleted and cleared the databases on the Mac. But as you can see on the screenshot, they are undead in the files app, with seemingly xx files as content. But I cannot open, move or delete them there.
Thanks for now confirming you deleted the database in the DEVONthink ToGo App. And then still see it in the DEVONthink folder with Files.
I think I might see the same thing.
On an iPhone with iOS 26.5 DEVONthink ToGo 4.1.3
- Create a new Database called “test1”
- add a junk text file in its Inbox
- Press on the Database name, pick “Delete”
- Database name disappears from the database list in DEVONthink ToGo
- in iOS Files app, look in “DEVONthink” Location
- test1 folder still there.
- Repeat steps 1-5 above
- with Files app, now see two “test1” folders in the “DEVONthink” location
Something odd. Maybe me?
Noting this is a non-fatal problem, it’s unclear if this is a remnant from Files.app or DEVONthink To Go. I am filing an issue to investigate this.
Don’t look “seemingly”. Is there actual content in any of them? There shouldn’t be and I need this information for the issue I’m filing.
This morning I thought help answer your question about contents in the folder shown in Files app.
I repeated the same steps as above and created a new “test1”. Added a dummy text file. Went to Files to see if the new and third database folder there. Yes.
But Big Surprise. The first two had disappeared after having been there last evening. When disappeared, I don’t know, but it was about 10 hours overnight since the first test. Didn’t expect that. I wish I had looked before doing the repeat test.
My hunch is iOS took it’s own time to remove the folders that DEVONthink had deleted with the “delete”.
I then deleted the “test1” in DEVONthink. The “deleting database” with the squirrel (?) icon and blue bar seemed to get stuck. Dunno why. After letting it sit there for a few minutes, restarted DEVONthink ToGo. “test1” still shown in the DEVONthink ToGo Databases list. Then long-pressed to delete, and the database name instantly disappeared from the Database list.
In Files, the “test1” folder still there. It says “four items”, but clicking into the folder shows “folder is empty”. So reported as not using space, but the root folder name remains.
I’ll check back at intervals today and see if I can see when iOS removes this folder – let’s call it a phantom folder.
As you say @BLUEFROG “non-fatal” and probably a non-problem as deleted database folder for me is empty and apparently not consuming space.
I suspect an iOS issue.
edit: screen shots showing the phantom “test1” still shown in Files. 4 items, but then clicking on the folder name shows the folder empty.
My screenshot shows numbers at the folders. since I can not open them I do not know if there really is any content.
The issue was persistent on my iPad for several days. After deleting DTTG from the device and reinstalling, the undead folders do not reappear. As rmschne has observed: They will reappear if I rearrange my databases again. IPadOS issue or DTTG issue, non-fatal or critical: I do not like such phenomena. It makes me distrustful and it consumes unnecessary time. Perhaps there is a life beyond DTTG.
A pity to think like that. Especially since the support attention rec’d here on what you report. From my perch something going on with Apple’s iOS. Perhaps you can report the issue to Apple. They are in a better position to work this out…should they take interest.
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In followup, this morning, the following day after the DEVONthink ToGo test database was created then deleted with DEVONthink ToGo “delete” function, I checked if the above “phantom” test1 folder still shown on iOS Files App. Launching a fresh copy on the iPhone, for a moment the folder name was visible then it quickly disappeared. Poof. Gone.
It might have been gone earlier in the cycle and the Files app just refreshed itself and not actually deleting the folder name just now.
So, it looks like iOS just takes its own time to remove the root folder of a deleted DEVONthink ToGo database. Dunno why.
A mystery which I won’t pursue, but iOS might have behaved this way for a very long time. Until this issue posted here, It never occurred to me to check iOS file system wth Files after deleting a DEVONthink ToGo database.
On my iPad one of the Phantom Folders stayed for weeks, the other for several days. Only by deleting DTTG I could eliminate them. DTTG Test Flight 4.2 by the way.
In my experience, with the GFSA (*) starts doing dumb things, I kill it, wait some seconds to allow iOS really dump from memory and reopen.
() “Great” Files/Fcking St*pid App.
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Agree fully. For me, after killing Files (more than few times and waiting more than seconds) didn’t see the “phantom” folder disappear. iOS and/or Files taking their merry ol’ time. Never worried on this issue, here. Started off being curious, but no longer.
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