Roofs, attics, and basements rarely have good signal. FieldFaktor saves your work to the device first and uploads on its own once a connection returns. This article covers what works offline, what does not, how to read the sync status, and how to control when media uploads.
What works offline#
- Photos and videos — every capture in Guided Capture is saved to the device before anything tries to upload.
- Inspection answers — interview answers, findings, notes, and close-out answers save to the device as you work and sync whenever the device is online.
- Projects you have opened before — the project list and any project you have already opened are cached on the device, including its photo details and the Weather tab's hail history.
What needs a connection#
- Creating a project — there is no offline queue for new projects. Offline, you'll see "You appear to be offline. Reconnect and try again." Create the project before you leave signal.
- Generating reports — reports build in the cloud; see Generate reports.
- Opening a project for the first time — a project never opened on this device has nothing cached. Offline, it shows an Unable to load project card with a Retry button.
Reading the sync pill#
Every project header shows a sync pill; tap it any time to open the Uploads & storage sheet. The states worth knowing:
| Pill | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Synced | Inspection data is confirmed in the cloud and no photos are waiting. |
| Offline · N saved | Photos are safe on this device and will upload after you reconnect. |
| Syncing N | Photos are uploading right now. |
| Uploads paused · N | Uploads are paused by your connection preference (see below). |
| N failed · Retry | Some uploads failed — tap to review and retry them. |
| Sign in again · N | Your session expired. Sign in again to upload the photos saved on this device. |
The Projects screen has its own pill in the header summarizing every project on the device: Synced, N uploading, N waiting, or N need attention. N waiting covers photos held because you are offline as well as photos paused by your upload preference. It opens the same sheet, scoped to all projects on this device.
The Uploads & storage sheet#
- The summary counts what is left — "N captures to upload" with the total size (or a warning when uploads have failed) — and shows Current connection (Wi-Fi, Cellular, Online, or Offline).
- Each capture gets its own row — for example Front / Overview — Gutter #2 or Video walkthrough #1 — with its status and a Retry button.
- Failed uploads retry on their own with growing wait times. Retry on a row, or Upload all now at the bottom, restarts them immediately.
- When everything is up, the sheet reads All media cloud confirmed.
Choosing when media uploads#
The same sheet (and Account → Uploads & storage) holds the upload preference:
| Preference | Behavior |
|---|---|
| Wi-Fi only — default, tagged Recommended | Photos and videos upload automatically when Wi-Fi is available. On cellular, the pill shows Uploads paused. |
| Wi-Fi + cellular | Uploads whenever the device is online. This may use mobile data. |
| Keep on device | Nothing uploads automatically. Tap Upload all now when you are ready. |
When device storage runs low#
FieldFaktor checks free space before every photo, video, room scan, and inspection start:
- Low (under 1 GB free) — a "Device storage is low" dialog offers Low-storage mode: it stops the extra copy to Apple Photos and switches uploads to Wi-Fi + cellular so media clears off the device faster. Tap Continue in low-storage mode (disabled while offline) or free space and tap Check storage again.
- Critical (under 250 MB free) — "Not enough storage to capture safely": new capture is blocked until you free at least 1 GB. Existing project answers and previously saved photos remain available — only new media capture is stopped.
Three habits that protect your work#
Next: Account and settings covers the rest of the Uploads & storage section and everything else on the Account screen.