Sync Edits to Template controls whether a ZipLeads workflow email stays connected to its original email template. Turn on continuous sync to keep both versions updated together. Turn it off to customise the workflow email on its own. You can also use Sync Once to copy the current template into a workflow email without turning on ongoing sync. This guide explains the sync settings, how they work, and how to manage linked workflow email actions.
What is Sync Edits to Template?
When you add an existing email template to a Send Email workflow action, the action uses its own version of that content. The Sync Edits to Template setting decides whether edits to the workflow email and the linked source template update each other automatically.
This option applies to email actions that use an existing template. It isn't available for every way of creating an email.
Key benefits of Sync Edits to Template
Choosing the right sync setting helps you reuse email templates while controlling whether edits stay in one workflow or update shared template content.
Consistent messaging: Keep shared workflow emails in line with their source template when continuous sync is on.
Safe customisation: Adapt an email for one workflow without changing the original template when sync is off.
Selective updates: Refresh an independent workflow email with Sync Once without turning on ongoing sync.
Better visibility: See which workflow email actions are linked to a template and whether continuous sync is on.
How continuous sync and Sync Once work
Continuous sync controls future edits between the workflow email and its source template. Sync Once is a separate, one-time update that copies the current template content into a selected workflow email.
Mode | What happens | Best for |
Sync ON | Edits to the workflow email update the source template, and template edits update the workflow email. | Messages that should stay aligned. |
Sync OFF | The workflow email and source template stay independent. Later edits to either one don't update the other. | Workflow-specific versions. |
Sync Once | Copies the current template content into the workflow email one time, while continuous sync stays off. | Refreshing selected independent emails. |
Important: With continuous sync on, editing a workflow email can also update the shared source template. Before using Sync Once, check both the template and the workflow email, because the one-time update applies the template's current content to the selected action.
Default sync settings
Checking the current sync setting before you edit helps prevent unexpected changes to shared templates.
New Send Email actions using a template: Continuous sync is OFF by default.
Existing email actions: The setting can be ON or OFF depending on the action's history. Check the current setting before making edits.
How to turn continuous sync on or off
Set up syncing directly inside the workflow email action to control whether future edits stay independent or keep updating the linked template.
Go to Automation → Workflows and open or create a workflow.
Add or edit a Send Email action.
Choose Select Existing Template and select a saved email template.
Find Sync Edits to Template below the template preview and check its current state.
To turn on continuous sync, tick the checkbox and confirm with Turn On Sync when prompted.
To turn off continuous sync, clear the checkbox and confirm with Turn Off Sync when prompted.
Review the email content and click Save Action. Save or publish the workflow as needed.
How to use Sync Changes and Sync Once
The Sync Changes dialog on the template side lists the workflow email actions linked to a selected template. From here, you can check each action's continuous sync status and apply the template's current content once to eligible workflow email actions.
Go to Marketing → Emails → Templates.
Find the source template.
Open the template's three-dot menu (…) and select Sync Changes.
Review each linked workflow email action and its Continuous Sync status.
Select the actions you want that have continuous sync disabled.
Click Sync Once to copy the template's current content to the selected actions.
After the success confirmation, check the updated email actions in their workflows.
Important: Sync Once doesn't turn on continuous sync. You can't turn continuous sync on or off from the Sync Changes dialog. To change it, open the matching Send Email workflow action and tick or clear Sync Edits to Template there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I turn sync on or off after setting up an email action?
Yes. Open the Send Email action, change Sync Edits to Template, and confirm the change.
Q: Can workflow emails using the same template have different sync settings?
Yes. Each workflow email action can have its own continuous sync setting. The Sync Changes dialog can show linked actions with continuous sync either on or off.
Q: Can I preview what Sync Once will change?
There's no documented built-in comparison preview. Check both the source template and the workflow email before applying the one-time update.
Q: What happens to sync settings when I duplicate a workflow?
The sync setting is kept in duplicated workflows. After duplicating, check the linked template and the current checkbox state before making edits.