Sync Lock explained: customize products without losing updates

Sync Lock is one of SyncTec's most useful features for destination stores, and also the one people find most confusing at first. This guide makes it click.

The problem Sync Lock solves

When you sync a source store's product, you often want to make it your own: write a better description, use your own photos, or set your own price. But you also want to keep getting the source store's updates, like new variants or important corrections.

The tension is this. If SyncTec overwrites everything from the source store, your customizations get wiped. If it overwrites nothing, you miss important updates. Sync Lock lets you have both.

The mental model (read this twice)

In your dashboard, Sync Lock is a set of fields you choose to keep synced from the source store. As the in-app help puts it: enabled fields are kept in sync; disabled fields stay as they are on your store. So:

• Fields you enable stay synced — SyncTec keeps them matching the source store, and if you edit one, SyncTec sets it back
• Fields you leave disabled are yours to customize — SyncTec leaves them alone, so your changes stick

It only applies to products you have synced.

Setting it up: two parts

Sync Lock has two simple parts:

1. Choose which fields stay synced. Go to Settings and open the Sync Lock Settings tab. You will see Product Attributes and Variant Attributes, each a list of fields with an on/off switch. Turn on the fields you want kept in sync with the source store, and click Save Changes.

2. Turn Sync Lock on for the products you want it to apply to. On the Products page, use the Sync Lock toggle on a product (or select several and use Lock Selected). You can also tick Lock after sync in the bulk bar when syncing new products.

An example

Say you want your own descriptions and images, but you want price and status to always follow the source store. In Sync Lock Settings you would turn on Price and Status and leave Description and Images off. Then turn Sync Lock on for those products. Now whenever the source store changes a price, your store updates automatically, but your custom description and photos are never touched.

The exact fields you can control

Product Attributes: Title, Description, Product Type, Vendor, Tags, Images, Metafields, SKU, Status (Active / Draft), and SEO.

Variant Attributes: Variant Name, Price (this includes both Price and Compare at Price), and Cost Per Item.

Anything you leave off stays under your control.

What if I edit a locked product by accident?

No harm done. If you change a field that is set to stay synced, SyncTec simply restores the source store's value shortly after. Fields you left disabled keep whatever you set, so you can always experiment safely.

A note for source stores: cost sharing

Source stores have their own Sync Lock choice in Settings: a single switch, Cost Per Item, labeled Share Cost Per Item with your destination stores. Your cost (wholesale price) is only shared if you turn this on, so your margins stay private by default.

Which plan includes Sync Lock?

Sync Lock is available on the Traction plan and above for destination stores. If you are on Free or Starter and want it, upgrade on the Plan page. See Understanding plans and billing.

Getting help

• Email: support@synctec.io
• Contact us: use the Contact Us link in your dashboard