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Sync or pause a bank account

Bring in the latest transactions now, or stop syncing one account without disconnecting the bank.

Updated November 10, 2026

Sync a bank-linked account to bring in its latest transactions now. Pause an account to stop syncing it without disconnecting the bank.

Sync one account

  1. Select Accounts in the sidebar (on a phone, select More, then Accounts).
  2. Select the account's name to open its Transactions page.
  3. In the bar that shows your bank's name, select Sync now. On a phone, select the sync icon.

You can also select Sync now in the Bank connection card on the account's settings page. Select the Account settings icon (two sliders) at the right of the account's row in Accounts to open it.

The text next to Sync now shows "Syncing…", then the result. On a phone, the sync icon turns into a spinner while it syncs, and the result doesn't show. To see the result on a phone, select Sync now on the account's settings page.

Sync all of a bank's accounts

  1. Select Linked banks in the sidebar (on a phone, select More, then Linked banks).
  2. On the bank's card, select Sync.

The card shows its progress, such as "Syncing 2 of 3…", then the result. Sync is hidden when no account of that bank is linked in this budget file. Select Add accounts instead.

What the result means

If several messages apply, Good Steward shows the first one in this table.

Message starts withMeaning
"Couldn't update 1 account"The sync failed. Try again. If it keeps failing, see A bank needs attention or is disconnected.
"Synced, but the balance"The message names the accounts whose balance doesn't match your bank's: up to three, then a count of the rest, such as "and 2 more accounts". See An account shows "Off by".
"Added 3 transactions"New transactions came in. The message can add "updated" for existing transactions that changed or matched a bank transaction, and "to review" for transactions your bank stopped reporting.
"Updated 2 transactions"Existing transactions changed. No new ones came in.
"1 transaction to review"Your bank stopped reporting it. It carries the Removed by provider tag.
"Still refreshing"Another sync of this account is running. Wait, then try again.
"Syncing is paused"The account is paused.
"Up to date, but your bank reported no balance"The account is set to Balance only and your bank sent no balance at this sync. The previous balance stays.
"Up to date."Nothing new.

A Balance-only account syncs its balance only. After Sync now its result reads "Up to date.", or "Up to date, but your bank reported no balance for 1 account." when your bank sent no balance. The list of recent updates on the bank's card on Linked banks shows balance updated, up to date or no balance reported for it. See Transactions or Balance only for a bank account.

Pause or resume syncing

  1. Open the account's settings with the Account settings icon (two sliders) on its row in Accounts. Or select Account settings on its Transactions page (on a phone, in the More actions menu).
  2. In the Bank connection card, select Pause syncing. The card then says "Paused — transactions from your bank won't be brought in until you resume." On a Balance-only account, the card says "Paused. Your bank's balance won't be updated until you resume."
  3. To start again, select Resume syncing.

What pausing does

  • Automatic syncs skip the account, and Sync now is unavailable. Transactions from your bank are not brought in until you resume.
  • Linked banks shows a paused label beside the account.
  • Other accounts at the same bank, and the same bank in other budget files, keep syncing.
  • The bank still counts toward your plan's bank limit.
  • After you resume, the next sync brings in what arrived while the account was paused.

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