Work offline during an inspection
What works without service, what waits for a connection, and how to test your device before a remote visit.
Last updated August 26, 2026
NestWatch keeps supported fieldwork moving through ranch roads, garages, gated communities, and concrete-walled homes. The important preparation step is simple: sign in and open the visit on this device while you still have a connection. A visit that has never loaded on the device cannot be opened from scratch offline.
What works without a connection
- Work a visit that was already loaded on this device.
- Mark checklist items and change their condition.
- Add field notes.
- Take and attach photos to checklist items.
- Complete the inspection.
- Queue a standard or AI report draft for processing after reconnecting.
Each supported change is saved on the device first. You can close a room, move through the property, and finish the visit without waiting for bars to return.
What still needs a connection
- Opening a visit that has never been loaded on this device.
- Running AI generation. An offline AI request waits in the queue; the AI does not run on your phone.
- Publishing a report to the homeowner portal.
- Sending report email or text delivery to a homeowner.
- Confirming queued work has reached NestWatch on other devices.
Read the Offline status states
- Offline saving is ready: this device can safely hold supported visit work.
- Work is saved on this device: you are offline and changes are waiting to sync.
- Syncing with NestWatch: service is back and changes are uploading.
- Fully caught up: everything saved on this device has reached NestWatch.
- Some work did not save: one or more changes need attention. Stay online and use Retry.
- Offline saving is unavailable: do not rely on this device offline; stay online and reload.
When service returns
- Keep NestWatch open after your phone reconnects.
- Open Help & Support → Offline status and watch Saved change to Syncing with NestWatch.
- Wait for Fully caught up before signing out, clearing browser data, or switching devices.
- Open the visit and confirm the checklist, notes, photos, and completion are present.
- Generate or review the report while online, then publish and deliver it to the homeowner.
If a change needs attention
Stay online, open Offline status, and tap Retry beside the failed item. Use Retry all when several items need attention. Do not tap Discard unless you intentionally want to permanently remove that unsynced change from the device.
The two-minute airplane-mode confidence check
- While connected, open a safe test visit on the phone or tablet you will carry.
- Open Offline status and confirm Offline saving is ready.
- Turn on Airplane Mode, return to the loaded visit, change one checklist item, add a short test note, and take a disposable test photo.
- Confirm Offline status says Work is saved on this device.
- Turn Airplane Mode off and wait for Syncing with NestWatch to become Fully caught up.
- Reload the visit and confirm the test item, note, and photo arrived. Remove the disposable test data if appropriate.
Run this check before the first remote visit on a new device or browser. For a concise overview, see Offline mobile inspections.
