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Sync Problems

This guide helps you troubleshoot synchronization issues with Gmail and Google Calendar integrations.

Gmail Sync Issues​

Emails Not Appearing​

Symptoms: New emails don't show in Shorebird OS.

Check These First:

  1. Sync status

    • Go to Settings → Integrations → Gmail
    • Check "Last synced" timestamp
    • Look for error messages

  2. Connected account

    • Verify correct Gmail account is connected
    • Try disconnecting and reconnecting

  3. Sync settings

    • Ensure sync is enabled
    • Check sync frequency setting
    • Verify folders/labels to sync

Solutions:

  1. Force manual sync

    • Click "Sync Now" in Gmail settings
    • Wait for sync to complete

  2. Reconnect Gmail

    • Go to Settings → Integrations
    • Click Disconnect for Gmail
    • Wait 30 seconds
    • Click Connect and re-authorize

  3. Check Google permissions

    • Go to Google Account → Security → Third-party apps
    • Find Shorebird OS
    • Ensure permissions are granted

Sent Emails Not Syncing​

Symptoms: Emails you send aren't tracked in Shorebird OS.

Solutions:

  1. Check send method

    • Emails must be sent through Shorebird OS to track
    • Emails sent directly in Gmail sync on schedule

  2. Check sent folder sync

    • Ensure "Sent" folder is included in sync
    • Settings → Gmail → Folders

  3. Wait for sync

    • Sent folder sync may be delayed
    • Force manual sync if needed

Attachments Missing​

Symptoms: Email attachments don't download or show.

Solutions:

  1. Check attachment size

    • Large attachments may not sync
    • Maximum attachment size: 25MB

  2. Check permissions

    • Gmail integration needs attachment permissions
    • Reconnect if permissions changed

  3. Download manually

    • Click to download attachment specifically
    • Some attachments require on-demand fetch

Google Calendar Sync Issues​

Events Not Appearing​

Symptoms: Google Calendar events don't show in Shorebird OS.

Check These First:

  1. Connected calendars

    • Settings → Integrations → Google Calendar
    • Verify correct calendars are selected

  2. Sync direction

    • Check if sync is two-way or one-way
    • Events may only sync in one direction

  3. Calendar permissions

    • Ensure you have view access to the calendar
    • Shared calendars need explicit sharing

Solutions:

  1. Select calendars to sync

    • Settings → Google Calendar
    • Check boxes for calendars to sync
    • Save and sync

  2. Reconnect calendar

    • Disconnect Google Calendar
    • Wait, then reconnect
    • Re-select calendars

  3. Check Google Calendar directly

    • Verify events exist in Google Calendar
    • Ensure events aren't hidden

Events Created in Shorebird OS Not Syncing to Google​

Symptoms: Events you create don't appear in Google Calendar.

Solutions:

  1. Check sync direction

    • Settings → Google Calendar
    • Ensure "Sync to Google" is enabled

  2. Check target calendar

    • Events sync to your primary calendar by default
    • Select different target if needed

  3. Check for conflicts

    • Duplicate event IDs can cause issues
    • Try creating a new event

Duplicate Events​

Symptoms: Same event appears multiple times.

Solutions:

  1. Check multiple syncs

    • Multiple calendars syncing same event
    • Disable overlapping calendar syncs

  2. Clear and resync

    • Disconnect calendar integration
    • Delete duplicate events
    • Reconnect and sync fresh

Event Updates Not Syncing​

Symptoms: Changes to events don't sync between systems.

Solutions:

  1. Force sync

    • Manual sync to push/pull changes
    • Wait for sync to complete

  2. Edit in source system

    • Changes in the originating system sync better
    • If created in Google, edit in Google

  3. Check event permissions

    • Shared events may have edit restrictions
    • Verify you have permission to modify

General Sync Troubleshooting​

Sync Status Check​

  1. Go to Settings → Integrations
  2. Check status for each integration:
    • ✅ Connected — Working normally
    • ⚠️ Warning — Partial issues
    • ❌ Error — Sync failed

Sync Logs​

View detailed sync history:

  1. Settings → Integrations → [Service]
  2. Click View Sync Log
  3. See sync attempts and results
  4. Identify when issues started

Force Full Resync​

When normal sync fails:

  1. Settings → Integrations → [Service]
  2. Click Full Resync
  3. Wait for complete resync
  4. May take several minutes
warning

Full resync clears cached data. Some information may temporarily disappear during resync.

Common Sync Error Messages​

"Authentication expired"​

Cause: OAuth token expired.

Solution: Reconnect the integration to get a new token.

"Rate limit exceeded"​

Cause: Too many API calls.

Solution: Wait 15-30 minutes and try again. Reduce sync frequency if recurring.

"Permission denied"​

Cause: Shorebird OS lost access permissions.

Solution: Reconnect integration and re-authorize.

"Server error"​

Cause: Temporary issue with Google's servers.

Solution: Wait and retry. Check Google's status page.

"Sync conflict"​

Cause: Same item edited in both systems.

Solution: Manually resolve conflict, then sync.

Best Practices for Reliable Sync​

Regular Maintenance​

  • Check sync status weekly
  • Review sync logs for errors
  • Keep integrations connected

Avoid Conflicts​

  • Pick primary system for edits
  • Don't edit same item simultaneously
  • Wait for sync between changes

Optimal Settings​

  • Set reasonable sync frequency
  • Don't sync unnecessary folders
  • Keep integrations up to date

When to Contact Support​

Contact support if:

  • Sync hasn't worked for 24+ hours
  • Error messages persist after troubleshooting
  • Data appears corrupted after sync
  • You need help with complex sync setup

Contact Support →