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User manual
Troubleshooting

A sync is slow or hasn't run

Check why ContactZapp hasn't synced yet, or why a sync is taking long.

ContactZapp hasn't synced when you expected, or a sync is taking a long time. Your contacts are safe while you check.

Steps

  1. Tap Sync details and read the panel.
  2. If the button says Start syncing, you haven't started yet. Nothing syncs on a schedule until you do. See Start your first sync.
  3. If the panel says "Manual sync only", the schedule is Manual only. Tap Sync now. To check on a schedule, see Change how often ContactZapp checks.
  4. If the panel says "Next sync not scheduled", no check is planned yet. Tap Sync now.
  5. If the panel says "Next check in" a time, wait for it. An hourly or daily check can start after its interval. See the linked answer for how timing works.
  6. If a sync is running and an account "asked us to slow down — still syncing", nothing to do. Open the Sync log. The run shows Slowed down and says whether a retry is coming.
  7. Check the accounts. In the Sync log, a run skips an account that is paused or "needs reauthorizing". See Pause or resume an account and Reauthorize an account.
  8. Check Account updates in the Sync log. A change shows Queued, or "{provider} is busy — retrying automatically". Updates reach your accounts separately from sync runs, so a run can finish while updates are still going out.

What happens next

A slowed-down sync, and a change that shows Queued or "retrying automatically", need nothing from you. We keep retrying.

A large update to a CardDAV account can take longer than the same update to Google or Microsoft. See the linked answer.

If something goes wrong

  • A change appears under Needs attention. Tap Retry now or Retry all. See Read the Sync log.
  • The sync failed. The panel says "Sync failed" with the account's name. Tap Sync now to try again.
  • "Sync could not be started. Try again." Tap the button again.
  • A sync is running and you want it to stop. Tap Stop Sync.

How often does ContactZapp check my accounts for changes, and can I change it?

You can choose Hourly, Daily or Manual only. Use the switch next to Sync now in the top bar, or go to Settings › Sync and use Check for changes. New users start on Manual only, which never checks on its own, so use Sync now when you want to check. Hourly and Daily are not real-time. A run can start later than the interval, by up to half an interval. The Digest email setting only controls the summary email and doesn't change how often we check.

Why is the update to my CardDAV account taking so long to complete?

CardDAV has no way to update many contacts in one request. ContactZapp reads each contact and then sends its update, one contact at a time. We also keep a gentle pace, because CardDAV servers differ and most don't publish their limits. A large update to a CardDAV account can therefore take longer than the same update to Google or Microsoft. Open the Sync log to see which changes are queued, retrying or need attention.