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Overview

AppFlowy uses a modern syncing protocol to keep your data synchronized across all your devices in real-time. Whether you’re working on desktop, iOS, or Android, your changes are automatically saved and synced to the cloud.
AppFlowy introduced a new syncing protocol in v0.9.4 optimized for faster, more reliable multi-user and multi-device data synchronization.

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How Sync Works

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Real-Time Synchronization

When you’re connected to the internet:
1

Make a change

Edit a document, update a database, or create a new page on your mobile device.
2

Instant local save

Your change is saved locally on your device immediately.
3

Cloud sync

The change is sent to AppFlowy Cloud within seconds.
4

Broadcast to other devices

All your other devices receive the update in real-time.
5

Conflict resolution

If multiple people edit simultaneously, AppFlowy automatically merges changes.

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Sync Indicators

AppFlowy provides visual feedback about sync status:

Network Indicator

Shows your connection status in the app (v0.9.5+). Look for the icon in the top bar.

Sync Status

In-document indicator shows when content is syncing (v0.5.4+). Watch for the spinning icon.
Indicator states:
  • Green/Connected: Fully synced with cloud
  • Yellow/Syncing: Actively uploading changes
  • Red/Offline: No internet connection; working in offline mode
  • Gray/Error: Sync error; may need attention

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Offline Mode

AppFlowy is designed to work seamlessly offline. You never lose access to your data.

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How Offline Mode Works

1

Lose connection

Your device goes offline (airplane mode, no WiFi, no cellular data).
2

Continue working

AppFlowy detects offline mode and allows you to keep working normally.All changes are saved locally on your device.
3

Reconnect

When your device reconnects to the internet, sync resumes automatically.
4

Upload changes

All offline changes are uploaded to the cloud.Changes from other devices are downloaded.
5

Merge conflicts

If there are conflicts, AppFlowy merges them intelligently.

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What Works Offline

✅ Full access:
  • Read all pages and documents
  • Edit existing pages
  • Create new pages
  • Modify databases
  • Use most features normally
❌ Requires internet:
  • AI features (AI Chat, AI Search, AI Overviews)
  • Downloading pages not yet cached locally
  • Sharing and collaboration features
  • Publishing pages to web
  • Uploading images to cloud storage
Pages are cached locally as you view them. If you haven’t opened a page while online, it may not be available offline.

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First-Time Setup

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Syncing from Desktop to Mobile

If you’ve been using AppFlowy on desktop and are setting up mobile for the first time:
1

Ensure desktop is synced

On your desktop, verify all content is synced to the cloud.Look for sync indicators showing everything is up to date.
2

Sign in on mobile

Install AppFlowy on your mobile device and sign in with the same account you use on desktop.
3

Initial sync

AppFlowy will download your workspace data. This can take a few minutes depending on how much data you have.Keep the app open and connected to WiFi during initial sync.
4

Verify content

Once sync completes, verify your pages, documents, and databases appear correctly.
Important: Read the official sync guide before logging into mobile for the first time if you have existing desktop data.

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Sync Performance

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What’s Synced

AppFlowy syncs:
  • Documents: All text, formatting, and structure
  • Databases: Grid, Board, Calendar views and all data
  • Properties: View settings, filters, sorts
  • User settings: Preferences, theme, language, font (v0.9.8+)
  • Workspaces: All workspace data and structure
  • Images: Uploaded to cloud storage
  • Favorites: Synced across devices
  • Recent pages: Updates across devices

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Sync Speed

Typical sync times (v0.9.4+ with new protocol):
  • Small edit (typing): < 1 second
  • Medium change (formatting, moving blocks): 1-3 seconds
  • Large operation (creating database): 3-10 seconds
  • Initial workspace download: Varies by size (1-5 minutes typical)
Connect to WiFi for faster sync, especially when uploading images or syncing large databases.

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Improving Sync Performance

Mobile (Android):
  1. Disable battery optimization for AppFlowy:
    • Settings > Apps > AppFlowy > Battery
    • Select Unrestricted
  2. Ensure background data is enabled
  3. Use WiFi when possible for faster uploads
Mobile (iOS):
  1. Enable Background App Refresh:
    • Settings > AppFlowy
    • Turn on Background App Refresh
  2. Keep the app updated to the latest version
  3. Use WiFi for large uploads

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Troubleshooting Sync Issues

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Changes not syncing

1

Check connection

Verify you have an active internet connection.Look for the network indicator in AppFlowy.
2

Check sync indicator

Look at the sync status indicator in the document.If it’s stuck, there may be a sync error.
3

