Hi! ​@Edward Whitemore 

I’m also facing a similar issue.
Whenever I try to sync my Airtable base with updated data from a drama tracking app, it either delays the update or doesn’t refresh until I manually trigger the sync.

I’ve noticed this mostly happens when multiple automations are running at the same time, especially ones that use the same linked tables or API connections.
Have you noticed if the delay increases when several automations or views are active?

Would be great to know if you’ve found any workaround for this.

I am not sure why the sync is delayed. I suggest reaching out to Airtable support so they can check.

In the meantime, you can try setting up an automation in Make to pull the data directly from your app’s API into Airtable.

Taha, Views And Bases

​@Edward Whitemore  ​@Taha-Jiruwala 

Not sure if this is directly related, but I’ve been experiencing issues with Synced Tables not syncing at all or syncing with significant delays. This became a critical issue for me, as I had automations in the destination base that depended on real-time record status updates. The automations would either not trigger or would trigger too late—disrupting workflows where immediate action was required.

I contacted Airtable Support, but they couldn’t provide a definitive fix. They suggested setting up an automation to update a few records in the destination base to keep it active and maintain a more frequent sync interval. I implemented an automation that creates an empty record every couple of hours, but it still didn’t resolve the delay. Eventually, I had to relocate the automations to the original base.

That said, I still need real-time sync performance, as I have other workflows relying on timely data updates.

An alternative workaround I’ve tried (though tedious) is manually opening the destination base regularly to keep it active.

​@AslanH11 

According to Airtable’s documentation, automatic syncs can stop if there’s no recent activity in the destination base.

To prevent this, set up an automation that makes a minor update every hour in the destination base where the sync occurs. A simple way to do this is by toggling a checkbox on and off in a dedicated field. This small change counts as an update, keeping the base active and ensuring that the sync continues uninterrupted.

Check out this article for more details.

Taha, Views And Bases

Hi: ​@AslanH11 

Thanks for sharing your experience — that actually helps confirm it’s not just an isolated issue.

It seems like even with automations or background activity, the sync delay still persists, which suggests it’s likely on Airtable’s end rather than a setup issue. I agree, having near real-time sync would make a big difference for workflows that rely on quick updates.

Hopefully Airtable addresses this soon, or at least provides an official update on sync intervals and reliability.

Hi ​@Edward Whitemore 
I completely understand how frustrating it can be when your Airtable sync doesn’t update episode data on time especially when you rely on it to track content schedules and new releases. From your explanation, it sounds like your setup is solid, but the issue might be connected to Airtable’s sync interval and API refresh limits rather than your configuration.

What’s likely happening:
1. Airtable’s native syncs (especially those pulling data via API or from external apps) usually refresh every 5 minutes to 1 hour, depending on plan limits and data source behaviour.
2. Some entertainment APIs use caching or delsyed feeds, so Airtable displays the previous data until the source updattes. 
3. If your automations depend on ‘trigger-on-change’, Airtable may skip updates when the data structure doesn’t change (for example, episode metadata updates but not the actual field name).

Do this;
1. Add a ‘Last Updated’ timestamp field that triggers an automation whenever new data arrives. 
2. Use Make (Integromat) or Zapier for instant API calls they can fetch the latest episode data faster than native syncs. 
3. If you’re using Airtable Interfaces, you can manually refresh with one click using a script block or scheduled webhook.

If you’d like, I can help you optimize your Airtable setup to sync new episodes automatically and in real-time without delays. 
Just send me a quick message, and i’ll walk you through a fix tailored to your setup.

Best regards, 
Ayomide | Airtable Integration Expert