Money Owed saves account changes to your device immediately, keeps available balances and transactions offline, and syncs through iCloud when the device can connect.
What Stays on the Device?
The main app keeps the accounts, transactions, schedules, images, and attachments needed for offline use in its private storage on the device. Available information can be displayed without an iCloud connection.
What Is Synchronized?
- Accounts you own sync through your private iCloud storage.
- Shared accounts sync through iCloud for invited participants.
- Account changes can be saved on the device first and uploaded later.
- Some preferences, including account sorting, synchronize through iCloud settings.
Sharing is limited to specified recipients. Money Owed does not make an account public.
When Sync Runs
Sync can run:
- When you open the app
- When you return to the app
- After you save a change
- When iCloud reports changes from another device or participant
- When the operating system allows updates in the background
- When you open or refresh the Watch app
On Mac, opening or returning to Money Owed gives it the best opportunity to sync. Updates that arrive while the app is not in use are controlled by Apple and can be delayed. The main app does not provide a general manual Refresh button.
Offline Behavior
While offline, you can view available accounts and transactions. If you have write access, changes are saved on your device and wait for iCloud. Other participants do not see those changes until both devices finish syncing.
Recurring and interest schedules may wait until the account owner's iPhone, iPad, or Mac can check them. The Watch does not run these schedules.
Sync Status Messages
Waiting to sync
A saved change has not finished uploading to iCloud. Check the network and iCloud account, then open Money Owed and allow it time to sync.
Sync needs attention
A change could not be downloaded or uploaded. Keep the app installed, reopen it, and check for an iCloud warning or a more specific error. Do not repeatedly recreate the same transaction while the original change may still be waiting to sync.
iCloud Sign-In Required
Sign in to iCloud in Settings on iPhone and iPad or System Settings on Mac. Money Owed pauses synchronization while the device has no iCloud account.
Original iCloud Account Required
The device is signed in to a different iCloud account from the one previously used with Money Owed. Sign in to the original Apple Account. Money Owed does not silently move existing app data to a new account because that could expose it or leave it inaccessible.
Sharing and Sync
The owner can invite or remove participants through iCloud, change Read Only and Read & Write access, or stop sharing. A participant who leaves loses access to the shared account, while the owner's account remains.
Read the exact permission behavior in Share Accounts with iCloud.
Watch Synchronization
After Pro access is verified, the Watch keeps its own copy of your accounts and syncs directly through iCloud rather than receiving live data from the iPhone app. It syncs when opened, when you return to it, and when you choose Refresh. Accounts and transactions created on the Watch can wait there until a connection is available.
Because the Watch and main app sync separately, a Watch transaction may appear on the Watch before the main app receives it. A widget cannot show that transaction until the main app receives the change and updates the widget.
Widget Synchronization
Widgets require Money Owed Pro and do not sync through iCloud themselves. The main app supplies their account information after it saves or receives changes. The operating system controls when a widget refreshes, so a short delay is normal. Widgets hide account names and balances until Pro access is verified. See Money Owed Widgets.
When Sync Is Stuck
- Confirm that the device is online.
- Confirm that it is signed in to the original iCloud account.
- Open Money Owed and leave it active briefly.
- Check whether the account is read-only or whether a participant was removed.
- Update Money Owed on the affected devices if the app requests an update.
- Allow time for iCloud to deliver changes.
Do not delete the app or clear its data to fix a temporary sync delay. If the problem remains, use Troubleshooting Money Owed and record the exact status message.