OmniFocus no longer background syncs

Hi,

I’m not sure if anyone else has encountered this problem or not. I haven’t been able to background sync OmniFocus on either my iPhone 7 Plus or iPad Pro 12.9" in quite some time.

When I manually open the program on either device, everything will update within a couple minutes, but am I wrong in thinking that I should be able to open OF on either device and see current data that’s been updated from my MacBook Pro…?

I’ve already verified that Background App Refresh IS enabled on both devices.

Also, I’m running iOS 10.2 (beta 3), but I never got it working in 10.1.1 either before I updated, so I don’t think the beta is an issue.

Thanks.

Your expectation is right: OmniFocus certainly ought to be syncing in the background. What does the Sync Log say on those devices?

(If you aren’t sure how to access your Sync Log, here are instructions from our FAQ.)

On iOS, drag down from near the top of the OmniFocus home screen to reveal the secret bar (on iPhone), or drag down on the home sidebar (iPad and iPhone 6 Plus) to reveal the secret bar. From here, tap Settings ▸ Last Synced to view the Sync Log. […] This log records every sync OmniFocus has made, and what type of operation triggered that sync.

Thank you @kcase for replying…

Here’s the log from my iPhone 7 Plus.

App: OmniFocus 2.17.3 Universal [Pro] (v112.10.0.271779)
Device: Scott’s iPhone 7 Plus (gwnfRU55xv2)

Nov 17, 2016, 7:15 PM Received Push (2.27s)
Nov 17, 2016, 7:14 PM Scheduled (5.56s) u:0 d:8
Nov 17, 2016, 4:46 PM Scheduled (Postponed)
Nov 17, 2016, 3:12 PM Recent Edit (2.70s) u:0 d:2
Nov 17, 2016, 3:09 PM Received Push (9.06s) u:0 d:24
Nov 17, 2016, 3:09 PM Scheduled (Postponed)
Nov 17, 2016, 2:00 PM Scheduled (Postponed)
Nov 16, 2016, 11:54 PM iOS
Nov 16, 2016, 11:30 PM Recent Edit (2.83s) u:2 d:0
Nov 16, 2016, 11:29 PM Recent Edit (1.82s) u:1 d:0
Nov 16, 2016, 11:29 PM Recent Edit (2.37s) u:3 d:0
Nov 16, 2016, 11:29 PM Scheduled (6.38s) u:0 d:12
Nov 16, 2016, 8:59 AM Received Push (3.69s) u:0 d:2
Nov 16, 2016, 8:59 AM Received Push (3.63s) u:0 d:2
Nov 16, 2016, 8:59 AM Received Push (2.96s) u:0 d:1
Nov 16, 2016, 8:59 AM Received Push (7.89s) u:0 d:12
Nov 16, 2016, 8:42 AM Received Push (9.79s) u:0 d:2
Nov 16, 2016, 8:05 AM Recent Edit (4.92s) u:1 d:0
Nov 16, 2016, 8:05 AM Scheduled (Postponed)
Nov 16, 2016, 12:20 AM iOS (2.98s)
Nov 16, 2016, 12:11 AM Recent Edit (48.68s) u:1 d:0
Nov 15, 2016, 11:53 PM Recent Edit (2.45s) u:1 d:0
Nov 15, 2016, 11:53 PM Recent Edit (1.88s)
Nov 15, 2016, 11:53 PM Recent Edit (2.16s) u:2 d:0
Nov 15, 2016, 11:53 PM Recent Edit (2.52s) u:1 d:0
Nov 15, 2016, 11:53 PM Recent Edit (1.85s)
Nov 15, 2016, 11:52 PM Recent Edit (2.32s) u:2 d:0
Nov 15, 2016, 11:52 PM Recent Edit (2.32s) u:1 d:0
Nov 15, 2016, 11:52 PM Recent Edit (2.01s)
Nov 15, 2016, 11:52 PM Recent Edit (2.46s) u:3 d:0
Nov 15, 2016, 11:52 PM Recent Edit (2.38s) u:1 d:0
Nov 15, 2016, 11:52 PM Recent Edit (2.22s) u:1 d:0
Nov 15, 2016, 11:52 PM Recent Edit (2.12s) u:1 d:0
Nov 15, 2016, 11:52 PM Recent Edit (2.21s) u:1 d:0
Nov 15, 2016, 11:52 PM Recent Edit (1.84s) u:1 d:0
Nov 15, 2016, 11:52 PM Received Push (1.82s)
Nov 15, 2016, 11:52 PM Scheduled (2.57s)
Nov 15, 2016, 10:13 PM Scheduled (Postponed)
Nov 15, 2016, 10:00 PM Scheduled (Postponed)
Nov 15, 2016, 5:43 PM iOS (8.14s)
Nov 15, 2016, 5:35 PM iOS (3.97s)
Nov 15, 2016, 5:27 PM iOS (17.09s) u:0 d:41
Nov 15, 2016, 5:27 PM Scheduled (Postponed)
Nov 15, 2016, 10:34 AM Recent Edit (5.30s) u:1 d:0
Nov 15, 2016, 10:33 AM Scheduled (46.48s) u:0 d:153
Nov 14, 2016, 10:00 PM Scheduled (Postponed)
Nov 14, 2016, 7:12 PM Scheduled (Postponed)
Nov 14, 2016, 9:00 AM Scheduled (Postponed)
Nov 12, 2016, 10:41 PM iOS
Nov 12, 2016, 10:27 PM Recent Edit (2.31s) u:1 d:0

