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What does Synch even do and how do i make it work?

  • 4 replies
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  • Last reply by cor-el

Mark
Mark
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In reading the forums it seems like I'm not the only one with this question. And despite various responses there doesn't seem to be any clear explanation of what Synch does or how to make it work.

Apart from follow the instructions, which I've done, but nothing happens.

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-do-i-set-up-firefox-sync#firefox:win8:fx32&mobile::m32

Like others i thought if I created an account i would be able to synch bookmarks etc from one PC to another.

Sadly, nothing like this happens.

In fact nothing happens.

So the question remains: What does Synch do and how do you make it work?

In reading the forums it seems like I'm not the only one with this question. And despite various responses there doesn't seem to be any clear explanation of what Synch does or how to make it work. Apart from follow the instructions, which I've done, but nothing happens. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-do-i-set-up-firefox-sync#firefox:win8:fx32&mobile::m32 Like others i thought if I created an account i would be able to synch bookmarks etc from one PC to another. Sadly, nothing like this happens. In fact nothing happens. So the question remains: What does Synch do and how do you make it work?

All Replies (4)

the-edmeister
the-edmeister
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Here's a quick explanation of what Sync does. https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/sync/

Here's an explanation with more details. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-do-i-set-up-firefox-sync 

When you set up Firefox Sync on your computer, all of your data and preferences (such as your bookmarks, history, passwords, open tabs and installed add-ons) gets stored securely on the Mozilla servers. You can share all this information across all your devices. This article shows you how to set up Firefox Sync on your devices.

Were you able to connect additional devices to your Sync account? https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-do-i-set-up-firefox-sync#w_part-2-connect-additional-devices-to-firefox-sync

If yes, take a look at about:sync-progress and verify that the initial Sync process on each device was complete. Note: about: -- URI's are to be typed in the Location Bar and then hit Enter to display the internal page.

Then take a look that the Sync Log 'page' - about:sync-log If you have any error reports in there, open the latest error in Firefox or a text program like Wordpad.

Copy the contents of the error report and paste it at Pastebin so we can view that data and try to figure out what went askew. http://pastebin.com/

Mark
Mark Question owner
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"Here's a quick explanation of what Sync does. https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/sync/"

But it doesn't do that. It might be what it's supposed to do but the reality is different .

"Here's an explanation with more details. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-do-i-set-up-firefox-sync"

That's the same page I referenced. As i said, I followed those instructions and got nada.

"Were you able to connect additional devices to your Sync account? https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-do-i-set-up-firefox-sync#w_part-2-connect-additional-devices-to-firefox-sync"

Yes.

about synch progress says "Setup Complete

Your data is now being encrypted and uploaded in the background. "

Not sure if that means it is complete or it is still encrypting and uploading data. Very contradictory message.

Logs are empty, no errors.

As far as I can tell I've already done everything I'm supposed to, but Synch just doesn't deliver what it promises

the-edmeister
the-edmeister
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Your data is now being encrypted and uploaded in the background Sounds like the upload process never completed.

Best advice I can offer is to unlink from that Sync account on all devices and set up another account, starting with a different device .

cor-el
cor-el
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Did you also check the Sync log via the about:sync-log page?

You can open built-in about: pages via the location/address bar.