# Troubleshoot a sync

> **Title:** Troubleshoot a sync — Rival Ads Docs
> **Description:** Resolve empty, incorrect, partial or failed monitor results without losing valid history.
> **Canonical URL:** https://www.rivalads.io/docs/troubleshooting
> **Note:** This is the markdown twin of https://www.rivalads.io/docs/troubleshooting. Append `.md` to any Rival Ads page URL to get markdown.

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A monitor depends on a public advertising source. An empty result can mean the advertiser has no matching public ads, the location or advertiser is wrong, or the source was temporarily unavailable.

## Read the monitor status first

Open the monitor and check:

- **Sync error** for a failed source check.
- **Partial source** when some available data could not be collected.
- The “synced” time and next scheduled date.
- The advertiser, page or domain shown near the monitor name.
- The active **Location** filter.

Use **Open in source library** on an existing ad to compare the public record.

## Request a fresh check

Owners and admins can select **Sync now**. The button changes to **Syncing…** and reports the outcome when complete.

Do not repeatedly start another check while one is in progress. If the interface says it will finish in the background, return later and refresh the page.

## No ads appear

1. Change **Location** or review all monitored locations.
2. Confirm the public source has current ads for that advertiser and region.
3. Confirm the source entered under **Edit** is correct.
4. Select **Sync now** once.
5. If the public source itself is empty, Rival Ads may correctly have no active ads to show.

Remember that **Day**, **Week** or **Month** and active Status/Ad type/Angle filters can produce an empty view even when the monitor has other history.

## The wrong advertiser appears

- Meta: replace a guessed page with the exact Facebook page or Meta Ad Library URL.
- Google: use the root competitor domain rather than a product path.
- TikTok: enter the advertiser name as it appears in the Commercial Content Library.
- LinkedIn: enter the public company or advertiser name and verify the workspace connection under **Settings → Integrations**.

Open **Edit** and correct the source. If Rival Ads identifies it as a genuinely different source, it shows **Replace this monitor source** and asks you to confirm clearing the old history. Cancel if you only intended to adjust the name or project.

## LinkedIn cannot sync

Open **Settings → Integrations** as the workspace Owner:

- Select **Connect LinkedIn** if no account is connected.
- Select **Reconnect** if access is expiring or expired.
- Confirm **Connected as** shows the expected member.

Then return to the monitor and use **Sync now**.

## Alerts did not arrive

A first sync never sends **Instant new-ad alerts**. For later checks, confirm the monitor’s alert setting and the recipient’s project or monitor access. See [Alerts & weekly digest](/docs/alerts).

## When to contact support

[Contact support](/contact) when the correct public source has ads but repeated checks still show **Sync error**, when a partial source persists, or when the stored result clearly differs from the linked public record. Include the monitor name, channel, location and source URL; do not send account passwords.