diff --git a/doc/pending.txt b/doc/pending.txt
index be369b5..fd73e30 100644
--- a/doc/pending.txt
+++ b/doc/pending.txt
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ REQUIREMENTS                                           *pending-requirements*
 
 - Neovim 0.10+
 - No external dependencies for local use
-- `curl` and `openssl` are required for the `gcal` sync backend
+- `curl` and `openssl` are required for Google Calendar sync
 
 ==============================================================================
 INSTALL                                                      *pending-install*
@@ -250,23 +250,10 @@ COMMANDS                                                    *pending-commands*
     Open the list with |:copen| to navigate to each task's category.
 
                                                                *:Pending-sync*
-:Pending sync {backend} [{action}]
-    Run a sync action against a named backend. {backend} is required — bare
-    `:Pending sync` prints a usage message. {action} defaults to `sync`
-    when omitted. Each backend lives at `lua/pending/sync/<name>.lua`.
-
-    Examples: >vim
-        :Pending sync gcal          " runs gcal.sync()
-        :Pending sync gcal auth     " runs gcal.auth()
-        :Pending sync gcal sync     " explicit sync (same as bare)
-<
-
-    Tab completion after `:Pending sync ` lists discovered backends.
-    Tab completion after `:Pending sync gcal ` lists available actions.
-
-    Built-in backends: ~
-
-    `gcal`    Google Calendar one-way push. See |pending-gcal|.
+:Pending sync
+    Push pending tasks that have a due date to Google Calendar as all-day
+    events. Requires |pending-gcal| to be configured. See |pending-gcal| for
+    full details on what gets created, updated, and deleted.
 
                                                                *:Pending-undo*
 :Pending undo
@@ -453,11 +440,9 @@ loads: >lua
         next_task = ']t',
         prev_task = '[t',
       },
-      sync = {
-        gcal = {
-          calendar = 'Tasks',
-          credentials_path = '/path/to/client_secret.json',
-        },
+      gcal = {
+        calendar = 'Tasks',
+        credentials_path = '/path/to/client_secret.json',
       },
     }
 <
@@ -523,16 +508,10 @@ Fields: ~
                              vim.g.pending = { debug = true }
 <
 
-    {sync}               (table, default: {})          *pending.SyncConfig*
-                         Sync backend configuration. Each key is a backend
-                         name and the value is the backend-specific config
-                         table. Currently only `gcal` is built-in.
-
     {gcal}               (table, default: nil)
-                         Legacy shorthand for `sync.gcal`. If `gcal` is set
-                         but `sync.gcal` is not, the value is migrated
-                         automatically. New configs should use `sync.gcal`
-                         instead. See |pending.GcalConfig|.
+                         Google Calendar sync configuration. See
+                         |pending.GcalConfig|. Omit this field entirely to
+                         disable Google Calendar sync.
 
 ==============================================================================
 LUA API                                                          *pending-api*
@@ -653,18 +632,13 @@ not pulled back into pending.nvim.
 
 Configuration: >lua
     vim.g.pending = {
-      sync = {
-        gcal = {
-          calendar = 'Tasks',
-          credentials_path = '/path/to/client_secret.json',
-        },
+      gcal = {
+        calendar = 'Tasks',
+        credentials_path = '/path/to/client_secret.json',
       },
     }
 <
 
-The legacy `gcal` top-level key is still accepted and migrated automatically.
-New configurations should use `sync.gcal`.
-
                                                           *pending.GcalConfig*
 Fields: ~
     {calendar}           (string, default: 'Pendings')
@@ -680,7 +654,7 @@ Fields: ~
                          that Google provides or as a bare credentials object.
 
