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How to Use Timesheet Across All Your Devices with Cloud Sync

•By Florian•6 min read
cloud syncmulti-devicebackupcross-platformplus features

Start a timer on the phone during a client meeting. Continue on the tablet on the commute. Finish reviewing at the laptop. The hard part isn't tracking on three devices, it's making sure all three devices agree on what was tracked. That's what cloud sync is for.

This post is the practical guide: which plan covers which device, how to set up sync, how offline works, what happens when conflicts occur, and a few tips for staying out of trouble.

FeatureBasicPlusPro
Cloud Sync

#Which Plan Covers What

The short version, before anything else:

  • Basic (free): mobile app on a single device. No cloud sync.
  • Plus: mobile app on multiple devices with cloud sync between them. No web app.
  • Pro: everything in Plus, plus the web app at my.timesheet.io, the Chrome extension, and team features. 30-day free trial, no credit card.

If you only ever use one phone, Basic is enough. The moment you add a second device, you want Plus. The moment you want a browser or team, you want Pro.

#What Cloud Sync Actually Does

#Multi-Device Access (Plus and Pro)

Timesheet runs on:

  • Android (all plans, sync from Plus)
  • iOS / iPadOS (all plans, sync from Plus)
  • Web browser (Pro and up)
  • Chrome extension (Pro and up)

#Data That Travels

Everything stays current across devices:

  • Projects, settings, tags
  • Time entries
  • Expenses and notes
  • Attachments (receipt photos)

#Automatic Backup

Cloud sync doubles as backup:

  • No manual exports needed for safety
  • Data survives a lost phone
  • Recovery is signing in on a new device

#Setting Up Sync

#Step 1: Sign In

  1. Open Timesheet on your primary device
  2. Settings → Account
  3. Sign up or sign in with email and password, Google, or Apple ID
  4. Verify if asked

#Step 2: Enable Sync

  1. Once signed in, open Sync Settings
  2. Turn on Cloud Sync
  3. Pick sync preferences (frequency, what to sync, backup options)
  4. Initial sync runs

#Step 3: Add the Next Device

On each additional device:

  1. Install Timesheet
  2. Sign in with the same account
  3. Sync activates automatically
  4. The data shows up

#Per-Platform Notes

#Android

  • Native Kotlin app
  • Background sync
  • Local storage for offline work
  • Quick-track widget
  • Wear OS companion

#iOS

  • Native Swift app
  • Background sync
  • Offline storage
  • Sign in with Apple ID

#Web (Pro)

  • Full-featured at my.timesheet.io
  • Works on any browser
  • Dashboard, reports, team features

#Chrome Extension (Pro)

  • Quick tracking from any tab
  • One-click start/stop
  • Available in the Chrome Web Store

#How Sync Behaves

#Real Time

When the device is online:

  • Changes propagate within seconds
  • Other devices update automatically
  • No manual sync action required

#Background

When the app is closed:

  • Periodic sync in the background
  • New data pulls when you open the app
  • Battery-efficient implementation

#Status Indicators

You'll see:

  • ✓ Synced (current)
  • ↻ Syncing (in progress)
  • ! Pending (waiting for connection)

#Offline Mode

Cloud sync doesn't mean you need constant internet. Offline is supported by design.

#How It Works

  1. You start tracking (no connection)
  2. Data saves locally
  3. When the connection returns, data syncs
  4. Cloud and local merge

#Works Offline

  • Start, pause, stop the timer
  • Create entries
  • Edit entries
  • View your data
  • Add expenses and notes

#Requires Internet

  • Sync to other devices
  • Team features
  • Web app
  • PDF document generation
  • Scheduled email reports

#Offline Practice

  • Don't think about connectivity, just track
  • Sync happens automatically when possible
  • Manual sync available if you want certainty

#Conflict Resolution

When the same record gets edited on two devices before they sync, conflicts can arise. Timesheet handles most of them automatically.

#How a Conflict Happens

  1. You edit an entry on the phone (offline)
  2. Before that syncs, you edit the same entry in the web app
  3. When sync runs, two versions exist

#How It Resolves

  • Last edit wins for simple fields
  • Merge where the changes are compatible
  • Prompt you for true conflicts (rare)

#How to Avoid Them

  • Let one device sync before editing on another
  • Keep one device as the "primary" for edits
  • Don't edit the same offline entries on multiple devices at the same time

#Chrome Extension

The extension is a small tracker that sits next to your tabs.

#Install

  1. Open the Chrome Web Store
  2. Search for "Timesheet Time Tracker"
  3. Click Add to Chrome
  4. Sign in with your Pro account

#Use

Start a timer:

  1. Click the Timesheet icon in the toolbar
  2. Pick a project
  3. Optional description
  4. Click Start

Stop:

  1. Click the icon
  2. Click Stop
  3. Entry saves and syncs

#Extension Features

  • Project picker
  • Running timer display
  • Recent entries
  • Syncs with mobile and web

#Account and Data Management

#Sync Health

  1. Settings → Sync
  2. Last sync time, pending changes, errors

#Force Sync

  1. Settings → Sync
  2. Tap Sync Now
  3. Wait for completion

#Fresh Start

If something feels off and you want to re-fetch from the cloud:

  1. Sign out
  2. Clear app data or cache
  3. Sign back in
  4. Data re-downloads

#Recovery After Losing a Device

  1. Install Timesheet on the new device
  2. Sign in with your account
  3. Data restores

#Security and Privacy

#Encryption

  • Transit: SSL/TLS
  • At rest: encrypted
  • Secure authentication

#Privacy

  • GDPR-aligned
  • Your data stays yours
  • No third-party data sharing for analytics or advertising

#Backup

  • Automatic cloud backups
  • Redundancy across data centers
  • Point-in-time recovery on request

#Troubleshooting

#"Data isn't syncing"

  • Internet active?
  • Signed into the correct account?
  • Sync enabled in settings?
  • App has the required permissions?

#"Data different on different devices"

  • Force a manual sync on each
  • Wait a few minutes
  • Sign out and back in if needed

#"Sync errors"

Common causes:

  • Network issues (try later)
  • Account problems (check credentials)
  • Storage full (free space)
  • App outdated (update)

#"Missing data after a restore"

  • Right account?
  • Did sync finish?
  • Any sync errors visible?

#Tips for Multi-Device Use

Pick a primary device for edits. The phone, usually. Use the web for reports, the tablet for occasional review. Fewer conflicts when one device makes most changes.

Sync before switching. Wait for the sync indicator to settle before leaving one device for the next.

Export quarterly anyway. Cloud sync is backup, but a CSV export to a local drive every few months costs nothing and lets you sleep better.

Keep apps up to date. Sync works best with all devices on the latest version. Schema or protocol updates are easier when all your installs are current.

#Summary

The model:

  • Plan matters: Basic is single-device, Plus adds mobile sync, Pro adds web and Chrome
  • Set up once: sign in on each device
  • Sync happens automatically: real time when online, background when not
  • Offline works: track without internet, sync catches up
  • Conflicts resolve themselves in most cases
  • Backup is built in

Start on any device, continue on any other.

#Where to Go Next

Track on any device, see it on every device

Plus for mobile sync. Pro for web and team. 30-day Pro trial, no credit card.

Start Free Trial
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How to Use Timesheet Across All Your Devices with Cloud Sync | Timesheet Blog | timesheet.io