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Notesnook sync settings ​

Sync works out of the box with nothing to configure. These settings exist for the cases where you want more of your data kept on the device, less automatic network activity, or a way to repair a device that has fallen out of step with the server.

Where sync settings live ​

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Under Account, select Sync.

Everything on this page is in the Sync group.

Turn on full offline mode Essential ​

Full offline mode — "Download everything including attachments on sync" — makes every sync also download your attachments, not only your notes. Without it, an image or file is fetched from the server the first time you open it, which needs a connection.

Turn it on if you want your notes and every image, file and audio recording readable with no internet at all — on a flight, or on a laptop you deliberately keep offline.

  1. Open Settings → Account → Sync.
  2. Switch on Full offline mode.

Notesnook immediately starts downloading everything you have not cached yet. Switching it back off cancels any download still in progress.

Full offline mode uses disk space

Your attachments are downloaded in full, so the app's storage footprint grows to roughly the size of everything you have uploaded. Attachments already downloaded stay downloaded when you turn the setting off.

Full offline mode needs Essential or above — see plans & limits.

Turn off automatic, realtime or all syncing Pro ​

Three separate switches, from least to most drastic. All three need Pro or above.

SettingWhat it does
Disable auto sync"Turn off automatic syncing. Changes from this client will be synced only when you run sync manually."
Disable realtime sync"Changes from other devices won't be updated in the editor in real-time."
Disable sync"Turns off syncing completely on this device. Any changes made will remain local only and new changes from your other devices won't sync to this device."

Each is worded as a disable switch: turning the switch on turns that piece of syncing off.

  • Use Disable auto sync on a metered or unreliable connection. You keep manual sync, so nothing is stranded permanently — you decide when it goes out.
  • Use Disable realtime sync if you find notes changing under your cursor distracting while someone else's device (or your own) is editing the same note.
  • Use Disable sync to make a device local-only for a while. When you switch it back on, everything queued up on that device syncs then.
  1. Open Settings → Account → Sync.
  2. Switch on Disable sync, Disable auto sync or Disable realtime sync.

With Disable sync on, the sync icon in the status bar greys out and its tooltip reads Sync disabled. Clicking it no longer starts a sync.

Nothing leaves the device while sync is off

A device with Disable sync on does not send changes anywhere, and does not receive them. If that device is lost or reset before you turn sync back on, the changes made on it are gone. Take a backup if you plan to leave sync off for any length of time.

Sync in the background ​

Mobile has one extra switch on the same screen, Background sync (experimental) — "Sync your notes in the background even when the app is closed. This is an experimental feature. If you face any issues, please turn it off."

It is available on every plan, and it is mobile only — there is no equivalent on desktop or web, which sync while the app or tab is open. See how sync works for what background sync can and cannot promise.

Force push or force pull your data ​

These two buttons exist for one purpose: repairing a device whose data has drifted out of step with the server. They are available on every plan, and both overwrite data.

ButtonWhat it does
Force push changes"Use this if changes made on this device are not appearing on other devices. This will overwrite the data on the server with the data from this device."
Force pull changes"Use this if changes from other devices are not appearing on this device. This will overwrite the data on this device with the latest data from the server."

These are not a stronger "sync now"

From the app's own warning: "This must only be used for troubleshooting. Using this regularly for sync is not recommended and will lead to unexpected data loss and other issues."

A force push replaces what is on the server with this device's copy — anything on the server that this device never received can be lost. A force pull replaces this device's copy with the server's — anything on this device that was never uploaded can be lost. Notesnook cannot recover data destroyed this way. Take a backup before you press either one.

  1. Open Settings → Account → Sync.
  2. Scroll to Having problems with sync?.
  3. Press Force push changes or Force pull changes.
  4. Read the warning, tick I understand, then press Continue.

The sync icon in the status bar shows the run in progress. Both buttons are styled in red — that is deliberate.

If you are here because something is not syncing, try the ordinary fixes in sync troubleshooting first — a force push or pull is rarely the right first move.