When you are offline or sync stops
Losing your connection doesn’t lose your edits — they are kept on this device and sync when you reconnect. Here is what to do for each message.
Applies to Web · Mac · iPhone app
CommonNote notes sync with the server in real time. If your internet drops for a while you can keep editing a note you already have open; your edits are kept on this device and merged with the server when the connection comes back. If merging looks like it could overwrite what’s on the server, CommonNote stops syncing on its own and asks you what to do.
What each message means
| Message | Meaning | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Amber banner over the note: “Disconnected from server — edits are kept on this device and sync safely when you reconnect” | Only the connection is down. Your edits aren’t lost | Keep working. The banner disappears by itself when you reconnect. If it lasts, click View service status to see whether the problem is on the server side |
| “Loading this document has stalled” | The note stopped loading the first time. It wasn’t opened, to avoid showing an empty document by mistake | Click Reconnect |
| “Sync was stopped because offline changes on this device could overwrite the server content.” | A safety stop. The server content is safe, and the copy on this device hasn’t been deleted | See “Handle a safety stop” below |
| A notice that this device has offline recovery copies that weren’t merged with the server | The server note opened normally; an unmerged copy is kept separately | See “Deal with offline recovery copies” below |
| “Cannot connect to this note (permission or session issue)” | Sharing was removed or your sign-in expired | Click Refresh. If it keeps happening, sign in again or ask the note’s owner to check sharing |
| “This outdated CommonNote version cannot connect, to protect the document” | The app is too old | Click Refresh to update. Update the Mac or iPhone app to the latest version |
Handle a safety stop
- First click Save current local content to download what was on this device as a text file. In the Mac and iPhone apps it’s copied to the clipboard instead — paste it into a new note or another app right away.
- Click Reopen with the safe server content.
- Compare the downloaded file with the server version and paste back anything that’s missing.
Deal with offline recovery copies
A recovery copy is a copy that exists only on this device and wasn’t merged into the server automatically. Click Review or recover next to the notice to preview each copy’s text and choose one of these:
| Button | Result |
|---|---|
| Save as text | Downloads the copy’s text as a file (in the Mac and iPhone apps, copies it to the clipboard) |
| Recover text only as a new note | Creates a new note from the copy’s text. The original note isn’t touched |
| Keep server version | Keeps using the server note. The copy stays on this device until you sign out, and you can reopen it with Review recovery copies |
| Decide later | Puts the decision off. Copies stay until you sign out |
Recovery brings back text only. Images, formatting and task states aren’t included.
Good to know
- Don’t sign out while you’re offline. Signing out deletes the note copies and recovery copies stored on this device. Get back online and let sync finish first.
- Quick add on the To-dos screen needs a connection. Offline, adding fails and your text stays in the box (it’s lost if you leave the screen); add it again once you’re back online.
- If your internet works but several notes stall at once, check the service status light in the top bar. See Check service status and contact support.
- If something looks wrong after syncing, earlier versions are in version history.