Quickbooks Online: Glitch in transfer of data from time to invoice

You’re not the only one. I’ve encountered the exact same lag with QBO, where edited time entries don’t update invoices immediately. Sometimes it eventually catches up, but I’ve also had cases where I had to remove the time from the invoice, re-add it, or even copy the invoice fresh before it would pull the right data.

What I’ve learned is that the sync between the time activity table and invoicing isn’t always real-time, especially if you’ve made multiple edits. Clearing cache or logging out rarely helps, it’s more about QBO’s backend refresh cycle. A couple of folks I know simply export their time data and reimport it into invoices using a lightweight integration tool (some even offer a free tier, which is sufficient for this job) when they can’t wait for QBO to resolve the issue.

If you’re in the middle of billing and can’t afford delays, I’d suggest trying the remove/re-add trick first. Long-term, it’s worth keeping a backup approach so you’re not stuck waiting for support to sync your data.

Having to do the remove and add seems like a clunky work around for a QBO software glitch. I have spent 4 hours on Friday and an hour this morning trying to resolve the issue. I was told they would run a manual sunc Friday night that should fix the issue, no luck.

Tired of trying to help them correct issues with their software. On Friday, I was told if the sync didn't resolve the issue, they would open a ticket on it, and maybe it would get looked at in a few months. 

I guess I should have just done like you suggested, delete the entries and re-enter. A royal pain, but if I started my edits with the understanding that QBO doesn't work, then it might be less stressful. 

You did mention "copy an invoice." Not sure what you mean or how you do that?

@schroeder2 I understand how frustrating it is when changes don't sync as expected. I've sent your case to our Next Level Help team so they can take a closer look.

One of our experts will review your community posts and support history to get the full picture. You can expect them to contact you soon with an update on the next steps.

The solution from Quickbooks Support was to literally delete all of my entries on the invoice and re-enter them, then to do the invoice again. A clunky and wasteful use of my time, but par for the course for Quickbooks. 

In other words, your databases do not communicate in real time with each other and do not update.

Don't waste your time contacting me until you have solved the problem. And then maybe you can work on the other issues I have provided feedback on for the last 2 1/2 years. 

Everyday, I wonder why I gave up my Quickbooks 2014 Desktop to go to the Online solution that causes me more headaches everyday. The push to online solutions so software companies can charge monthly subscriptions as provided no added benefits to the customers as far as I can tell. It simple seems to be a way for programmers to pad their resumes with claims of AI prowess that just aggravates the customers.