Resolving Sync Conflicts

Conflicts occur when the same document has been edited in both LiteWork and Xero, and the systems can’t automatically determine which version is correct.

How Conflicts Happen

If you edit an invoice in LiteWork while someone else edits it in Xero, the next sync will detect the mismatch. Neither system wants to overwrite the other’s changes without asking you.

Resolving a Conflict

When you see a conflict warning, click to view both versions side by side. You have three options:

Keep LiteWork version: Overwrite Xero with your LiteWork data. Use this when LiteWork has the correct, most recent information.

Keep Xero version: Import the Xero data into LiteWork. Use this when Xero has authoritative changes (like payment status updated by your accountant).

Manual merge: Review each conflicting field and choose which value to keep. Use this when both versions have valid changes you want to preserve.

Preventing Conflicts

The simplest prevention is choosing one primary system. Most users create and edit in LiteWork, then post to Xero. Xero becomes view-only except for payment recording.

If you must edit in both systems, sync frequently to minimize the window for conflicting changes.

Common Conflict Scenarios

Invoice paid in Xero: Accept the Xero version to get the payment status.

Line items edited in both: Use manual merge to combine the changes.

Contact details updated: Choose whichever has the most current address/email.

Contact Sync Conflicts

To see all contacts with sync issues at once, open Contacts and click the sync status button (refresh icon) in the modal header. The Sync Status panel opens and checks all your contacts, showing:

• In Sync: Contacts that match between LiteWork and Xero (no action needed)
• Need Attention: Contacts with conflicts or sync errors
• Not Synced: Contacts not yet linked to Xero

Any contacts needing attention are listed below the summary. Click Resolve on a contact to open it and choose which version to keep—LiteWork, Xero, or a manual merge of specific fields.

You can also click Refresh at the bottom of the panel to re-check sync status at any time.