Fix a failed Xero sync
Read the Sync column, find out why Xero refused a document, and fix contact, tax rate, currency and account failures.
The Sync column on Finance, and on each project's Finance tab, shows what happened the last time a document was sent to Xero. When a sync fails, the reason is on the badge.
Fix a failed sync
- Find the row on Finance and hover over its Failed badge to read the reason.
- Find that message below and make the fix. Most fixes are in Xero or on the contact.
- Click the circular arrow beside the badge to send the document again.
You need permission to edit finance to retry.
Contact failures
Techstyles looks for the client or supplier in Xero by email, then by name, and creates them if it finds neither. These messages mean that didn't work.
| The message says | What to do |
|---|---|
| Could not match "[name]" to a contact in Xero. Add an email address to them, then sync again. | Open the supplier in CRM > Contacts, click Edit, add their email, click Save and retry. Edit a contact. |
| Another contact in Xero already uses this name. Rename one of them, then sync again. | Rename the contact in Xero, or change the name in Techstyles, then retry. |
| This supplier or client could not be found in Xero. Sync again to link it to the right contact. | The contact was deleted in Xero, or you have connected a different Xero organisation. Retry: Techstyles looks for the contact again. |
| Could not match this contact in Xero. Try syncing again. | Retry. If it fails again, add an email to the contact as above. |
Tax rate failures
Techstyles matches an invoice's VAT rate to a Xero tax rate of the same percentage, and creates one if Xero has none. These messages mean Xero wouldn't accept that.
| The message says | What to do |
|---|---|
| Xero has no 20% sales tax rate. Add one under Settings → Tax rates, then sync again. | In Xero, add a tax rate at that percentage, then retry. |
| That tax rate is not set up in Xero. Add it under Settings → Tax rates, then sync again. | The same: add the rate in Xero, then retry. |
| A 20% sales tax rate now exists in Xero but its tax code was not returned, so this document was not sent. Press retry — the rate will be found. | Retry. Nothing else is needed. |
| 120% is not a usable tax rate, so it was not created in Xero. Correct the VAT rate on this document (or on its project) and retry. | The rate is mistyped. Edit the invoice and correct Total VAT, then retry. If it is already sent, you need to unlock it first. |
Other failures
| The message says | What to do |
|---|---|
| GBP is not set up in Xero. Add it under Settings → Currencies, then sync again. | Add the currency in Xero, then retry. |
| That account code does not exist in Xero. Check it in Xero, then sync again. | Check the account in Xero, or choose another in Choose which Xero accounts invoices and orders post to. |
| Your Xero connection has expired. Reconnect Xero under Settings → Integrations. | Connect Xero again, then retry. |
| TechStyles is connected to Xero but was not given permission for this. | Disconnect and reconnect Xero under Settings > Integrations, allowing everything Xero asks for, then retry. |
| This document has no line items, so Xero will not accept it. | Edit the invoice and add a line, then retry. |
| This Xero organisation cannot accept the document. Check the subscription in Xero. | Check the organisation's subscription in Xero, then retry. |
| Xero is busy right now, or is having trouble. | Wait a minute or two, then retry. |
If the message is none of these, Techstyles shows Xero's own words, starting "Xero rejected this document:". If you can't tell what it wants, contact support with the document number and the message.
What each badge means
| Badge | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Synced | Xero has this document. Hover to see its Xero number. A warning icon means Xero took it but something didn't match afterwards (for example the total); hover to read why. |
| Syncing | A push to Xero is in progress. |
| Failed | Xero rejected the last push. Hover to read Xero's reason. |
| Sync interrupted | A push started but didn't finish within a few minutes. Retry. |
| Not synced | Xero has no record of this document yet. This includes documents created before Xero was connected. Retry, or sync several at once. |
| Locked in Xero | Xero holds an approved or paid version and refused the change. Usually the invoice was approved or paid in Xero before your change. Make the correction in Xero, or raise a credit note or top-up here. |
| Xero off | The studio has no Xero connection. |
| Sync off | Xero sync is switched off for this document. |
When you can retry
The circular arrow appears for Failed, Sync interrupted, Not synced and Locked in Xero. On Synced rows it appears when you hover, to push the current version again.
It isn't offered while a document is Syncing, for Xero off or Sync off, on paid purchase orders, or on void invoices. A paid invoice still offers it, because that is how payments recorded while Xero was off reach Xero.