The iOS and Android apps keep a full copy of your groups and expenses on the phone. You can open groups, read balances, add expenses, record payments and write comments while you are offline. Everything you change is saved on the device immediately.
How syncing works
- When the phone is online, the app sends your changes to the server and downloads changes made by other members. This happens in the background; there is nothing to press.
- Other members see your changes as soon as they are online. While they are offline, they see them after their next sync.
- The first time you sign in on a device, the app downloads all your data before it lets you in (Syncing your data...). This usually takes a few seconds. If it takes too long, the app offers Continue Anyway.
When two people edit the same thing
If you and another member change the same expense while one of you is offline, the change that reaches the server last wins. The other person's version is replaced. If an amount or split looks different from what you remember, check the expense and edit it again.
Good to know
- Receipt scanning, location search and exchange rates need a connection. A receipt photographed offline waits and is processed once you are back online.
- Amounts in a foreign currency use the exchange rate available on the device at the time you save the expense.
- Deleting an expense, a comment or a settlement offline is synced like any other change.
Troubleshooting
- You see Sync Error with "Your changes are saved locally and will sync when the connection is restored": nothing is lost. Reconnect and the app catches up.
- An expense someone else added is missing: pull down on the list to refresh, and make sure the device is online.
- More cases are in My changes are not syncing.
Web
The web app at my.sharecost.app always needs an internet connection. It does not store data for offline use. Changes you make in the app while offline appear on the web once the phone has synced.