Image sync warnings appear in the Utility Scout app when photos captured in the field haven't finished uploading to the web portal. This guide explains what these warnings mean, what causes them, and how to resolve them.
In This Guide
What Is an Image Sync Warning?
An image sync warning means that one or more photos on your device have not yet been uploaded to the Cloneable web portal. The warning typically appears as a notification in the app, and may include the number of files waiting to sync.
Your field data (pole locations, measurements, attachment heights, field values) syncs separately from photos. So your data may be up to date on the web portal even when photos are still uploading.
Note: Image sync warnings do not mean your data is lost. The photos are saved on your device and will upload once the sync completes.
Common Causes
Cause | Details |
Large file queue | If you collected many poles in a session, you may have hundreds of photos waiting to upload. This is normal and will resolve on its own with a stable connection. |
Weak or intermittent internet | Photos are larger files than text data and require a stable connection to upload. Spotty cell service or slow Wi-Fi can cause uploads to pause or fail. |
App was closed during sync | If you close the app or the phone goes to sleep before all photos finish uploading, the remaining files will queue up for the next sync. |
Low device storage | If your device is running low on storage, the system may have trouble processing the upload queue. See Managing Device Storage for Utility Scout for help. |
Impact on Exports
Important: Unsynced images can also cause export failures. If photos have not finished uploading from the field device, exports to Katapult may fail with a "File not yet saved to cloud" error. Always verify that all images have synced before starting an export. See Troubleshooting Export Errors for more details.
Steps to Resolve
Connect to a strong Wi-Fi network. This is the fastest way to clear a large upload queue. Cellular data works but is slower for bulk photo uploads.
Open the app and keep it in the foreground. The app syncs automatically every 15 seconds when it's open. You can also tap the sync status indicator to force a sync.
Keep the screen on. If you have a large queue, keep the app open and the screen on until the upload completes. A banner on your home screen will tell you how many objects still need to upload.
Check your sync status. Tap the sync indicator in the top left corner of the app. When it shows "Synced", all data and photos have been uploaded.
Check Settings > File Sync. In the app settings, look under the File Sync section to see if there are any specific errors listed for individual files.
End-of-day routine. At the end of your field day, get back to good WiFi, toggle sync on, plug your phone into a charger, and let it run for 30 to 60 minutes. Walk away and check back to confirm the sync indicator shows "Synced."
Tip: If you collected a lot of data during the day, plug your phone into a charger and connect to Wi-Fi at the end of your shift. Open the app and let it sync while charging overnight.
Preventing Future Warnings
Sync periodically throughout the day. Don't wait until the end of a full day of fielding to sync. Taking a break near Wi-Fi and letting the app catch up reduces the queue size.
Keep the app updated. Updates often include improvements to sync reliability and performance.
Monitor device storage. If your phone is nearly full, the app may have trouble processing uploads. Archive completed jobs from the web portal to reduce local data.
When to Contact Support
Reach out to the Cloneable support team if:
You've been connected to strong Wi-Fi for over an hour and the warning hasn't cleared
The sync status shows errors that don't resolve after restarting the app
Photos appear on the device but are missing from the web portal after a successful sync
When contacting support, include:
The job name affected
How many files are in the queue (if visible)
A screenshot of any error messages in Settings > File Sync