---
title: "Manage a user's Sync files"
description: "Check a person's Outpost Sync folder, browse their files, and restore a previous version or a deleted file from the console."
url: "https://support.outpostplatform.com/sync/manage-sync-files/"
product: "sync"
type: "how-to"
status: "draft"
ai_summary: "The Sync tab under Users > person: whether Sync is on and why, storage used against the quota, devices and how far behind they are, the file list, version history, and recycle bin. Restoring a version or a deleted file changes it on every computer the person uses. sync:read for status, sync:files to browse, sync:manage to restore. Also the Outpost Sync usage report."
availability:
  plans: ["home-lab", "essentials", "enterprise", "msp"]
  platforms: ["windows"]
  permission: "sync:files"
  preview: false
source: "https://gitlab.com/outpostplatform/docs/-/edit/main/src/content/docs/sync/manage-sync-files.md"
license: "CC BY 4.0"
---

# Manage a user's Sync files

A person's **Sync** tab in the console shows the state of their
[Outpost Sync](/sync/) folder: whether it is on, how full it is, and which
computers have it. With the right permissions, you can also browse the folder
and put back a previous version of a file, or a file they deleted. Use it when
someone asks for a file back, or when their folder stops syncing.

## Before you begin

- To see the **Sync** tab, you need `sync:read`. The Owner, Support Manager,
  and Field Technician roles hold it.
- To see the file list, version history, and recycle bin, you need
  `sync:files`. Only the owner holds it among the built-in roles, because the
  list shows the names of the person's documents.
- To restore anything, you need `sync:manage`. Only the owner holds it among
  the built-in roles.
- On the MSP plan, open the client's workspace first.

A restore changes the person's files on every computer they use, within about
a minute of each computer being online. Tell the person before you restore
over a file they may be working on.

## Open the person's Sync tab

1. Go to **Users** > **All users** and open the person.
2. Select the **Sync** tab.

The **Outpost Sync** card shows:

- **On** or **Off**, and which profile decided it, such as **set on this
  person**, **set on a group they are in**, or **set for everyone**. **Not set
  by any profile (catalog default)** means no profile has turned it on.
- Storage used against the quota, and how much previous versions and the
  recycle bin take. Both count toward the quota.
- **Files**, **Where it is stored**, **History kept**, **Upload limit**, and
  **On a metered connection**.

The **Devices** card lists each computer that carries the folder, with **Last
synced**, and either **Up to date** or how many changes it is behind.

If the folder is at its quota, the card says so. The person's computers pause
uploading until there is room.

## Browse the folder

The **Files** card lists the folder, starting at **Sync folder**. Select a
folder's name to open it, and use the path at the top to go back up. Each file
shows its **Size**, **Version** number, and when it **Changed**.

A folder with very many entries shows **Showing the first entries in this
folder only.**

## Restore a previous version

1. In **Files**, select **History** on the file.
2. **Previous versions of** the file lists each earlier version with its
   **Version** number, **Size**, and when it was **Saved**.
3. Select **Restore** on the version you want.

The version you restore becomes the current contents. The contents it
replaces become the newest entry in the history, so nothing is lost either
way.

## Restore a deleted file

1. In the **Recycle bin** card, find the file by **Name**, **Path**, or when it
   was **Deleted**.
2. Select **Restore**.

The file goes back to the path it had. If the folder it was in is also in the
recycle bin, restore the folder first. If another file has taken its path,
rename that file first.

Deleted files stay in the recycle bin until retention removes them, 30 days by
default. After that, they cannot be restored from Outpost Sync.

## Verify

- The restored version shows as the current **Version** in **Files**, or the
  restored file is back in **Files** and gone from **Recycle bin**.
- The person's computers show the file within about a minute of being online,
  and each is listed as **Up to date** under **Devices**.
- The restore is recorded in the [audit log](/depot/audit-log/), without the
  file's name.

## See Sync usage across the client

**Reports** > **All reports** > **Outpost Sync usage** lists everyone with a
Sync folder: **Person**, **Used**, **Quota**, **Files**, **Machines**, and
**Last synced**, with totals and a chart of storage used per person. It shows
who is close to their quota without showing any file names, so it needs only
`sync:read`. Select **Download PDF** for a copy.

## If something goes wrong

| Symptom | Cause | Fix |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Your account cannot see Outpost Sync.** | You lack `sync:read`. | Ask an owner for the permission. |
| The **Files** card says your account lacks `sync:files` | Browsing the folder needs `sync:files`. | Ask an owner for it, or ask the person which file they need. |
| No **Restore** buttons | You lack `sync:manage`. | Ask an owner to restore the file. |
| **That file cannot go back where it was** | Another file has the same path, or the folder it was in is also in the recycle bin. | Rename the other file, or restore the folder first. |
| **This person's Outpost Sync folder is at its quota** | Restoring would take the folder over its quota. | Raise `sync.quota_bytes` for the person, then restore. |
| A computer stays many changes behind | It is offline, paused, or on a metered connection with metered syncing off. | Check the **Sync** view in the tray app on that computer. |

## Next steps

- [Set up Outpost Sync](/sync/set-up-sync/)
- [Outpost Sync policy settings](/sync/policy-settings/)