Sync problems

When items don't sync as expected, this guide helps you diagnose the cause and find a solution.

Why are my events or tasks not syncing?

Check the basics

1. Automation running? Go to your automation and verify it's active (not paused)
2. Within sync window? Items outside your timeframe (past/future) won't sync
3. Matching filters? Items may be excluded by your filter settings
4. Connection valid? Check that all connections show as connected

Filter issues

Items might not sync because they don't match your filters:

1. Go to your automation → Filters
2. Review each condition
3. Create a test item that clearly matches
4. Wait for sync and verify

Common filter mistakes:

• Select dropdown left blank (always choose a value)
• Wrong operator (equals vs contains)
• Case-sensitive mismatches

Timeframe issues

Items outside your sync window don't sync:

Past and future ranges are configured independently (past: 2 days to plan max, future: 7 days to plan max).

Check if the item's date falls within your plan's window.

Why are items duplicated?

Why duplicates appear

Recurring event edits: Editing "this and all following events" in calendar apps creates new event series. Old and new instances coexist.

Multiple automations: Running two automations covering the same data creates duplicates.

Manual import + sync: Manually importing data, then enabling sync, duplicates items.

How to fix

Enable deletion:

1. Go to Sync Settings
2. Enable "Allow event deletion" (see delete behavior)
3. Old instances get removed when source removes them

Manual cleanup:

1. Use the bulk editor tools
2. Click "Select duplicated"
3. Delete selected items

Review automations: Check that automations don't overlap. Use filters to separate scopes.

Why are time zones wrong?

Symptoms

• Events appear at wrong times
• Task due dates off by hours
• Inconsistent timing between apps

Causes

Todoist "Floating Time": Todoist uses floating time by default. Tasks created without explicit time zone sync incorrectly.

Fix:

1. In Todoist, click a task → Add time → Time zone
2. Select your actual time zone
3. Apply to future tasks

Notion/App mismatch: If your Notion and external app have different time zone settings, discrepancies occur.

Fix:

1. Verify time zones in each app's settings
2. Use consistent settings across all apps

Why is sync slow?

Normal delays

Sync happens on a schedule:

• Solo: Every 5 minutes
• Premium: Every 3 minutes
• Pro: Every 2 minutes

Changes may take up to one interval to appear.

First sync delays

Initial syncs of large databases take longer:

• 2sync builds links between all items
• Progress depends on database size
• May take several cycles to complete

Persistent slowness

If sync stays slow after initial setup:

1. Check rate limits: Notion may be limiting requests
2. Review database size: Consider filtering to reduce synced items
3. Contact support: Persistent issues may need investigation

Why does old data appear after removing a mapping?

What happens

You remove a field mapping, but old data still shows in Notion.

Why

Removing a mapping stops future syncs of that field, but existing data remains in place because 2sync doesn't clear previously synced values.

How to fix

1. In Notion, clear the property manually
2. Or use bulk editor to clear multiple entries
3. The field won't re-populate since mapping is removed

Why are formula fields empty?

The problem

A formula property syncs as empty to the external app.

The cause

Formulas that reference relations or rollups need access to ALL referenced databases.

If a related database isn't connected to 2sync, the formula returns empty.

The fix

1. Identify which databases your formula references
2. Connect each one to 2sync: (•••) > Add connections > 2sync
3. Wait for next sync cycle
4. Formula values should populate

Why do event names contain HTML tags?

The problem

Calendar event titles contain HTML like <b>Meeting</b> instead of Meeting.

The cause

Some calendar clients or integrations inject HTML. 2sync syncs the raw text.

The fix

Manual: Edit affected events to remove HTML tags.

Preventive: Check your calendar integrations. Some email-to-calendar tools add HTML.

Filter approach: Filter out events containing HTML tags if they're unwanted.

Why do completed tasks show the wrong status?

Todoist completion

If completed tasks don't show as complete in Notion:

1. Verify the Completed field is mapped
2. Check mapping is to correct property type (Checkbox or Status)
3. Test with a task: complete in Todoist, wait for sync, verify Notion

Recurring task behavior

Completed recurring tasks in Todoist reset their due date rather than staying complete. The Notion page updates to the next occurrence and may show incomplete.

This is expected behavior; see the Todoist guide for details.

Sync status field

Map the Sync Status field to diagnose item-level issues. Items that aren't syncing often show as "Ignored" (filtered out) or "Removed" (source deleted). See Sync item statuses for what each status means and how to use filtered views to find problem items.

Why isn't the test sync button working?

The Test Sync button triggers an immediate sync cycle for your automation. If it doesn't seem to work:

1. Connection issues: Both your Notion and external app connections must be valid. Go to Connections and verify both show as connected.
2. Database access: The Notion database must be shared with 2sync. Open the database in Notion → (•••) → Connections and confirm 2sync is listed.
3. Filter mismatch: Your test item may not match your filter conditions. Temporarily remove filters to test, then re-add them.
4. Rate limits: If you've clicked Test Sync multiple times in quick succession, the API may be rate-limited. Wait a minute and try again.
5. Check Activity Logs: Go to Activity logs to see if the sync ran but produced no visible changes.

When to contact support

Contact support when:

• Basic troubleshooting doesn't resolve the issue
• Error messages are unclear or not listed in Error codes
• Issues persist after reconnecting
• You need help with complex configurations

Include:

• Automation name or ID (visible in your dashboard URL)
• Error messages (screenshots help)
• Steps you've already tried
• When the issue started

Related

• Troubleshooting overview for finding the right guide when you're not sure where to start
• Connection issues for authentication and connection troubleshooting
• Error codes for a full list of error messages and solutions
• Sync item statuses for understanding item-level sync states
• Delete behavior for how deletion works across synced apps
• Bulk editor tools for cleaning up duplicates and bulk operations

FAQ