Forum Discussion
Sync Problems
I've had on and off problems with To-Do since I started using it in late 2017. Back then it was just delayed syncs mainly. Closing the app, restarting it; or finding a newly released update usually gave it the nudge it needed. In 2018, To-Do operated pretty well. Again, minor issues but nothing a restart or update didn't fix.
Now, towards the tail end of 2018 and so far 2019, this app has been a disaster for me. Not the same problems in 2017 though. Back then, it was missing items. Now, everything shows up. This time, it's time-stamping and reoccurring tasks. Far too often, I'll mark a task complete on the Windows 10 app, shut down my computer, pick up my iPhone the next morning, and see the tasks I marked as complete the previous night marked in red and incomplete from the previous day. I would then, before leaving for work, boot up my computer, start To-Do, and those tasks would be marked in red and incomplete. It's as if the updates from the Windows 10 app didn't reach To-Do.
Sometimes when the apps are sitting idle for awhile, and after I've made adjustments or marked tasks as complete on Windows, I'd open iOS To-Do to see both apps stall for second and then the completed tasks revert right in front of me on Windows 10. Literally undoing completed tasks.
The worst incident was earlier this year when I decided to on-board my credentials into the Outlook desktop client. Starting up Outlook and signing in, I was bombarded with a storm of Reminders. That undid EVER. SINGLE. TASK. EVER in To-Do. I had hundreds of tasks reverting, come flooding in. I ripped my credentials out of Outlook and haven't signed back in since. Too scared.
Next, I contacted Windows Support which focused support mainly on the Windows 10 app. Going through basic troubleshooting steps, they had me do (including but not limited to):
- Check for updates
- Signing out/signing in
- Deleting/uninstalling
- Adjust Network Firewall settings
- Send them details through the Windows 10 Feedback Hub app at their request
When those didn't pan out, it went to:
- Migrating to a new profile on Windows
- Clean Windows install!
Eventually Window Support threw the Terms/Conditions at me, cited whatever paragraph they had to and called it a day.
Next, I went to the iOS in-app Support window. Again, they had me do the basic sign-out/sign-in, confirm updates, delete/reinstall; the whole shabang. Next, at their request, I started feeding them Session IDs when I had issues. Getting replies, it was always, "Yes, we see there was a synchronization issue..." Never any progression forward on how to prevent this or a fix, only ever an acknowledgment that it didn't work.
Now, I'm doing my own trial and error. I've deleted the Windows 10 app and I'm using the web browser when at my computer and the iOS app away from my computer. Doing this for two weeks or so, it shows promise. I've had one minor issue but there was also an internet disconnect on my PC when it happened, so I'm not counting that. In a month or so, I'm going to get rid of the iOS app and use the browser on both devices. Then, use the browser on iPhone and Windows 10 app on the PC. That should help me determine where the fault in communication is happening.
I'm sorry that this was so long. I've just been struggling with this app for a year and a half. I've exhausted most avenues and I'm just looking for anything or anybody that can help me. For all my complaints with this app, I genuinely do like this app, when it works. But having an app which can't handle basic time-stamping or synchronization; undoing work...goes against the fundamental purpose of this app.
- CENbobNov 13, 2019Copper Contributor
I totally feel for you. I have never been able to get Microsoft todo to synch with Outlook (using an Outlook.com task). I have been struggling with getting tasks/to do to work for weeks.
Task created in To do show in Outlook but not vic versa. I've had support reps reinstall Outlook profiles. I just sent a support request to the Microsoft To Do's team (I just figured how!) but suspect I'll have to go with a solution called Todolist that gives me Microsoft To do like functionality but through Google Tasks. This is a paid app though. From what I've read, it works though. That is if I can export my tasks to a .csv file I'll need to import into Todolist. The Outlook app keeps crashing when I try to export tasks to .csv. Make you kind of wonder when so many apps don't work right - even ones you pay for (like full licenses of Office).