My changes aren't syncing
Sync issues can feel scary in the moment, but in most cases they’re easily resolved.
Important: We do not recommend using Ellipsus in Incognito Mode or Guest Mode. These prevent data from being saved in your browser—so if something goes wrong, it will be difficult for us to help you recover it. Privacy browsers or add-ons can interfere with the synchronizer, or clear your cache on close, which prevents safe saving.
On school, work, or other restricted networks, syncing may be blocked by administrators. Unfortunately, we cannot override these restrictions.
In Firefox, you may see a pop-up on first use asking to allow Ellipsus to save in persistent storage. If you refuse that permission, Firefox may not reliably preserve your work.
Understanding the sync indicator
Ellipsus saves and syncs automatically in the background. You can always check the sync status at the top of your screen.
Sync indicator says Saved Locally
This means your device and the server have fallen out of sync. No need to panic—your work is still saved in your browser, but it hasn’t reached our servers yet.
Try:
Tap Reconnect in the sync indicator.
Wait until it updates to Synced.
If it doesn’t resolve within 30–60 seconds, check whether your writing has synced:
Open the doc in a different browser (not just a new tab).
Look for your recent edits.
Check Version History to confirm your latest changes.
If everything looks good, refresh the original tab to trigger a sync.
Sync indicator says Disconnected
This means your browser can’t currently connect to Ellipsus’ servers. This status is often temporary and resolves on its own, and doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong. In most cases:
Your device went to sleep, or your phone moved the app to the background
You’ve lost Wi-Fi connection (e.g. Wi-Fi dropped)
A VPN, firewall, or ad blocker is blocking connections
Ellipsus may be experiencing a temporary sync incident
Try:
Wait a few moments—this status often resolves automatically
Check your internet connection, and reconnect if needed
Do not refresh the page—you can keep writing offline, and your work will sync automatically once your connection is restored
Sync indicator says Error
Sometimes it’s us, not you. This status usually means something is interfering with the syncing process—it can range from a momentary network hiccup to something more serious. Possible causes include:
Ellipsus may be experiencing a temporary sync incident
Your browser or network configuration is preventing syncing
Due to a failure in your local storage, your device cannot safely save your changes
If Ellipsus is unable to persist your work locally or to the server for an extended time, you may see a full-page alert blocking input. This is to protect your data and prevent you from continuing to write unsafely. If you see this, we recommend copying your work to a safe place and reaching out to support.
If you see Error, move to the general troubleshooting steps.
General troubleshooting steps
Switch networks—move from Wi-Fi to cellular, or try a hotspot.
Disable browser extensions, VPNs, or privacy blockers—they can block syncing.
Check your document in another browser:
Open the same doc in a different browser and check for your recent edits.
Review Version History to confirm your changes are saved.
Download your work as Markdown (from the Share and Export menu) to keep a backup, just in case.
If you need to contact support
Before reaching out, please:
Check whether the issue affects one document or all documents.
Note what device and browser you’re using, and the URL of the affected doc.
Download your logs from Settings and send them to us at support@ellipsus.com. These logs will help our engineers investigate the problem.