The DEVONtechnologies Blog
A Sync Checklist for DEVONthink
It is not uncommon for us to get support inquiries saying they installed DEVONthink or DEVONthink To Go but it’s not syncing. DEVONthink does not automatically sync by default because we believe that you should decide for yourself whether and what you want to sync. Software shouldn’t make such decisions for you. Here are things to consider.
Before setting up the sync, think about…
- whether you want to sync, as sync is always optional.
- what database(s) to sync. Not every database needs to (or should) be synchronized.
- which devices to sync to, as not every database needs to be on every device. This is especially true on mobile.
- which sync method to use, noting each device must be using the same sync method/location to sync the same database.
- whether you want to use encryption when syncing. You must make this choice before you sync the first time. If you do use encryption, you must use the same encryption key on other devices syncing with the same sync method.
Sync is discussed in the built-in Help and user handbook for both applications. There is a Sync Explained section in the In & Out chapter for DEVONthink and the Sync chapter for DEVONthink To Go. Once you decide what sync method you’ll use, each method has its own section with a description, technical considerations, and simple step-by-step instructions for setting up a new or an existing sync location. If you only have one of our applications, just follow the steps to create a new location on one device, then follow the steps for an existing location on the other device(s). Setting up sync in DEVONthink and DEVONthink To Go is pretty similar but if you want to be sure you can check the corresponding chapters in both handbooks.
You can find many more blog posts on sync-related topics here on our blog. The free Take Control of DEVONthink also includes a dedicated chapter, Sync DEVONthink Databases, and there are several entries about synchronization in our FAQ.
If you do run into an issue, you can consult the Troubleshooting > Sync Issues section of the Help or start a support ticket, if you really get stuck.