How to force a sync with Exchange server

[iPodTouchOwner]

I am syncrhonizing the notes, calendar, and contacts (not email) on my new iPhone SE (iOS 10) with an Exchange Server interface (AkrutoSync). It's not a full fledged exchange server. It simply presents an Exchange Server interface to the iPhone (or to an Android) to enable syncing with a Microsoft Outlook client running on a laptop or desktop.

Of the phones that can interface with it, iPhone is apparently unique in that the user cannot manually trigger a sync. Syncs occur every 10-15 minutes, I'm told. In my case, the iPhone connects to AkrutoSync over my home WiFi network.

Not being able to force a sync at will is a bit of a pain. If I create or delete an appointment on Outlook, I want to be able to synchronize at will. I don't want to wait an unknown length of time and hope that there was a sync. I might be headed out the door for some engagement.

Is it in fact true that iOS will not allow me to force a sync at will? If not, then how does one force a sync? Simply switching to away from an app (notes, calendar, contacts) and swithcing back doesn't do it. Neither does putting the phone to sleep and reawakening it.

 

[BrianBaughn]

What settings have you tried for "Fetch New Data"?

 

[iPodTouchOwner]

"Push" is off, because I want a manual pull, "Exchange" is "manual", and "Fetch" is "manual". The explanation given for "Exchange"="manual" is the app will check for changes when it is in use. In my mind, it's not really a manual sync unless the user is able to trigger a sync, i.e., it's not a manual in the way that I'm seeking if it is the app that decides to trigger a sync.

Note that the sync eventually occurs, but anywhere up to 10 minutes later. I'm looking for an manually triggered immediate sync.

 

[BrianBaughn]

In iOS Contacts I think you can "refresh" by pulling down on the contact list. In Calendars, it's done at Calendar>Calendars. I don't see anything in Notes. Not sure if any of those work, though.

I'd never heard of AkrutoSync. They charge $3/month? A real Exchange Account can be had for as low as $4/month.

 

[iPodTouchOwner]

Thank, Brian. I am looking into user-initiated syncing of notes (web browsing).

BTW, I bought the AkrutoSync app to run on my laptop. It presents an Exchange interface, which the iPhone connects to via WiFi. I don't pay a monthly fee to connect over the cloud.

AFTERNOTE: As it turns out, a forcing a sync of notes at will (with an Exchanger Server interface) doesn't seem to be well documented, and I haven't come across the procedure. However, the iPhone Notes app seems to automatically attempt a sync when I add/delete notes. Furthermore, if I add/delete notes on the Outlook client on the laptop, AkrutoSync seems to be able to initiate a sync. I am surprised by this push sync, as my settings on the iPhone was to sync manually. But as long as I can sync without waiting 5 to 15 minutes (or even 1 to 15 minutes), it has the effect I want. Furthermore, if the phone is off, and I add/delete a note, the phone seems to know that it has to attempt a sync when re-awakened. Whatever byzantine heuristics exist to govern the initiation of syncing under various situtations, the overall effect seems to be as desired.

 

[Givmeabrek]

You are fooling IOS into believing it is connected to an Exchange server, but are trying to control it manually. Why not use a real Exchange server to sync continuously? Microsoft's Outlook.com is free as are others that will do the job.

 

[iPodTouchOwner]

I wasn't aware that manually syncing with an Exchange Server was an contradiction or was unusal. I use AkrutoSync because I don't want to sync to the cloud. Just within my home WiFi network. If I had it my way, I would just go over a cable to the iTunes app running on my laptop. Unfortunately, the desktop/laptop iTunes app no longer syncs the phone with an Outlook client.