Sync: Difference Between Downloading and Uploading
When the Sync button is tabbed on the status view, two actions start if the device is online: downloading and uploading.

1. What is Downloading?
Downloading is the process of receiving data from the EarthRanger web platform to your mobile device. In other words, your app retrieves information stored remotely and saves it locally so you can access the latest data when working offline or in the field.
Examples of downloading:
- Updating Event Types created via the admin
- Updating new Event Categories created via the admin
- Updating Patrol Types
- Updating Account changes made via the admin
- Updating new Subjects
- Updating Subject Tracks and locations
- Getting new Shared Events
Before downloading, the mobile app checks with the server to confirm whether the data has changed since the last synchronization.
- If the data has changed, it is downloaded and updated on the device.
- If the data is unchanged, the server notifies the app that no update is needed.
This verification process helps minimize unnecessary downloads, saving bandwidth and ensuring faster synchronization.
Examples:
No Changes Detected | Changes Detected | Changes Detected But Failure Occur |
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This system helps maintain synchronization efficiency by only downloading data when updates are detected.
Important to know:
Changes made to Choices do not trigger an automatic update notification. To see these updates reflected in the app, you must initiate a manual change. For example, by modifying the related schema to prompt a new synchronization.
2. What is Uploading?
Uploading is the process of sending data from your mobile device to the EarthRanger Web Platform. In other words, your app shares locally collected information such as Events, Patrols, or Tracks with the central database.
Examples of uploading include:
- Sending Track Data
- Submitting Event Data
- Uploading Patrol Records
Good to know:
Uploading happens automatically whenever the mobile app has an active internet connection. No manual action is required from the user.
3. At a glance
Data Collection
Users upload the data they collect on the device, such as patrols, events, and tracks.
Data Resources
Users download reference data that supports data collection in the field — for example, information about subjects, event types, or patrol configurations.
In summary:
- Uploads happen automatically whenever a connection is available.
- Downloads occur either when the app starts up or when the user manually initiates synchronization (e.g., by tapping Sync).
Downloading | Uploading | |
Direction | From the web platform → To your mobile device | From the mobile device → To the web platform |
Automatically | Not automatically | Automatically |
Common Use | Getting updates made in the admin | Uploading data that was saved in the device |
Example | Get new subjects, get new event types, get new patrol types, get changes made in event schemas | Upload user tracks, upload events created in the app, upload event attachements, upload patrols |
Up Next: Faster App Launch and Optimized Sync in EarthRanger Mobile