Fix sync problems
Your changes do not reach another device, or the sidebar says Sync error or changes waiting. Read the status, then run the checks in order.
Prior saves every change on your device first, then sends it in the background. When sync fails, your changes wait on the device until they can go out. The checks below find out why.
Read the sync status
The sync row is in the sidebar. On a phone, open More. It shows one state:
| It says | It means |
|---|---|
| Synced and a time | Everything is up to date. |
| Syncing… | A sync is running. Wait a few seconds. |
| Offline: "Everything is saved on this device. It will sync when you're back online." | Prior cannot reach its server. |
| {n} changes waiting | Saved on this device, not sent yet. |
| Sync error: "Some changes could not sync. Retry now." | Part of the last sync failed. |
| On this device: "Your work is saved on this device. Sign in to sync it across your devices." | You are signed out. |
Checks, in order
- Click the sync row (it reads Sync now, or Retry after an error) and wait for Synced.
- Check your connection. If the row says Offline, reconnect. Prior decides it is offline when its own server does not answer, so a VPN, a firewall or a captive Wi-Fi page can cause it even when the web works.
- Check you are on the same account on both devices. Settings → Profile & account shows the email.
- Keep Prior open and visible on both devices for a minute. Prior syncs when you change something, when you come back to the app, about every minute while the window is visible, and at once when a teammate changes a shared project. A closed app or a hidden window does not sync.
- Update both devices to the latest version. See Update Prior.
- Look at the numbers. In Settings → Diagnostics, Sync state gives "Last sync revision" and "Pending mutations", the count of task and habit changes still waiting. Sync again: the count should fall to 0.
If changes stay waiting
If the count does not fall after a sync, the server is refusing those changes. The changes are not lost: they stay on the device and are tried again at every sync. A wrong device clock does not hold them back: Prior warns you and corrects the time of the changes. See Fix a wrong date or time.
Shared projects
Shared projects live on the server, so editing them needs a connection. Offline, a shared project says "You're offline. Shared projects need a connection, so this one is read-only until you reconnect." Your personal tasks keep working.
What does not sync
Notification settings belong to each device: see Set up notifications. Your session is per device too. Language, theme and text size follow your account.
When to write to support
Write to contact@priortasks.com if, after these checks, the row still says Sync error or the pending count has not moved for several minutes. Include your platform and Prior version, what the sync row says, the numbers from Settings → Diagnostics and, if you can, the log file. See Report a problem.
Updated 5 November 2026