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Why does Dropbox sync show old or missing tasks?

Start by checking the Dropbox account linked inside 2Do. If you have more than one Dropbox account, an older account may still hold an old copy of your tasks. Connecting to it can bring back old tasks and dates while leaving your recent changes missing.

Version 4 must use the same Dropbox account as version 3 to download its synced data. Your Mac and any other devices must use that account too. Choosing Dropbox on every device is not enough if they are signed in to different accounts.

Check the linked account​

  1. Open Settings > Sync in the app that holds your complete, current data. On the Mac, use 2Do > Settings > Sync. Note the Dropbox email address.
  2. Compare it with the Dropbox email shown in 2Do on each other device. If version 3 is still installed, compare version 3 and version 4 as well.
  3. Save a backup of any changes you need to keep before changing accounts or replacing data. Keep version 3 and its backups until you have checked the data in version 4.
  4. On an iPhone, iPad, or Mac linked to the wrong account, choose Unlink, then Link Account, and sign in to the correct Dropbox account. Check the account you are authorizing before confirming.

Install the latest updates for the new 2Do apps before retrying. If 2Do reports that you are signed in to a different Dropbox account than before, use the same account check.

Download the current Dropbox copy​

Use this route only when the correct Dropbox account holds the complete, current data you want on the device. If your latest changes are still in version 3, let version 3 finish syncing to that account first, or use the backup route below.

  1. Link the device to the confirmed Dropbox account.
  2. Choose Replace Local Data if asked during setup. If already linked, open Settings > Sync > Next sync action and choose Replace Local Data.
  3. Start a sync and let it finish: pull down on the task list on iPhone, iPad, or Android, or press ⌘S on the Mac.
  4. Check that the tasks and dates match the copy you wanted to recover.

Replace Local Data downloads the full Dropbox copy and replaces this device's syncable tasks and lists. Changes found only on this device may be removed. Do not choose Replace Server Data from a device showing old or incomplete data, because that would overwrite the Dropbox copy. See Replace Server Data or Replace Local Data?.

If Dropbox also holds old data, repeating the download will bring back that same copy. Use a device or backup with the current data instead. If you cannot find one, contact support before replacing data.

Move directly from a version 3 backup​

If version 3 on your iPhone or iPad still has the correct data, you can transfer it to version 4 without using Dropbox.

  1. In version 3, open Settings > Backups. Use Backup to Email, or Create Backup Now followed by Save a Copy…, to save a fresh backup outside the app.
  2. In version 4, save any changes you need to keep, then open Settings > Sync and Unlink Dropbox if connected.
  3. Open Settings > Backups & Export > Restore from File…, choose the saved backup, and select Restore Everything…. This replaces version 4's current data. Reopen 2Do after it quits.
  4. Check that your tasks and dates match version 3 before setting up sync again.

On the Mac, 2026.x updates the existing 2.x app and keeps its data; the separate version 3 and version 4 apps are for iPhone and iPad. See the migration guide for other transfer options.

Switch to the new iCloud sync​

Once you have the complete, current data in the new app, iCloud is the recommended sync method for Apple devices. Every device must use the same Apple Account and run version 4 on iPhone or iPad, or 2Do 2026.x on macOS 14 or later. Keep Dropbox if you sync with Android or an older 2Do app.

  1. Start on the device with the complete data, including a copy restored from a version 3 backup. Open Settings > Sync and disconnect any existing account: Unlink for Dropbox, or Change Account for another method.
  2. Choose iCloud (Recommended), not iCloud CalDAV, then Set Up Sync. If asked, choose Replace Server Data to upload this device's complete copy to iCloud.
  3. Let that sync finish. On each other device, disconnect its old sync account, choose the same iCloud method, and select Set Up Sync. Choose Replace Local Data if asked, so it downloads the copy you just uploaded.

Use Replace Server Data only on the device holding the complete copy. The iCloud migration steps explain the requirements and setup in more detail.

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