 OAuth flow: ~
-On the first `:Pending sync gcal` call the plugin detects that no refresh token
+On the first `:Pending sync` call the plugin detects that no refresh token
 exists and opens the Google authorization URL in the browser using
 |vim.ui.open()|. A temporary local HTTP server listens on port 18392 for the
 OAuth redirect. The PKCE (Proof Key for Code Exchange) flow is used —
@@ -690,7 +664,7 @@ authorization code is exchanged for tokens and the refresh token is stored at
 use the stored refresh token and refresh the access token automatically when
 it is about to expire.
 
-`:Pending sync gcal` behavior: ~
+`:Pending sync` behavior: ~
 For each task in the store:
 - A pending task with a due date and no existing event: a new all-day event is
   created and the event ID is stored in the task's `_extra` table.
@@ -703,30 +677,6 @@ For each task in the store:
 A summary notification is shown after sync: `created: N, updated: N,
 deleted: N`.
 
-==============================================================================
-SYNC BACKENDS                                           *pending-sync-backend*
-
-Sync backends are Lua modules under `lua/pending/sync/<name>.lua`. Each
-module returns a table conforming to the backend interface: >lua
-
-    ---@class pending.SyncBackend
-    ---@field name string
-    ---@field auth fun(): nil
-    ---@field sync fun(): nil
-    ---@field health? fun(): nil
-<
-
-Required fields: ~
-    {name}    Backend identifier (matches the filename).
-    {sync}    Main sync action. Called by `:Pending sync <name>`.
-    {auth}    Authorization flow. Called by `:Pending sync <name> auth`.
-
-Optional fields: ~
-    {health}  Called by `:checkhealth pending` to report backend-specific
-              diagnostics (e.g. checking for external tools).
-
-Backend-specific configuration goes under `sync.<name>` in |pending-config|.
-
 ==============================================================================
 HIGHLIGHT GROUPS                                          *pending-highlights*
 
@@ -778,8 +728,8 @@ Checks performed: ~
 - Whether the data directory exists (warning if not yet created)
 - Whether the data file exists and can be parsed; reports total task count
 - Validates recurrence specs on stored tasks
-- Discovers sync backends under `lua/pending/sync/` and runs each backend's
-  `health()` function if it exists (e.g. gcal checks for `curl` and `openssl`)
+- Whether `curl` is available (required for Google Calendar sync)
+- Whether `openssl` is available (required for OAuth PKCE)
 
 ==============================================================================
 DATA FORMAT                                                    *pending-data*
diff --git a/lua/pending/config.lua b/lua/pending/config.lua
index a1767db..ac98b64 100644
--- a/lua/pending/config.lua
+++ b/lua/pending/config.lua
@@ -2,9 +2,6 @@
 ---@field calendar? string
 ---@field credentials_path? string
 
----@class pending.SyncConfig
----@field gcal? pending.GcalConfig
-
 ---@class pending.Keymaps
 ---@field close? string|false
 ---@field toggle? string|false
@@ -35,7 +32,6 @@
 ---@field drawer_height? integer
 ---@field debug? boolean
 ---@field keymaps pending.Keymaps
----@field sync? pending.SyncConfig
 ---@field gcal? pending.GcalConfig
 
 ---@class pending.config
@@ -69,7 +65,6 @@ local defaults = {
     next_task = ']t',
     prev_task = '[t',
   },
-  sync = {},
 }
 
 ---@type pending.Config?
@@ -82,10 +77,6 @@ function M.get()
   end
   local user = vim.g.pending or {}
   _resolved = vim.tbl_deep_extend('force', defaults, user)
-  if _resolved.gcal and not (_resolved.sync and _resolved.sync.gcal) then
-    _resolved.sync = _resolved.sync or {}
-    _resolved.sync.gcal = _resolved.gcal
-  end
   return _resolved
 end
 
diff --git a/lua/pending/health.lua b/lua/pending/health.lua
index 93f7c72..cc285e0 100644
--- a/lua/pending/health.lua
+++ b/lua/pending/health.lua
@@ -47,18 +47,16 @@ function M.check()
     vim.health.info('No data file yet (will be created on first save)')
   end
 
