Sync appears delayed

If syncing appears delayed, it does not always mean something is wrong. SKU Stock Sync processes inventory changes through due groups, scheduled syncing, and manual syncing.

Info: SKU Stock Sync is not instant. A detected inventory change does not always create an immediate stock update. For the full timing overview, see When inventory gets synced.

Why syncing can appear delayed

When inventory changes in Shopify, SKU Stock Sync checks whether the affected item belongs to a SKU/location group. If the group needs attention, it may be marked as due.

Due groups are then processed during scheduled syncs, or sooner if you run a manual sync for work that is already waiting.

• The next scheduled sync may not have run yet. A group can be waiting for the next scheduled processing window.
• The group may be on the daily schedule. Higher-stock groups may be processed less often than lower-stock groups.
• The group may not be due yet. If no relevant inventory change has made the group ready to process, there may be nothing waiting.
• The group may be ignored, or intentionally not synced. If a group has been manually ignored on the Groups page, this isn't a delay. It's expected to stay out of syncing until unignored. See Ignoring groups.
• The group may be at a fulfillment-app-managed location. Groups stocked at locations managed by a fulfillment app (for example, Catalog) are automatically skipped during sync.
• The item may still need setup. New products, new variants, or changed SKUs may need to be prepared before they can be included in syncing.
• The app may be paused, setting up, or disconnected. Check Sync status if syncing does not seem active.

Check whether the delay is expected

1. Check Sync status: Open the Settings page and check the current status. If the status is On, the app is ready and monitoring normally. If not, syncing may not process until that status is resolved. See Sync status.
2. Check whether work is waiting: On the Groups page, review whether any groups are waiting to be processed. If no groups are due, there may not be anything ready to sync yet.
3. Check the schedule type: If the group is waiting on the regular schedule, it should be processed sooner than groups waiting on the daily schedule. If the group is waiting on the daily schedule, the delay may be expected. See Scheduled syncing.
4. Use manual sync if needed: If work is already waiting and you want it processed sooner, run a manual sync from the Groups page. Manual sync processes work that is already waiting. It does not force-sync every SKU in your store. See Manual syncing.

Regular schedule vs daily schedule

SKU Stock Sync uses different schedules to focus syncing on the groups that are most likely to need attention.

• Regular schedule: used for groups that should be checked more often.
• Daily schedule: used for groups that still need automatic processing, but less frequently.

For more details, see Scheduled syncing.

If the item was recently added or changed

Syncing can appear delayed when the affected product, variant, SKU, or inventory location was recently changed.

Before a new or changed item can sync correctly, SKU Stock Sync needs to detect it and place it into the correct SKU/location group.

• A new variant may need to be prepared.
• A changed SKU may need to be moved into the correct group.
• A location change may affect which groups the variant belongs to.

If you suspect the app never detected the item at all, try Scanning for new items. For more details, see Creating / updating groups.

When manual sync helps

Manual sync helps when work is already waiting and you do not want to wait for the next scheduled sync.

Manual sync can process:

• Due groups waiting on the regular schedule
• Due groups waiting on the daily schedule
• Queued setup items that need to be prepared

Note: Manual sync is not a full-store force sync. If no groups are due and no setup items are waiting, manual sync may not have anything to process. If you just want to correct a specific group's stock right now, you can also select it on the Groups page and sync it directly.

When the delay may be a problem

A delay may need investigation if:

• The app status is On, but the group never appears in History.
• The group has been due for longer than expected and manual sync does not process it.
• The same SKU/location group repeatedly appears to wait without being processed.
• The affected variant is not showing up in the expected group.
• Another app or integration may be changing the same inventory after SKU Stock Sync runs.

For broader troubleshooting, see Inventory did not sync.

Important things to know

• SKU Stock Sync processes groups that are due. It does not constantly resync every SKU in your store.
• A recent inventory change may wait until the next scheduled sync.
• Higher-stock groups may be processed less often than lower-stock groups.
• Manual sync can process waiting work sooner, but only if there is work ready to process.
• New products, variants, SKUs, and location changes may need setup before they can sync normally.

When to contact support

If syncing still appears delayed after checking the steps above, contact support and include:

• The affected SKU
• The Shopify location
• The product or variant that changed
• When the inventory change was made
• Whether the group appears as due on the Groups page
• Whether you tried manual sync
• Whether the item, SKU, or location was recently created or changed