diff --git a/src/syncing.rst b/src/syncing.rst index b33a2b6..91cc541 100644 --- a/src/syncing.rst +++ b/src/syncing.rst @@ -7,7 +7,27 @@ Syncing ActivityWatch has basic support for syncing your data across multiple devices using the ``aw-sync`` module since ``v0.13.0``. It works by creating a "staging" database file in a device-specific folder in the sync directory (default is ``~/ActivityWatchSync``), which is then synced to the other devices using a file syncing tool of your choice (like Syncthing, rsync, Dropbox, or Google Drive). So ``aw-sync`` does not itself send data over the network, but instead relies on you using a file syncing tool to do that. -Note that syncing is not available on Android, yet. +Android +------- + +Sync on Android is more limited than on desktop, and is currently **disabled +by default** with no user-facing way to turn it on. + +The Android app can push its own events into a sync directory (scoped to the +app's private storage: ``Android/data/net.activitywatch.android/files/sync/``), +but since Android 11 that directory is not accessible to other apps — so a +file syncing tool like Syncthing cannot read from or write into it. In +practice this means the app can produce its side of the sync data, but there +is currently no supported way to push that data to other devices or to pull +other devices' data onto the phone. Automatic background sync used to run unconditionally +every 15 minutes regardless of whether it could do anything useful; it is now +gated behind a preference that defaults to off, so it no longer runs on fresh +installs. + +A proper setup flow — a settings toggle plus a way to pick a sync directory +that's actually accessible to a file syncing tool (e.g. via Android's Storage +Access Framework) — is planned but not yet built. Track progress in +`activitywatch#1357 `_. How to set up syncing ---------------------