-  local sync_paths = vim.fn.globpath(vim.o.runtimepath, 'lua/pending/sync/*.lua', false, true)
-  if #sync_paths == 0 then
-    vim.health.info('No sync backends found')
+  if vim.fn.executable('curl') == 1 then
+    vim.health.ok('curl found (required for Google Calendar sync)')
   else
-    for _, path in ipairs(sync_paths) do
-      local name = vim.fn.fnamemodify(path, ':t:r')
-      local bok, backend = pcall(require, 'pending.sync.' .. name)
-      if bok and type(backend.health) == 'function' then
-        vim.health.start('pending.nvim: sync/' .. name)
-        backend.health()
-      end
-    end
+    vim.health.warn('curl not found (needed for Google Calendar sync)')
+  end
+
+  if vim.fn.executable('openssl') == 1 then
+    vim.health.ok('openssl found (required for OAuth PKCE)')
+  else
+    vim.health.warn('openssl not found (needed for Google Calendar OAuth)')
   end
 end
 
diff --git a/lua/pending/init.lua b/lua/pending/init.lua
index cae13a9..0fcd564 100644
--- a/lua/pending/init.lua
+++ b/lua/pending/init.lua
@@ -414,25 +414,14 @@ function M.add(text)
   vim.notify('Pending added: ' .. description)
 end
 
----@param backend_name string
----@param action? string
 ---@return nil
-function M.sync(backend_name, action)
-  if not backend_name or backend_name == '' then
-    vim.notify('Usage: :Pending sync <backend> [action]', vim.log.levels.ERROR)
-    return
-  end
-  action = (action and action ~= '') and action or 'sync'
-  local ok, backend = pcall(require, 'pending.sync.' .. backend_name)
+function M.sync()
+  local ok, gcal = pcall(require, 'pending.sync.gcal')
   if not ok then
-    vim.notify('Unknown sync backend: ' .. backend_name, vim.log.levels.ERROR)
+    vim.notify('Google Calendar sync module not available.', vim.log.levels.ERROR)
     return
   end
-  if type(backend[action]) ~= 'function' then
-    vim.notify(backend_name .. " backend has no '" .. action .. "' action", vim.log.levels.ERROR)
-    return
-  end
-  backend[action]()
+  gcal.sync()
 end
 
 ---@param days? integer
@@ -711,8 +700,7 @@ function M.command(args)
     local id_str, edit_rest = rest:match('^(%S+)%s*(.*)')
     M.edit(id_str, edit_rest)
   elseif cmd == 'sync' then
-    local backend, action = rest:match('^(%S+)%s*(.*)')
-    M.sync(backend, action)
+    M.sync()
   elseif cmd == 'archive' then
     local d = rest ~= '' and tonumber(rest) or nil
     M.archive(d)
diff --git a/lua/pending/sync/gcal.lua b/lua/pending/sync/gcal.lua
index 843f310..3b29b33 100644
--- a/lua/pending/sync/gcal.lua
+++ b/lua/pending/sync/gcal.lua
@@ -3,8 +3,6 @@ local store = require('pending.store')
 
 local M = {}
 
-M.name = 'gcal'
-
 local BASE_URL = 'https://www.googleapis.com/calendar/v3'
 local TOKEN_URL = 'https://oauth2.googleapis.com/token'
 local AUTH_URL = 'https://accounts.google.com/o/oauth2/v2/auth'
@@ -24,7 +22,7 @@ local SCOPE = 'https://www.googleapis.com/auth/calendar'
 ---@return table<string, any>
 local function gcal_config()
   local cfg = config.get()
-  return (cfg.sync and cfg.sync.gcal) or cfg.gcal or {}
+  return cfg.gcal or {}
 end
 
