# YNAB (/docs/guides/destinations/ynab)



# YNAB [#ynab]

Sync your bank transactions to [YNAB](https://www.ynab.com/) (You Need A Budget) automatically. Connect each bank once, and Lunch Flow keeps your YNAB accounts up to date every day.

<Callout type="info">
  The YNAB destination is in beta. It works end to end, and you may still see a **Beta** label on it in the app while we refine the experience.
</Callout>

## Prerequisites [#prerequisites]

* An active YNAB account (a trial or paid subscription)
* At least one bank account connected in Lunch Flow

## Setup [#setup]

YNAB uses OAuth, so you authorize Lunch Flow directly with YNAB. You never share your YNAB password, and no API key is required.

<Steps>
  <Step>
    **Add the destination**

    In Lunch Flow, go to **Destinations → Add Destination → YNAB**, then click **Connect to YNAB**.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    **Authorize and select your budget**

    Lunch Flow redirects you to YNAB. Sign in, select the budget you want to sync, and authorize Lunch Flow to access it. YNAB then redirects you back to Lunch Flow automatically.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    **Connect each bank account**

    For each Lunch Flow account you want to sync, click **Connect** and choose how it maps to YNAB:

    * **Create New Account** creates a matching account in your YNAB budget on the first sync.
    * **Use Existing Account** links to an account that already exists in your budget.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    **Choose a sync mode**

    Select what Lunch Flow keeps in sync for that account:

    | Sync mode                  | What it does                                                                                         |
    | -------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
    | **Transactions & Balance** | Syncs transactions, then adjusts the YNAB balance to match your source account. This is the default. |
    | **Transactions Only**      | Syncs transactions. The YNAB balance reflects the total of those transactions.                       |
    | **Balance Only**           | Syncs the balance as adjustment transactions, without importing individual transactions.             |
  </Step>

  <Step>
    **Set a start date, then sync**

    For transaction sync modes, use **Sync transactions from** to pick the earliest date to import. Leave it as **All time** to import your full available history. Click **Save & Sync** to run the first sync.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## How syncing works [#how-syncing-works]

* **Sync frequency:** Daily, automatically, after the first sync.
* **Deduplication:** Lunch Flow tags each transaction with a stable import ID, so re-syncing the same transaction doesn't create a duplicate in YNAB.
* **Balance adjustments:** In **Transactions & Balance** and **Balance Only** modes, Lunch Flow reconciles the YNAB balance with a transaction payee named `Balance Adjustment`.
* **Date limits:** YNAB rejects transactions dated in the future or more than 5 years in the past, so Lunch Flow skips those.

<Callout type="tip">
  To avoid importing older activity that is already in YNAB, set **Sync transactions from** to a date after the last transaction in your budget.
</Callout>

## Troubleshooting [#troubleshooting]

<Accordions>
  <Accordion title="I see a message that my YNAB authorization expired or was revoked">
    Reconnect the destination. Go to **Destinations → YNAB**, start the connection again, and re-authorize Lunch Flow with YNAB. This issue happens when the YNAB authorization is removed or times out.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="My YNAB trial expired or my subscription lapsed">
    YNAB stops accepting new data once a trial expires or a subscription lapses. Subscribe to or renew YNAB, then reconnect the destination in Lunch Flow to resume syncing.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Some transactions are missing after a sync">
    Check the **Sync transactions from** date on the account. Transactions before that date, dated in the future, or older than 5 years are not imported. Widen the start date and sync again if you expected older activity.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="My YNAB balance does not match my bank">
    Use the **Transactions & Balance** sync mode so Lunch Flow reconciles the YNAB balance to your source account after each sync. Lunch Flow applies the difference as a `Balance Adjustment` transaction.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="I do not have a YNAB account yet">
    You need an active YNAB trial or subscription to use this destination. [Sign up for YNAB](https://www.ynab.com/), then return to Lunch Flow to connect it.
  </Accordion>
</Accordions>

## Related [#related]

* [Destinations overview](/docs/guides/destinations/overview)
* [Configure account names](/docs/guides/configuration/account-name)
* [Run a manual sync](/docs/guides/configuration/manual-sync)