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Sync does not show tabs from other devices

  • 7 replies
  • 8 have this problem
  • 99 views
  • Last reply by gnittala

michaelsb123
michaelsb123
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I have two computers running Windows 8.1 and FF 26: at work, and at home. Both are synced, however, every time I want to see tabs on the other computer (History - Tabs from other devices) all I see is a blank tab. Sync settings on both are to sync everything (tabs option checked).

Is this a bug, or is there anything else I need to do to see the remote tabs?

I have two computers running Windows 8.1 and FF 26: at work, and at home. Both are synced, however, every time I want to see tabs on the other computer (History - Tabs from other devices) all I see is a blank tab. Sync settings on both are to sync everything (tabs option checked). Is this a bug, or is there anything else I need to do to see the remote tabs?

Chosen solution

Try to create a new profile as a test to check if your current profile is causing the problems.

See "Creating a profile":

If the new profile works then you can transfer some files from an existing profile to the new profile, but be cautious not to copy corrupted files to avoid carrying over the problem.

Boot the computer in Windows Safe Mode with network support (press F8 on the boot screen) as a test to see if that helps.

Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (7)

Sabah007
Sabah007
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Hello,

Many site issues can be caused by corrupt cookies or cache. In order to try to fix these problems, the first step is to clear both cookies and the cache. Note: This will temporarily log you out of all sites you're logged in to. To clear cache and cookies do the following:

  1. Go to Firefox > History > Clear recent history or (if no Firefox button is shown) go to Tools > Clear recent history.
  2. Under "Time range to clear", select "Everything".
  3. Now, click the arrow next to Details to toggle the Details list active.
  4. From the details list, check Cache and Cookies and uncheck everything else.
  5. Now click the Clear now button.

Further information can be found in the Clear your cache, history and other personal information in Firefox article.

Did this fix your problems? Please report back to us!

Thank you.

michaelsb123
michaelsb123 Question owner
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I don't have site issues, I have a sync issue.

I did what you asked me to do - cleared the cache and cookies, and I still see blank tab when I try to see tabs from other devices.

Any other ideas?

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Do other items sync correctly?

Does this happen with the tabs on both computers?

Did you check the sync log for errors?
You can open the about:sync-log page via the location bar.

You can modify these prefs on the about:config page via the right-click context menu:

Maybe toggle this pref to true as well:

  • services.sync.log.appender.file.logOnSuccess = true

Once done you can reset the prefs that you changed via the right-click context menu.

Maybe try to unlink the device and setup sync another time to see if that helps.
It is also possible that it takes longer for the sync tabs to show up on the other device.

michaelsb123
michaelsb123 Question owner
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Hi, yes, other items do sync (bookmarks from remote host show up instantly).

Here's the log from the home computer (I'm trying to copy the tabs from this computer to my work computer): 

1387934024952	Sync.Service	INFO	Loading Weave 1.28.0
1387934024953	Sync.Engine.Clients	DEBUG	Engine initialized
1387934024954	Sync.Engine.Clients	DEBUG	Resetting clients last sync time
1387934024960	Sync.Engine.Bookmarks	DEBUG	Engine initialized
1387934024963	Sync.Engine.Forms	DEBUG	Engine initialized
1387934024965	Sync.Engine.History	DEBUG	Engine initialized
1387934024968	Sync.Engine.Passwords	DEBUG	Engine initialized
1387934024970	Sync.Engine.Prefs	DEBUG	Engine initialized
1387934024973	Sync.Engine.Tabs	DEBUG	Engine initialized
1387934024973	Sync.Engine.Tabs	DEBUG	Resetting tabs last sync time
1387934024978	Sync.Engine.Addons	DEBUG	Engine initialized
1387934024978	Sync.Service	INFO	Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.3; WOW64; rv:26.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/26.0
1387934024980	Sync.SyncScheduler	DEBUG	Clearing sync triggers and the global score.
1387934024981	Sync.Status	DEBUG	Status.service: success.status_ok => success.status_ok
1387934024982	Sync.Service	DEBUG	Caching URLs under storage user base: https://phx-sync-1-3-0.services.mozilla.com/1.1/flquys5cfbvsalyk3tiehzjre77bgph2/
1387934024982	Sync.Status	DEBUG	Status.service: success.status_ok => success.status_ok
1387934024982	Sync.AddonsReconciler	INFO	Registering as Add-on Manager listener.
1387934024982	Sync.AddonsReconciler	DEBUG	Adding change listener.
1387934025000	Sync.Status	DEBUG	Status.service: success.status_ok => success.status_ok
1387934025002	Sync.Engine.AdblockPlus	DEBUG	Engine initialized
1387934025002	Sync.Status	DEBUG	Status.service: success.status_ok => success.status_ok
1387934026065	Sync.SyncScheduler	DEBUG	Next sync in 86400000 ms.
1387934033549	Sync.Tracker.History	DEBUG	Saving changed IDs to history
1387934112297	Sync.Status	DEBUG	Status.service: success.status_ok => success.status_ok
1387934112297	Sync.SyncScheduler	DEBUG	Next sync in 86313703 ms.