 ---@return string
@@ -201,7 +199,7 @@ local function get_access_token()
   end
   local tokens = load_tokens()
   if not tokens or not tokens.refresh_token then
-    M.auth()
+    M.authorize()
     tokens = load_tokens()
     if not tokens then
       return nil
@@ -220,7 +218,7 @@ local function get_access_token()
   return tokens.access_token
 end
 
-function M.auth()
+function M.authorize()
   local creds = load_credentials()
   if not creds then
     vim.notify(
@@ -516,18 +514,4 @@ function M.sync()
   )
 end
 
----@return nil
-function M.health()
-  if vim.fn.executable('curl') == 1 then
-    vim.health.ok('curl found (required for gcal sync)')
-  else
-    vim.health.warn('curl not found (needed for gcal sync)')
-  end
-  if vim.fn.executable('openssl') == 1 then
-    vim.health.ok('openssl found (required for gcal OAuth PKCE)')
-  else
-    vim.health.warn('openssl not found (needed for gcal OAuth)')
-  end
-end
-
 return M
diff --git a/plugin/pending.lua b/plugin/pending.lua
index 839b351..f9a8df1 100644
--- a/plugin/pending.lua
+++ b/plugin/pending.lua
@@ -171,34 +171,6 @@ end, {
     if cmd_line:match('^Pending%s+edit') then
       return complete_edit(arg_lead, cmd_line)
     end
-    if cmd_line:match('^Pending%s+sync') then
-      local after_sync = cmd_line:match('^Pending%s+sync%s+(.*)')
-      if not after_sync then
-        return {}
-      end
-      local parts = {}
-      for part in after_sync:gmatch('%S+') do
-        table.insert(parts, part)
-      end
-      local trailing_space = after_sync:match('%s$')
-      if #parts == 0 or (#parts == 1 and not trailing_space) then
-        local backends = {}
-        local pattern = vim.fn.globpath(vim.o.runtimepath, 'lua/pending/sync/*.lua', false, true)
-        for _, path in ipairs(pattern) do
-          local name = vim.fn.fnamemodify(path, ':t:r')
-          table.insert(backends, name)
-        end
-        table.sort(backends)
-        return filter_candidates(arg_lead, backends)
-      end
-      if #parts == 1 and trailing_space then
-        return filter_candidates(arg_lead, { 'auth', 'sync' })
-      end
-      if #parts >= 2 and not trailing_space then
-        return filter_candidates(arg_lead, { 'auth', 'sync' })
-      end
-      return {}
-    end
     return {}
   end,
 })
diff --git a/spec/sync_spec.lua b/spec/sync_spec.lua
deleted file mode 100644
index 4d8a3dc..0000000
--- a/spec/sync_spec.lua
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,174 +0,0 @@
-require('spec.helpers')
-
-local config = require('pending.config')
-local store = require('pending.store')
-
-describe('sync', function()
-  local tmpdir
-  local pending
-
-  before_each(function()
-    tmpdir = vim.fn.tempname()
-    vim.fn.mkdir(tmpdir, 'p')
-    vim.g.pending = { data_path = tmpdir .. '/tasks.json' }
-    config.reset()
-    store.unload()
-    package.loaded['pending'] = nil
-    pending = require('pending')
-  end)
-
-  after_each(function()
-    vim.fn.delete(tmpdir, 'rf')
-    vim.g.pending = nil
-    config.reset()
-    store.unload()
-    package.loaded['pending'] = nil
-  end)
-
-  describe('dispatch', function()
-    it('errors on bare :Pending sync with no backend', function()
-      local msg
-      local orig = vim.notify
-      vim.notify = function(m, level)
-        if level == vim.log.levels.ERROR then
-          msg = m
-        end
-      end
-      pending.sync(nil)
-      vim.notify = orig
-      assert.are.equal('Usage: :Pending sync <backend> [action]', msg)
-    end)
-
-    it('errors on empty backend string', function()
-      local msg
-      local orig = vim.notify
-      vim.notify = function(m, level)
-        if level == vim.log.levels.ERROR then
