It’s so funny you say that. I noticed it too – from playing around, I’ve never had to click on the “Mobile Sync” button on the desktop version. When I sync changes I’ve made on the iOS version, they update the project that is saved on Dropbox, so that, when I open the project on my Mac, the changes appear right there. And when I make changes on my Mac, the changes are synced right to Dropbox, since that is where my project is stored. So it is strange that version 2.8 is needed to use the iOS app.
Thanks. So I actually did NOT overlook anything - the desktop version sync button has really never been mentioned or explained?
Well, maybe I should RTFM… Hope V2.8 mentions it. Really don’t get this button for the desktop version.
Best regards,
Christian
The sync button is so you can check for possible changes if your project happened to be left open on the desktop while you were away working on the iDevice.
Thanks! I see, now that makes sense, although it’s behaviour we would all have tried to avoid like hell. I’d rather not rely on that, but then, I’m not a pro writer (or no writer at all for that matter), so I never leave projects open and computers running while on the road…
Best regards,
Christian
This post is GREATLY appreciated. It should be included in the Desktop Scrivener Help. When you search for Dropbox under the Help menu, nothing comes up.
I just assumed Scrivener for OSX would sync with Dropbox without the need for an app, the way the iOS version does. This helped me find the right solution. Thank you!
Forgive the ignorance. Megan’s instructions are excellent. Thanks so much. Does this mean that to keep synced with the iPhone app, we have to be on wifi to access the project from Dropbox?
It depends on your settings, if you allow the Scrivener app to update over the mobile net.
OH Thank you Megan, your pics and tutorial make this so easy… to sync Scrivener (Mac & iOS) without this I would be completely lost. I finally got Scrivener to sync with my Dropbox for both all my devices! 
If I understand the question correctly, the answer is no. You can access and edit your project without wifi even though it is stored in Dropbox. You just need wifi in order for the changes to sync between devices.
Glad I could help! 
Just to let you know, I refer to your instructions in most answers now. Really could instructions! 
Wow, thank you!
Thanks for these helpful posts. I’m just setting up Sync as directed in the ios tutorial. It seems to me that using the term ‘sync’ might be misleading for those used to syncing with, for example Plaintext, in the days prior to Scrivener ios. With Scrivener as an App on ios I look upon syncing as a one way procedure. If I understand it correctly, syncing occurs only FROM ios to Dropbox as Scrivener ios is always accessing and editing the project directly. Therefore it should not be necessary to set up syncing from the Mac or Wndows project at all. Edits on those platforms will be available to Scrivener ios every time IT syncs with Dropbox. Or am I missing something? 
I think you are correct. Once you have the Scrivener project in Dropbox, there is nothing special you have to do from a Mac or Windows end (you just need to make sure that Dropbox syncs your project completely so that it is available on iOS Scrivener – which it will do automatically as long as you have an internet connection). On iOS Scrivener, though, you need to be sure to sync to Dropbox (by tapping the sync icon) so your changes show up on your computer.
Megan, Lunk, you are scrivener stars. Got it to work. Agree with previous posts, your screenshots and instructions are superb.
Thank you for the kind words! Glad to know you have iOS Scrivener up and running
Glad it worked out in the end! 
An alternative way of looking at the problems reported in this forum is that they are fairly few, in relation to the number of people that must have installed the iOS app and got it working without problem and thus didn’t post in here. 
Thanks for the helpful list of steps. I was doing the External Folder thing without success.
Does this mean one should delete the copy of the project one copied into the Dropbox folder at some point? If so, at which point?
I completely agree. This is a beautiful piece of software. I couldn’t bumble my way through my writing without it.
No, you should not. That’s now the ‘live’ copy that you are editing from both your desktop and your iOS device.
Katherine
‘Much patience you have…and will need…’
Yoda
I guess you are going to need to tell people directly that their new ‘working folder’ for Scrivener project being synced is the Dropbox Apps/Scrivener folder.
Megan’s pics also just excellent, seem to be what a whole quadrant needs.
Maybe Support could construct a multipath how-to for Sync, appealing to a range of learning styles?
Best,
Clive