Just now when I logged in to see the log information there were tasks that I had completed on my MacBook before I left work and had an hour or more to be resolved.

I’ll post my iPad log shortly just for that end of the sync cycle as well.

Thanks again,

Scott

Here’s the iPad Pro sync logs…

App: OmniFocus 2.17.3 Universal [Pro] (v112.10.0.271779)
Device: Scott’s iPad Pro (o0ZPXQqHrg0)

Nov 17, 2016, 8:07 PM Received Push (2.04s)
Nov 17, 2016, 8:07 PM Scheduled (6.26s) u:0 d:2
Nov 17, 2016, 8:07 PM Scheduled (Postponed)
Nov 17, 2016, 7:39 PM Recent Edit u:0 d:12
Nov 17, 2016, 4:46 PM Scheduled (Postponed)
Nov 17, 2016, 3:09 PM Received Push (4.48s) u:0 d:1
Nov 17, 2016, 3:05 PM Recent Edit (2.88s) u:0 d:1
Nov 17, 2016, 1:53 PM Received Push (4.38s) u:0 d:1
Nov 17, 2016, 1:53 PM Scheduled (Postponed)
Nov 17, 2016, 10:31 AM Received Push (3.62s) u:0 d:3
Nov 17, 2016, 10:31 AM Scheduled (Postponed)
Nov 17, 2016, 9:36 AM Received Push (5.48s) u:0 d:2
Nov 17, 2016, 9:02 AM Received Push (4.25s) u:0 d:2
Nov 17, 2016, 9:01 AM Received Push (3.43s) u:0 d:1
Nov 17, 2016, 9:01 AM Received Push (18.37s) u:0 d:1
Nov 17, 2016, 9:00 AM Received Push (14.08s) u:0 d:3
Nov 17, 2016, 9:00 AM Received Push (10.25s) u:0 d:2
Nov 17, 2016, 9:00 AM Received Push (10.24s) u:0 d:3
Nov 17, 2016, 8:59 AM Received Push (17.84s) u:0 d:3
Nov 17, 2016, 8:56 AM Recent Edit (7.45s) u:0 d:1
Nov 16, 2016, 11:30 PM Received Push (6.53s) u:0 d:6
Nov 16, 2016, 11:30 PM Scheduled (Postponed)
Nov 16, 2016, 4:56 PM Received Push (3.07s) u:0 d:1
Nov 16, 2016, 4:56 PM Received Push (3.18s) u:0 d:1
Nov 16, 2016, 4:56 PM Received Push (4.75s) u:0 d:2
Nov 16, 2016, 4:56 PM Scheduled (Postponed)
Nov 16, 2016, 3:33 PM Received Push (2.36s) u:0 d:1
Nov 16, 2016, 3:26 PM Recent Edit (2.79s) u:0 d:1
Nov 16, 2016, 3:16 PM Received Push (3.90s) u:0 d:1
Nov 16, 2016, 3:16 PM Scheduled (Postponed)
Nov 16, 2016, 11:32 AM Received Push (3.07s) u:0 d:1
Nov 16, 2016, 11:32 AM Scheduled (Postponed)
Nov 16, 2016, 10:34 AM Received Push (3.20s) u:0 d:1
Nov 16, 2016, 10:29 AM Received Push (2.17s) u:0 d:1
Nov 16, 2016, 10:27 AM Received Push (3.45s) u:0 d:1
Nov 16, 2016, 10:00 AM Recent Edit (6.41s) u:0 d:1
Nov 16, 2016, 8:59 AM Received Push (4.71s) u:0 d:2
Nov 16, 2016, 8:59 AM Received Push (2.66s) u:0 d:2
Nov 16, 2016, 8:59 AM Received Push (3.01s) u:0 d:1
Nov 16, 2016, 8:59 AM Received Push (6.29s) u:0 d:12
Nov 16, 2016, 8:42 AM Received Push (3.98s) u:0 d:1
Nov 16, 2016, 8:38 AM Recent Edit (5.43s) u:0 d:1
Nov 16, 2016, 8:05 AM Received Push (7.77s) u:0 d:1
Nov 15, 2016, 11:53 PM Received Push (3.19s) u:0 d:1
Nov 15, 2016, 11:53 PM Received Push (3.59s) u:0 d:3
Nov 15, 2016, 11:53 PM Received Push (3.55s) u:0 d:3
Nov 15, 2016, 11:52 PM Received Push (8.48s) u:0 d:5
Nov 15, 2016, 11:52 PM Received Push (4.84s) u:0 d:3
Nov 15, 2016, 11:52 PM Scheduled (Postponed)
Nov 15, 2016, 4:52 PM Received Push (10.26s) u:0 d:31