Force sync

Close and reopen the app to trigger a fresh sync.
4

Sign out and back in

If the issue persists:
  • Sign out of AppFlowy
  • Close the app completely
  • Reopen and sign back in

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”Failed to sync” error

Possible causes:
  • Network connection interrupted during sync
  • Server temporarily unavailable
  • Authentication expired
Solutions:
  1. Wait 30 seconds and try again
  2. Check your internet connection
  3. Sign out and sign back in
  4. Clear app cache (Settings > Manage Data)
  5. Update to the latest app version

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Sync conflicts

If you edit the same content offline on multiple devices:
AppFlowy uses Operational Transformation (OT) to automatically merge most conflicts. In rare cases where automatic merge isn’t possible, you may see duplicate content.
How to handle conflicts:
  1. Review both versions of the conflicting content
  2. Manually merge the information
  3. Delete the duplicate content
  4. Save your merged version

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WebSocket connection issues

AppFlowy uses WebSocket for real-time sync. Connection problems were addressed in v0.9.5. If you see connection errors:
  1. Update to the latest version
  2. Check if your network blocks WebSocket connections (some corporate networks do)
  3. Try switching between WiFi and cellular data
  4. Restart your router if on WiFi

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Images not syncing

Issue: Images upload to cloud storage separately from text content. Solutions:
  1. Ensure you have internet connection when adding images
  2. Wait for upload to complete (look for progress indicator)
  3. If image fails to upload, try re-adding it
  4. Check storage quota (Pro plan may be needed for large image libraries)

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Collaboration & Multi-User Sync

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Real-Time Collaboration

When multiple people edit the same page:

Live Cursors

See where other editors are working (v0.5.6+).

Instant Updates

Changes from others appear immediately as they type.

Conflict Prevention

Automatic merge prevents data loss from simultaneous edits.

Presence Indicators

See who else is viewing or editing the page.

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Shared Page Sync

Pages shared with you (v0.9.4+) sync just like your own pages:
  • View shared pages on mobile
  • Edit with Can Edit permission
  • See changes in real-time
  • Receive notifications for mentions
For best collaboration experience, ensure all team members are on the latest version of AppFlowy.

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Data Storage & Privacy

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What’s Stored Where

Local storage (on device):
  • Cached pages for offline access
  • User preferences
  • Session data
  • Temporary files
Cloud storage (AppFlowy Cloud):
  • All workspace data
  • Documents and databases
  • Images and uploaded files
  • User account information
  • Sharing and permissions

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Managing Local Storage

To clear cached data on mobile:
1

Open Settings

Tap the profile icon and go to Settings.
2

Manage Data

Navigate to Manage Data (v0.5.8+).
3

Clear cache

Tap Clear cache to remove locally cached pages.Your data in the cloud is not affected.
4

Re-sync

Pages will be re-downloaded from cloud as you access them.
Clearing cache removes offline access to pages. You’ll need internet to view them again.

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Advanced Sync Features

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Selective Sync

Currently, AppFlowy syncs all workspace data. Selective sync (choosing which pages to sync to mobile) is not yet available but is on the roadmap.

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Sync History

AppFlowy maintains version history in the cloud:
  • View document history (desktop feature)
  • Restore previous versions
  • Track who made changes
Full version history features are primarily available on desktop. Mobile access to version history is planned for future releases.

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Best Practices

Stay connected: Keep Background App Refresh (iOS) or disable battery optimization (Android) for AppFlowy to ensure smooth sync.
WiFi for uploads: Upload large images and files over WiFi to save cellular data and improve speed.
Wait for sync: Before closing the app after major edits, wait a few seconds to ensure sync completes.
Keep updated: Always update to the latest AppFlowy version for sync improvements and bug fixes.
Regular sync checks: If working offline for extended periods, periodically check that sync completes when you reconnect.

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Known Sync Issues & Fixes

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Historical Issues (Fixed)

These issues were present in older versions but have been fixed. Update to the latest version:
  • v0.9.5: Fixed WebSocket connection issues
  • v0.9.6: Fixed some syncing issues
  • v0.5.1: Fixed pages failing to sync properly
  • v0.4.5: Fixed refresh token bug affecting sync

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Reporting Sync Problems

If you encounter sync issues:
  1. Update to the latest app version
  2. Try the troubleshooting steps above
  3. If the issue persists, report it:
Include:
  • Device type (iOS/Android)
  • AppFlowy version
  • Steps to reproduce
  • Error messages (if any)

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What’s Next?

iOS App

Learn about iOS-specific features and setup

Android App

Explore Android features and configuration

Collaboration

Set up sharing and real-time collaboration

Self-Hosting

Host your own AppFlowy sync server

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