And here's the log on the work computer: 

1379558743354	Sync.Service	INFO	Loading Weave 1.25.0
1379558743356	Sync.Engine.Clients	DEBUG	Engine initialized
1379558743395	Sync.Engine.Clients	DEBUG	Resetting clients last sync time
1379558743401	Sync.Engine.Bookmarks	DEBUG	Engine initialized
1379558743404	Sync.Engine.Forms	DEBUG	Engine initialized
1379558743491	Sync.Engine.History	DEBUG	Engine initialized
1379558743497	Sync.Engine.Passwords	DEBUG	Engine initialized
1379558743604	Sync.Engine.Prefs	DEBUG	Engine initialized
1379558743610	Sync.Engine.Tabs	DEBUG	Engine initialized
1379558743611	Sync.Engine.Tabs	DEBUG	Resetting tabs last sync time
1379558743667	Sync.Engine.Addons	DEBUG	Engine initialized
1379558743667	Sync.Service	INFO	Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; WOW64; rv:23.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/23.0
1379558743884	Sync.SyncScheduler	DEBUG	Clearing sync triggers and the global score.
1379558743885	Sync.Status	DEBUG	Status.service: success.status_ok => success.status_ok
1379558743885	Sync.Service	DEBUG	Caching URLs under storage user base: https://phx-sync-1-3-0.services.mozilla.com/1.1/flquys5cfbvsalyk3tiehzjre77bgph2/
1379558743885	Sync.Status	DEBUG	Status.service: success.status_ok => success.status_ok
1379558743885	Sync.AddonsReconciler	INFO	Registering as Add-on Manager listener.
1379558743885	Sync.AddonsReconciler	DEBUG	Adding change listener.
1379558753130	Sync.Engine.AdblockPlus	DEBUG	Engine initialized
1379558759692	Sync.Status	DEBUG	Status.service: success.status_ok => success.status_ok
1379558763718	Sync.Status	DEBUG	Status.service: success.status_ok => success.status_ok
1379558763721	Sync.Service	DEBUG	User-Agent: Firefox/23.0.1 FxSync/1.25.0.20130814063812.
1379558763721	Sync.Service	INFO	Starting sync at 2013-09-18 19:46:03
1379558763721	Sync.Service	DEBUG	In sync: should login.
1379558763721	Sync.Status	DEBUG	Status.service: success.status_ok => success.status_ok
1379558763721	Sync.Status	DEBUG	Status.service: success.status_ok => success.status_ok
1379558763721	Sync.Service	INFO	Logging in user flquys5cfbvsalyk3tiehzjre77bgph2
1379558763721	Sync.Service	DEBUG	Caching URLs under storage user base: https://phx-sync-1-3-0.services.mozilla.com/1.1/flquys5cfbvsalyk3tiehzjre77bgph2/
1379558787300	Sync.Status	DEBUG	Status.service: success.status_ok => success.status_ok
1379558843929	Sync.SyncScheduler	DEBUG	Next sync in 86400000 ms.
1379558857661	Sync.Resource	DEBUG	mesg: GET success 200 https://phx-sync-1-3-0.services.mozilla.com/1.1/flquys5cfbvsalyk3tiehzjre77bgph2/info/collections
1379558857661	Sync.Resource	DEBUG	GET success 200 https://phx-sync-1-3-0.services.mozilla.com/1.1/flquys5cfbvsalyk3tiehzjre77bgph2/info/collections
1379558857661	Sync.Service	DEBUG	Fetching global metadata record
1379558863518	Sync.Resource	DEBUG	mesg: GET success 200 https://phx-sync-1-3-0.services.mozilla.com/1.1/flquys5cfbvsalyk3tiehzjre77bgph2/storage/meta/global
1379558863518	Sync.Resource	DEBUG	GET success 200 https://phx-sync-1-3-0.services.mozilla.com/1.1/flquys5cfbvsalyk3tiehzjre77bgph2/storage/meta/global
1379558863518	Sync.Service	DEBUG	Weave Version: 1.25.0 Local Storage: 5 Remote Storage: 5
1379558863518	Sync.Service	INFO	Sync key is up-to-date: no need to upgrade.
1379558863518	Sync.Service	DEBUG	Fetching and verifying -- or generating -- symmetric keys.
1379558894438	Sync.Tracker.History	DEBUG	Saving changed IDs to history
1379558909190	Sync.Resource	DEBUG	mesg: GET success 200 https://phx-sync-1-3-0.services.mozilla.com/1.1/flquys5cfbvsalyk3tiehzjre77bgph2/info/collections
1379558909190	Sync.Resource	DEBUG	GET success 200 https://phx-sync-1-3-0.services.mozilla.com/1.1/flquys5cfbvsalyk3tiehzjre77bgph2/info/collections
1379558909523	Sync.Service	INFO	Testing info/collections: {"passwords":1379541660.29,"addons":1375980277.93,"tabs":1379541660.56,"clients":1379528737.81,"crypto":1375980218.18,"forms":1379541655.78,"meta":1375980278.94,"bookmarks":1378769210.15,"prefs":1375980277.24,"history":1379541659.17}
1379558909524	Sync.CollectionKeyManager	INFO	Testing for updateNeeded. Last modified: 0
1379558909524	Sync.Service	INFO	collection keys reports that a key update is needed.
1379558909524	Sync.Tracker.History	DEBUG	Saving changed IDs to history
1379559011304	Sync.Service	WARN	Got exception "Error: NS_ERROR_NET_RESET" fetching cryptoKeys.
1379559011304	Sync.Status	DEBUG	Status.login: success.login => error.login.failed
1379559011304	Sync.Status	DEBUG	Status.service: success.status_ok => error.login.failed
1379559011304	Sync.Service	WARN	Failed to fetch symmetric keys. Failing remote setup.
1379559011304	Sync.Service	WARN	Remote setup failed.
1379559011304	Sync.SyncScheduler	DEBUG	Clearing sync triggers and the global score.
1379559011304	Sync.SyncScheduler	DEBUG	Next sync in 86400000 ms.

