Was this helpful?
Was this helpful?
In this Article
  • Created

Article Syncing Data When You Reconnect

Syncing Data When You Reconnect

Happy to help you understand what happens when your field team comes back online! The sync process is designed to be seamless, but there are a few things worth knowing so you can troubleshoot confidently if something looks off.

What Happens When You Reconnect

Once your device detects a stable connection, FieldPulse automatically begins syncing in the background. You will see a brief spinner in the status bar at the top of the Mobile App — no need to tap anything. Here is what syncs first:

  1. Work order status changes — these take priority to keep dispatchers informed
  2. New photos and signatures — uploaded in compressed batches
  3. Checklist responses — including any conditional logic results
  4. Time entries and parts usage — the last batch to process

If you have a lot of data queued, the full sync may take 30–60 seconds. You can continue working during this time, but we recommend waiting for completion before logging out.

Recognizing Sync Conflicts

Occasionally, two technicians edit the same work order while offline, or a dispatcher makes changes in the web app that conflict with field updates. When this happens, you will see a Sync Conflict banner on that work order.

Tap the banner to review both versions side by side. You can:

  • Keep your version
  • Keep the server version
  • Merge changes manually (recommended for notes and photos)

When Sync Seems Stuck

If the spinner persists longer than two minutes or you see "Sync Failed - Tap to Retry," try these steps in order:

  1. Confirm you have at least two bars of signal or stable Wi-Fi
  2. Force-close and reopen the FieldPulse app
  3. Navigate to Settings > Sync Status and tap Force Sync Now
  4. If still stuck, log out and back in — your offline data is preserved

Still seeing issues? Check out Data Loss After Offline Session — Cause and Resolution for deeper troubleshooting, or Using FieldPulse Offline for tips on minimizing sync volume.

Proactive Tips for Your Team

  • Encourage technicians to connect to Wi-Fi at the office before logging out for the day — this ensures bulk photo uploads happen on a fast connection
  • For multi-day jobs with heavy documentation, suggest tapping Sync Now manually at lunch to spread the load
  • Dispatches made while a technician is offline will appear immediately upon reconnection — no refresh needed

Questions about specific sync errors? Drop them below and I will point you to the right resource.