sync devices

Meaning

To sync devices (short for 'synchronize') means to connect two or more electronic devices so that they share the same updated data, files, or settings. This ensures that changes made on one device are immediately reflected on the others. It is a neutral, everyday tech term.

Examples

• If you sync your devices, you can access your calendar from both your phone and laptop.

  If you sync your devices, you can access your calendar from both your phone and laptop.

• It takes a few minutes to sync devices when you first set up your new smartwatch.

  It takes a few minutes to sync devices when you first set up your new smartwatch.

• My fitness tracker won't sync devices with my phone today for some reason.

  My fitness tracker won't sync devices with my phone today for some reason.

• You should sync your devices over Wi-Fi to avoid using up your mobile data.

  You should sync your devices over Wi-Fi to avoid using up your mobile data.

• Cloud storage makes it incredibly easy to sync devices automatically in the background.

  Cloud storage makes it incredibly easy to sync devices automatically in the background.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I need to synch-up my phone with my tablet.

  ✓ I need to sync my phone with my tablet.

  While sync up is a common phrasal verb, the spelling synch is less common and sync is the standard modern spelling.

• ✗ The computer and phone are sharing data to be equal.

  ✓ The computer and phone are syncing.

  Syncing is the precise technical term used for keeping data identical across devices; sharing data to be equal is unnatural and wordy.

Related Expressions

Practice

• To keep your contacts updated on both phones, you need to ___.

  💡 Connect and update data across multiple hardware units.

  Show answer

  sync devices

• I love how easy it is to ___ using iCloud.

  💡 Keep files identical on your phone and computer.

  Show answer

  sync devices