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Four connection modes
Last updated May 14, 2026 · 3 min read
A connection-status indicator (a small dot) sits in the right side of the top app toolbar — here's what each of the four states means and whether to worry.
Four connection states
| State | Indicator | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Online | 🟢 green dot | Connected to Slima cloud, syncing live |
| Syncing | 🟡 yellow | Pushing local changes to the cloud |
| Offline | ✈️ plane | No network detected — writing in local mode |
| Local mode | 🔘 gray | Not signed in — data stays on this device, no cloud sync |
"Online" 🟢
The normal operating state:
- Write a passage — it syncs to the cloud right away
- Open the same book on another device — your latest writing is there
- AI Coach and AI Beta Readers work normally (these features need the cloud)
"Syncing" 🟡
A brief flash is normal — when you write fast, the content is large, or the network is a bit slow, the indicator flashes yellow.
- Usually back to green in under a second
- If it stays yellow for more than a few seconds, the network may be unstable — see "Offline" below
"Offline" ✈️
Slima detected no network:
- Local IndexedDB keeps saving every word you write — nothing is lost
- AI Coach / Beta Readers are temporarily unavailable (they need the cloud)
- Once the network is back, all pending changes auto-sync to the cloud
See: Offline writing and auto-sync
"Local mode" 🔘
This is the state Slima enters automatically when you are not signed in — your data lives only on this device and isn't synced to the cloud:
- What you write is saved to local IndexedDB, so nothing is lost
- Cloud-dependent features like AI Coach and AI Beta Readers aren't available
- The connection-status indicator is display-only — it isn't a button you click to switch modes
Want cloud sync and AI features? Just sign in — once signed in you move to "Online" 🟢 and Slima auto-pushes all accumulated pending changes to the cloud.