Thanks,

Scott

Well, I may know what u said about syncing in the background.
Currently, OmniFocus on ios device needs to stay in the memory to sync with a server, which means if I double-click the Home button to kick OmniFocus out, then the software won’t be able to sync.
I don’t always do it on purpose, but u know as a memory recycle mechanism works on iPhone, it will kick out OmniFocus by the phone itself if additional free memory is needed.
That’s the issue I meet, I am afraid scottrych may meet the quite same issues.

One way to fixed it is to use geofence function to make OmniFocus stay in the memory forever. that may help the software to sync, which lead to another question, the location-based services never worked. I checked how OmniFocus use location services in the ios settings and found that OmniFocus just request location WHILE USING , that’s why I can’t receive geofence based notification passively.

well, I complained about too many issues, sorry for that. Wish what I said can help u guys a little to make OmniFocus a better app.

Thanks!

i have had basically the same issue for a very long time too:

the badge on the iphone displays “old” number after changes made on the mac.
(though, it may be a memory related issue since i’m on 6(not s) plus, which is known to have not enough memory for the needs of the device).

and, @Dangelo, using geofence (if you mean assigning location reminder to contexts) doesn’t help - no location notifications at all.

Hi @Dangelo,

I have geofence running all of the time since I have so many tasks that depend on it.

Actually, I just checked the options in Location Services and found that geofencing is enabled “While Using the App”.

I would have sworn that it used to be “Always”, maybe @kcase knows when this might have changed.

@hovzik, yep, I’m seeing the same thing on my iPhone 7 Plus (and Apple Watch), neither of them will update until I’ve launched the app on my iPhone, then the Apple Watch is almost immediately updated.

Thanks

Same problem here. Basically OF have never synced in the background. When I active it then it starts syncing. Always.

Same problem here with MBP and Iphone 7 on iOS 11. I need to manually sync on both. Quite a pain.

Not sure if this is relevant but I’m have a problem with iOS11. Every time I switch to OF on my iPhone is can be seen to be synchronising, sometimes I just get the little rotating wheel and at other times it say updating database.

It is as though it is not synchronising in the background.

Regards, Ian.

It could be an iOS 11 related bug. This is what Cultured Code said about their app “Things” and push sync: “No, background refresh should work, but there’s a bug with push in iOS 11.0 – we’re waiting for a fix in iOS 11.1.”

Still having these issues with the latest version of OF in iOS 11.1 and Sierra.

Look here for the Reponse of OF-Support in Twitter: https://twitter.com/OmniFocus/status/926204968951885824

I’ve just done a quick test and if I leave OmniFocus in the foreground on my phone it does sync in response to push notifications even when asleep.