Some notes syncing, others not.

  • Unknown's avatar
    stienman · Member ·

    I’ve experienced persistent sync issues in several cases, this is the latest, and as it is ongoing perhaps there’s something that can be done, or perhaps you can help me understand the underlying system enough that I can use a reasonable workaround when this happens.

    I use the web app on my desktops, and the iOS app on my phone. While I use it one a few different Macs and windows, here are three systems I can demonstrate the issue on right now:

    Mac: Web app version 2.19.1, used on Chrome 114.0.5735.198 (arm64) on MacOS Ventura (13.2) on an M1 pro Macbook pro 2021

    Windows: Web app version 2.19.1, on Chrome 114.0.5735.199 (64-bit) on Windows 10 Pro 22H2 on a Dell XPS 15 9570

    iOS: Simplenote app version 4.49 on iOS 17.0 (I know, beta OS but don’t dismiss the issue out of hand due to this – ignore all test results using this device if needed and the issue still exists and is demonstrated using just the two other systems) on iPhone 12 Pro Max

    Network: Both windows and MacOS are on the same network and switch, both with full public IP addresses and no known filtering/blocking (research institution). The iOS device is on a wifi just a few hops away from the computers, but with a private IP – same institution. No VPN. Stock windows defender for antivirus and internet port permissions.

    Issue: On the Mac I have edited three different pre-existing notes and one new note which I’ve edited/added over the last few days. The updates do not show up on the other two devices.

    App behavior on the Mac:

    • These four notes show a constantly rotating sync symbol next to their title in the All Notes list.
    • The Menu has a Server connection item which, on hover, says “Simplenote is communicating with the server”
    • Each of these three preexisting notes have a different last sync date, June 23, 23, 25, and different modified dates, June 28, 29, 29. The new note has no sync date, and has a modified date of June 28

    On both the windows and iOS devices, the preexisting notes show up, but the modifications do not. The new note does not show up.

    I read through 9 sync issues on this forum and found no resolution:

    Tests performed:

    I updated chrome, disabled the adblock extension, reloaded the web app.

    I added a new note to the mac, and it appeared on both the windows and iOS – the sync symbol went away, and the note appeared in the other versions. Odd that this one now shows up but the new note yesterday does not.

    I connected the computers to Wifi alternately, then both to see if that changed anything.

    I tested connectivity between the mac and a variety of other systems on the internet, as well as a speed test with no issues detected.

    I exported the notes from the mac, and the zip file contained the updated data.

    I exported the notes from windows, and the zip file does not contain the updated data.

    I edited another pre-existing note on the mac and the sync symbol appeared briefly, then went away, and the note is updated on windows and iOS, showing now as the last modified and last sync timestamps.

    I haven’t rebooted the mac as I have other processes running that I can’t interrupt, but the last time I experienced this it was the windows computer that was affected – for weeks – and the problem persisted through reboots.

    Workaround:

    I copy the contents of the notes which do not sync into a new note, marking the new note as new, then mark the old notes as old, then swap the pins as needed, then remove the “***NEW***” mark from the new one. I leave the old non-syncing notes in place – when mitigating data loss deletion is almost always a poor choice. They’ll eventually float to the bottom.

    This issue is not new – I’ve developed habits, such as creating new work logs periodically rather than continuing to edit the old one – due to it, and that’s less than ideal as I have to fiddle with pins each time, and locating information becomes more difficult. This has been an ongoing issue for years. I appreciate the newer features that at least let me know what is sync’d and what isn’t, as well as the network status.

    I’m willing to try other tests if you’d like me to, while these notes continue to sync spin. Let me know what you think, and what the resolution is.

  • Unknown's avatar
    stienman · Member ·

    Also, I have moved these systems to other networks over the last few days, and the same behavior persists. One mobile ATT (CGNAT), and one via starlink (CGNAT).

  • Unknown's avatar
    stienman · Member ·

    This morning they are all syncing, so I can’t test any other resolutions. A response with a resolution for the next time would be appreciated.

  • Unknown's avatar
    lincolnquirk · Member ·

    So you don’t know what fixed it? I just posted a similar issue (https://forums.simplenote.com/forums/topic/sync-issues-in-firefox-on-one-device/).

  • staff-zara · Staff ·

    Hi @stienman 👋

    Thanks for sharing the details and including the steps you’ve taken to resolve the issue!

    • These four notes show a constantly rotating sync symbol next to their title in the All Notes list.
    • The Menu has a Server connection item which, on hover, says “Simplenote is communicating with the server”

    This is a sign that the app was having a communication (network) issue with the Simplenote server to sync your notes (new notes and modification to existing notes). Since you mentioned you disabled the ad-blocker extension, I assumed it was enabled when the issue happened. If disabling the ad-blocker extension is not possible, maybe consider reaching out to the extension developer to see if they can add these URLs to the allowlist:

    If you’re still experiencing sync issues, sometimes logging out from the web app (after taking a backup of the unsync notes) and log back in will refresh the connection to the server and resolve any sync issues moving forward.

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