OmniFocus 2 backwards compatibility

Starting with OmniFocus 2.6 for Mac and OmniFocus 2.15 for iOS, OmniFocus uses a new database format which enables new features, stronger security, and faster syncing. This new encrypted sync format is not sync-compatible with prior versions of OmniFocus 2 or OmniFocus 1.

Read the statement that matches your current sync setup below to find out what this means for you.

I’m an existing OmniFocus 2 user, and have OmniFocus 2 up-to-date on all devices.

Existing users will see a migration prompt to migrate to the encrypted format. After migrating on one device, all other devices will automatically have their databases updated as well.

I’m an existing OmniFocus 2 user, and am currently syncing with an older version of OmniFocus 2 or OmniFocus 1.

Existing users can decline the migration prompt to continue syncing OmniFocus 2.6 for Mac and OmniFocus 2.15 for iOS with older versions of OmniFocus 2 and OmniFocus 1. Continuing to sync with the old format would also mean that you wouldn’t be able to take advantage of other major new features that we’re planning for future releases, which will require the new database format.

I’m an existing OmniFocus 1 user, and wish to upgrade to OmniFocus 2 on some of my devices.

First, make sure sync is set up on your devices running OmniFocus 1, so that there’s a sync database established on the server that uses the original database format. Then, open the new installation of OmniFocus 2, and in the Welcome to OmniFocus dialog, choose the Keep Data in the Cloud option to configure sync with your existing OmniFocus 1 sync database. This copy of OmniFocus 2—and any other copies of OmniFocus 2 you set up in this manner—will then sync using the OmniFocus 1 database format.

If at any time while you’re continuing to use OmniFocus 1 you see the migration prompt (which can appear if you haven’t synced a copy of OmniFocus 1 in a while), decline this prompt in order to continue syncing with OmniFocus 1. Whenever you’ve fully upgraded to the latest versions of OmniFocus 2 on all of your devices, you can then proceed with the migration to begin taking advantage of security improvements and other new features.

I am new to OmniFocus, and am just setting up the latest versions of the app for the first time.

New users who install the current versions of OmniFocus will start off with our new encrypted database format. You do not need to take any special steps in order to migrate, and this database is sync-compatible with the current releases on both the Mac and iOS platforms.

I am new to OmniFocus, but for OS compatibility purposes I plan to run older versions of OmniFocus.

Please contact support with more information about your OS system requirements for further setup assistance.