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--- kb:files_not_syncing [2023/11/22 03:57] – dstillman
+++ kb:files_not_syncing [2024/03/21 07:39] (current) – [Short Answer] dstillman
@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 ==== Short Answer ====
-Sync **the device where you added the file** and check for a sync error in the Zotero toolbar. You may have just reached your [[/settings/storage|Zotero Storage quota]], preventing additional files from being synced.
+Sync the device **where you added the file**. Unless you deleted it outside of Zotero, you will still be able to open the file on that device. After syncing, check for a sync error in the Zotero toolbar.
+You may have just reached your [[/settings/storage|Zotero Storage quota]], preventing additional files from being synced. If you added a subscription recently, syncing the device where you added the file will allow the file to be uploaded and make it available to other devices.
+If the file can't be opened in the online library (or isn't on your WebDAV server), **any device where you can't open the file is irrelevant**.
 ==== Long Answer ====
-If you're unable to open a file in Zotero, [[:sync#file_syncing|file syncing]] may not be set up or working properly on one of your devices, or you may have reached your online file storage quota. You may see one of the following errors:
+If you're unable to open a file in Zotero, it was almost certainly never uploaded to Zotero servers. [[:sync#file_syncing|File syncing]] may not be set up or working properly on one of your devices, or you may have reached your online file storage quota. You may see one of the following errors:
   * Desktop: //"The attached file could not be found at the following path. It may have been moved or deleted outside of Zotero, or, if the file was added on another computer, it may not yet have been synced to or from zotero.org."//
@@ Line 14: / Line 17: @@
 Follow these steps to diagnose and fix the problem:
-  - Make sure the attachment file is accessible from Zotero on at least one of your devices. We'll refer to the device that has the file as Device A and the device that doesn't as Device B.
+  - Make sure the attachment file can be opened from Zotero on at least one of your devices. We'll refer to the device that has the file as Device A and the device that doesn't as Device B.
-  - If Device A is a computer, make sure the attachment is stored within your [[:zotero_data|Zotero data directory]], not linked to a location elsewhere on your disk. Zotero syncs [[:attaching_files#stored_files_and_linked_files|stored files]]; linked files need to be synced outside of Zotero. Linked files are indicated by a chain in the attachment icon. You can use Tools → Manage Attachments → Convert Linked Files to Stored Files to make the files syncable.
+  - If Device A is a computer and this is a personal library, make sure the attachment is stored within your [[:zotero_data|Zotero data directory]], not linked to a location elsewhere on your disk. Zotero syncs [[:attaching_files#stored_files_and_linked_files|stored files]]; linked files need to be synced outside of Zotero. Linked files are indicated by a chain in the attachment icon. You can use Tools → Manage Attachments → Convert Linked Files to Stored Files to make the files syncable. (All files in a group are stored files.)
   - Make sure the device is syncing properly:
-    * If Device A is a computer, check that file syncing is enabled in the Sync pane of the preferences, and check whether you're getting a sync error, indicated by an error icon to the left of the green sync button in the Zotero toolbar. If you're getting a sync error, click the sync error icon and follow the instructions. If you need help, please [[:reporting_problems|report the error]] in the Zotero Forums.
+    * If Device A is a computer, check that file syncing is enabled in the Sync pane of the preferences, and check whether you're getting a sync error, indicated by an error icon to the left of the green sync button in the Zotero toolbar. If you're getting a sync error, click the sync error icon and follow the instructions. If you need help, please post to the [[/forum|Zotero Forums]] with a [[:reporting_problems|Report ID]] and the message you're seeing in the sync error popup.
     * If Device A is an iPad or iPhone, pull down on the items list and check whether you're getting a sync error in the bottom left. Tap on the sync error for more information. If you need help, please post to the [[/forum|Zotero Forums]] with a [[:debug_output#zotero_for_ios|Debug ID]] for pulling down on the items list.
   - If you're not getting a sync error on Device A, verify that the file has been uploaded to the server. The steps vary depending on whether you're using [[:storage|Zotero Storage]] or WebDAV: