> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.cakewallet.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.cakewallet.com/features/advanced/background-sync.md).

# Background sync

How to turn on background sync in Cake Wallet on Android to keep wallets synced while closed, pick Daily, Hourly or Aggressive, and get transaction alerts.

{% hint style="info" %}
Background sync is currently only available on Android, and currently excludes Decred wallets.
{% endhint %}

## Background sync

Background sync will attempt to sync your wallets in the background at the specified interval. This can help keep your wallet up to date, and avoid the need for syncing lots of blocks when opening them. It covers **every wallet in the app** — not just Monero — with two exceptions: hardware wallets and Decred wallets are skipped. Those wallets sync as usual when you open them in the app. Background sync for Monero only uses the private view key, which avoids keeping the private spend key in memory.

Background sync lives on its own page: open `Settings` → App settings → `Connections` → `Background sync`, then use the `Background sync` toggle there. By default it is disabled, and once enabled it will background sync all of your eligible wallets.

There are three background sync options:

* **Daily**: Attempts to background sync approximately every eighteen (18) hours
* **Hourly**: Attempts to background sync approximately every sixty (60) minutes
* **Aggressive**: Attempts to background sync approximately once every fifteen (15) minutes

Enabling background sync will require enabling `Unrestricted background service` and allowing the app to always run in the background.

Background sync has several additional settings which can be set to control network or device conditions.

### Network and device conditions

These switches on the `Background sync` page limit when a background sync is allowed to run:

* `Require unmetered network` (off by default) — only sync on an unmetered connection, such as most Wi-Fi networks. When it's off, any internet connection is used.
* `Synchronize on low battery` (on by default) — turn it off to skip syncing while the battery is low.
* `Synchronize only when charging` (off by default) — only sync while the phone is charging.
* `Synchronize only when device is not being used` (off by default) — only sync while the phone is idle.

Changes to these switches apply to the background sync schedule straight away.

### Battery use

Each time it runs, background sync opens your eligible wallets one after another and syncs them, so how often it runs makes the biggest difference — `Daily` uses the least, `Aggressive` the most. Android decides the exact timing, so runs can come later than the intervals above. A few things keep each run short:

* It doesn't run while Cake Wallet is open on screen.
* If a wallet can't get syncing within about 30 seconds, it is skipped and background sync moves on to the next wallet.
* While a run is in progress, Android shows a low-priority `Background Sync` notification.

To use less battery, pick a less frequent mode, or turn on `Synchronize only when charging` or turn off `Synchronize on low battery`.

{% hint style="info" %}
If you later turn battery optimization back on for Cake Wallet in Android settings, background sync is switched off automatically, and `Background sync mode` can't be changed until you allow unrestricted battery usage again.
{% endhint %}

### Notifications

You can enable transaction notifications by toggling the `Send notifications about new transactions` setting.

This will send a notification locally about each new transaction it finds — incoming (`Received`), outgoing (`Sent`), and `Autoshield` transactions — together with the amount and the wallet's name.

The notifications will only send during the background sync period, which will be as frequent as the `Background sync mode` setting.

Notifications need Android's notification permission. If the permission is denied when you turn the setting on, Cake Wallet shows an error asking you to enable it manually in your device settings.


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