When a computer, laptop, or other device has been offline for a period of time, Sync automatically checks for changes when the device reconnects.
This article covers the following:
- Before you reconnect
- What happens when a device reconnects?
- What if the same file was changed in two places?
- What if files were deleted on the offline device?
- Review activity after reconnecting
Before you reconnect
In most cases, no special action is required. When the Sync desktop app reconnects, it compares the contents of your local Sync folder with the contents stored in your Sync account and synchronizes any differences.
How long this process takes depends on how many files changed while the device was offline.
What happens when a device reconnects?
When Sync reconnects, it reviews changes made both locally and in the cloud while the device was offline.
Files added from another device
If files or folders were added from another connected device while your computer was offline, Sync will download those files to your local Sync folder when it reconnects.
Example:
- Computer A goes offline.
- Computer B uploads three new files to Sync.
- Computer A reconnects later.
- The three new files are downloaded to Computer A.
Files deleted from another device
If a file or folder was deleted from another connected device and that deletion was successfully synced to the cloud, Sync will remove the file from the offline device when it reconnects.
Example:
- Computer A goes offline.
- Computer B deletes a folder.
- The deletion syncs to Sync.com.
- Computer A reconnects later.
- The deleted folder is removed from Computer A.
Files changed on another device
If a file was updated from another connected device while your computer was offline, Sync will update the offline device with the newest version when it reconnects.
Example:
- Computer A goes offline.
- Computer B edits a document and syncs the changes.
- Computer A reconnects later.
- The updated version is downloaded to Computer A.
Files changed on the offline device
If files were created or modified locally while the device was offline, Sync will detect those changes and upload them when the device reconnects.
Example:
- Computer A goes offline.
- You create new files in the local Sync folder.
- Computer A reconnects.
- The new files are uploaded to Sync and become available on your other devices.
What if the same file was changed in two places?
If the same file is modified both locally and elsewhere while the device is offline, Sync attempts to preserve both versions.
In these situations, Sync may create a conflict copy rather than overwrite one version with another. This helps prevent data loss and allows you to review the changes manually.
For more information, see What is a conflicted file copy?
What if files were deleted on the offline device?
If files were deleted locally while the device was offline, those deletions may be synced to the cloud when the device reconnects.
If you are unsure whether local deletions should be preserved, consider reviewing your recent activity after reconnecting.
You can also restore deleted files from your account if needed. For more information, see Restore deleted files or folders.
Review activity after reconnecting
After reconnecting a device, it can be helpful to review your account activity to confirm that files were added, updated, or deleted as expected.
The Events page provides a record of recent activity across your account and can help identify any unexpected changes.