As you can see, there are some potential authentication issues, but I don't understand why would it only affect tabs sync, while bookmarks are fine. Note also that I merged all the stuff to the sync account by Sync - Manage Account - Reset Sync - Merge data from this device browser into your Sync account.

Thanks for your help!

Modified by cor-el

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

Chosen Solution

Try to create a new profile as a test to check if your current profile is causing the problems.

See "Creating a profile":

If the new profile works then you can transfer some files from an existing profile to the new profile, but be cautious not to copy corrupted files to avoid carrying over the problem.

Boot the computer in Windows Safe Mode with network support (press F8 on the boot screen) as a test to see if that helps.

michaelsb123
michaelsb123 Question owner
more options

New profile worked. I ended up wiping everything clean on my home computer, and reinstalling FF. After this, I'm finally able to see the tabs from my work computer.

One thing that does not make sense to me is the process of "pairing a new device". When I want to sync a new device, I don't want to pair it to anything. I want to download all my FF settings from Mozilla servers to the new device. I already have a sync account, why can't I just login and get all the settings stored centrally to all my devices?

Anyway, thanks for your help!

gnittala
gnittala
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Hello,

Does the option of "How do I Add a Device when I'm not near my computer?" in the SUMO article How do I add a device to Firefox Sync? solve your query? I think the pairing of the devices is provided as an easier way to establish the trust between the computer(s) and the device(s). Someone from the design/UX team can correct me if I am wrong.

Thank you