-          msg = m
-        end
-      end
-      pending.sync('')
-      vim.notify = orig
-      assert.are.equal('Usage: :Pending sync <backend> [action]', msg)
-    end)
-
-    it('errors on unknown backend', function()
-      local msg
-      local orig = vim.notify
-      vim.notify = function(m, level)
-        if level == vim.log.levels.ERROR then
-          msg = m
-        end
-      end
-      pending.sync('notreal')
-      vim.notify = orig
-      assert.are.equal('Unknown sync backend: notreal', msg)
-    end)
-
-    it('errors on unknown action for valid backend', function()
-      local msg
-      local orig = vim.notify
-      vim.notify = function(m, level)
-        if level == vim.log.levels.ERROR then
-          msg = m
-        end
-      end
-      pending.sync('gcal', 'notreal')
-      vim.notify = orig
-      assert.are.equal("gcal backend has no 'notreal' action", msg)
-    end)
-
-    it('defaults to sync action when action is omitted', function()
-      local called = false
-      local gcal = require('pending.sync.gcal')
-      local orig_sync = gcal.sync
-      gcal.sync = function()
-        called = true
-      end
-      pending.sync('gcal')
-      gcal.sync = orig_sync
-      assert.is_true(called)
-    end)
-
-    it('routes explicit sync action', function()
-      local called = false
-      local gcal = require('pending.sync.gcal')
-      local orig_sync = gcal.sync
-      gcal.sync = function()
-        called = true
-      end
-      pending.sync('gcal', 'sync')
-      gcal.sync = orig_sync
-      assert.is_true(called)
-    end)
-
-    it('routes auth action', function()
-      local called = false
-      local gcal = require('pending.sync.gcal')
-      local orig_auth = gcal.auth
-      gcal.auth = function()
-        called = true
-      end
-      pending.sync('gcal', 'auth')
-      gcal.auth = orig_auth
-      assert.is_true(called)
-    end)
-  end)
-
-  describe('config migration', function()
-    it('migrates legacy gcal to sync.gcal', function()
-      config.reset()
-      vim.g.pending = {
-        data_path = tmpdir .. '/tasks.json',
-        gcal = { calendar = 'MyCalendar' },
-      }
-      local cfg = config.get()
-      assert.is_not_nil(cfg.sync)
-      assert.is_not_nil(cfg.sync.gcal)
-      assert.are.equal('MyCalendar', cfg.sync.gcal.calendar)
-    end)
-
-    it('does not overwrite explicit sync.gcal with legacy gcal', function()
-      config.reset()
-      vim.g.pending = {
-        data_path = tmpdir .. '/tasks.json',
-        gcal = { calendar = 'Legacy' },
-        sync = { gcal = { calendar = 'Explicit' } },
-      }
-      local cfg = config.get()
-      assert.are.equal('Explicit', cfg.sync.gcal.calendar)
-    end)
-
-    it('works with sync.gcal and no legacy gcal', function()
-      config.reset()
-      vim.g.pending = {
-        data_path = tmpdir .. '/tasks.json',
-        sync = { gcal = { calendar = 'NewStyle' } },
-      }
-      local cfg = config.get()
-      assert.are.equal('NewStyle', cfg.sync.gcal.calendar)
-    end)
-  end)
-
-  describe('gcal module', function()
-    it('has name field', function()
-      local gcal = require('pending.sync.gcal')
-      assert.are.equal('gcal', gcal.name)
-    end)
-
-    it('has auth function', function()
-      local gcal = require('pending.sync.gcal')
-      assert.are.equal('function', type(gcal.auth))
-    end)
-
-    it('has sync function', function()
-      local gcal = require('pending.sync.gcal')
-      assert.are.equal('function', type(gcal.sync))
-    end)
-
-    it('has health function', function()
-      local gcal = require('pending.sync.gcal')
-      assert.are.equal('function', type(gcal.health))
-    end)
-  end)
-end)