Soumitra Dutta-How do I recover unsynced forms?

Users
1

Hi Everyone, I am Soumitra Dutta an entrepreneur & photographer from Oxford. Has anyone dealt with forms that were completed on a device but never synced to the server? What steps did you take to recover them, and what ended up working best?

Regards

Soumitra Dutta

2

I can help you with recovering unsynced forms. There are several methods to recover forms that haven't synced to the server:

Recovery Methods

1. Basic Sync Retry

  • Ensure the device has a stable internet connection
  • Open the CommCare app and manually trigger a sync
  • Sometimes forms fail to sync due to temporary connectivity issues

2. Using Form Recovery
If the app is still functioning:

  • Go to the app settings in CommCare
  • Look for unsent/pending forms in the app's form queue
  • Try syncing again once connectivity is restored

3. Android Backup (if available)

  • If you have Android backup enabled, forms may be recoverable through device backup restoration
  • This depends on whether backups were configured before the issue occurred

4. Database Extraction (Advanced)
For technical users or with IT support:

  • Unsynced forms are stored locally in the app's database on the device
  • With proper technical knowledge, the SQLite database can be accessed and forms extracted
  • This typically requires developer tools or support from your CommCare administrator

Important Considerations

  • Don't uninstall the app - This will delete unsent forms
  • Keep the device charged - Ensure the device doesn't run out of battery
  • Preserve the app state - Avoid clearing app data or cache

When to Contact Support

If basic sync attempts don't work, or if this involves critical data that needs recovery, I recommend submitting a support ticket with the following information:

  • Device details (Android version, CommCare app version)
  • Number of unsynced forms
  • Any error messages you're seeing
  • Steps you've already tried

Submit a ticket here: Jira Service Management

The support team can provide device-specific guidance and potentially help with more advanced recovery methods if needed.

Have you been able to see the forms in your app's form queue, or are you getting any specific error messages when trying to sync?