Manual Sync

With background auto-sync enabled, manual sync is rarely needed. The extension automatically syncs your Canvas data every 4 hours. However, there are times when you may want to trigger an immediate sync.

When to Use Manual Sync#

Manual sync is useful when:

• You just submitted an assignment and want it reflected immediately
• A teacher just posted new grades
• You added a new course and want it to appear right away
• You want to verify your data is current before a study session
• Auto-sync seems to have paused (e.g., Canvas session expired)

Remember: Most of the time, auto-sync handles everything. You only need manual sync when you want data updated right now.

How to Sync Manually#

Method 1: Extension Popup#

1. Click the Academica icon in your browser toolbar
2. Click the "Sync Now" button
3. Wait for the sync to complete
4. Status will show "Synced" when done

Method 2: Refresh Canvas#

1. Navigate to your Canvas page
2. Press F5 or click refresh
3. The extension will re-scan and sync
4. Check the extension popup for status

Method 3: Visit Specific Pages#

For the most complete sync:

1. Go to your Canvas dashboard
2. Visit the Assignments page for each course
3. Visit the Grades page for each course
4. The extension syncs as you browse

What Manual Sync Does#

When you click "Sync Now":

1. Extension scans the current Canvas page
2. Collects any assignment data visible
3. Sends updates to Academica servers
4. Web app refreshes with new data

Note: Manual sync only scans the current page. For a complete sync, visit multiple Canvas pages.

Sync Progress#

After clicking "Sync Now":

Most syncs complete in 2-5 seconds.

Best Practices#

For New Assignments#

1. Go to the course's Assignments page in Canvas
2. Click "Sync Now" in the extension
3. Check Academica web app

For Updated Grades#

1. Go to the course's Grades page in Canvas
2. Click "Sync Now" in the extension
3. Verify in Academica

For Complete Refresh#

1. Visit your Canvas dashboard
2. Open each course's Assignments page
3. Open each course's Grades page
4. This ensures everything is captured

Troubleshooting Manual Sync#

"Sync Now" Button Grayed Out#

• Make sure you're signed in to the extension
• Check your internet connection
• Refresh the Canvas page

Sync Completes But Data Not Updated#

• Wait 10-15 seconds for web app to update
• Refresh the Academica web app
• Check if you're looking at the right course

Sync Shows Error#

1. Check your internet connection
2. Make sure you're signed in
3. Try refreshing Canvas
4. Try signing out and back in to the extension

More troubleshooting →

Auto-Sync vs. Manual Sync#

Auto-sync handles the vast majority of sync needs. Manual sync is there for when you need data refreshed immediately.

Tips#

1. Trust auto-sync - It runs every 4 hours and catches everything
2. Use manual sync sparingly - Only when you need immediate updates
3. Visit specific pages - For targeted data, go to that page first
4. Check the popup - It shows when last sync occurred and when the next auto-sync is scheduled
5. Be patient - Large courses take a few extra seconds

Next Steps#

• Understand automatic sync
• Fix sync problems
• View your assignments