How do I set up Firefox Sync?

When you set up Firefox Sync on your computer, all of your ​data​ (such​ as your​ book​mark​s, history, pass​word​s and ​open​ tabs​) gets stored securely on the Mozilla servers. Then you can connect other devices (a mobile phone for example) and they will be automatically synchronized, giving you access to all of your information no matter where you are. This article will walk you though setting up Firefox Sync for the first time.

When you set up Firefox Sync on your computer, all of your data and preferences (such​ as your​ book​mark​s, history, pass​word​s, ​open​ tabs and installed add-ons​) gets stored securely on the Mozilla servers. Then you can connect other devices (a mobile phone for example) and they will be automatically synchronized, giving you access to all of your information no matter where you are. This article will walk you though setting up Firefox Sync for the first time.

Once you've set up Firefox Sync, see How to sync Firefox settings between computers or How do I sync Firefox between my desktop and mobile? to learn how to connect other computers or mobile devices to your Sync account.


Set up Firefox Sync from your Computer

  1. Go to the Firefox Sync download page, and click Add to Firefox. When you have finished installing Firefox Sync, click Restart Firefox. In the Add-ons window, click OptionsPreferences to open the Sync panel.At the top of the Firefox window, click on the Firefox button (Tools menu in Windows XP) and then click OptionsOn the menu bar, click on the Firefox menu and select Preferences...At the top of the Firefox window, click on the Edit menu and select PreferencesAt the top of the Firefox window, click on the Tools menu and select Options...On the menu bar, click on the Firefox menu and select Preferences...At the top of the Firefox window, click on the Edit menu and select Preferences... In the OptionsPreferences window, click on the Sync tab.
  2. Click Set Up Firefox Sync.
    Sync Setup 1
  3. Click Create a New Account.
    Sync Setup 2
  4. Enter your email address, create a password and confirm it. Then check "I agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy" and click NextContinue.
  5. This is your Sync KeyRecovery Key. Now is a good time to save or print a copy of your key and store it somewhere safe. When you are done with this step, click NextContinue.
    Sync Setup 4
    The Sync KeyRecovery Key is used to encrypt your data before it's sent to the Mozilla servers. Think of it as a key that locks your information in a vault that only you can open. This means that neither Mozilla nor anyone else can read your information without having your Sync KeyRecovery Key to unlock it.
  6. Confirm that you are not a robot by entering the text from the image. Then click NextContinue.
  7. You will see a Setup Complete! message. Click FinishDone to close the setup window and take you back to the Sync panel.
    setup complete
  8. You do not need to do anything else. Firefox Sync will automatically sync your data in the background from here on.
    This first sync should happen quickly but may take more than 30 minutes depending on how much information needs to be synced.
  1. At the top of the Firefox window, click the Firefox button (Tools menu in Windows XP) and select Set Up Sync. The Firefox Sync Setup window will open.
  2. Click Create a New Account.
  3. Fill in your account details:
    Sync Setup 10 - Win
    • Email address
    • Choose a password and enter it a second time to make sure you have it right
    • Agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
    • Confirm that you're not a robot!
    • To change what information gets synced, click Sync Options. The default is to sync your bookmarks, passwords, preferences, history and tabs.The default is to sync your bookmarks, passwords, preferences, history, tabs and add-ons.
    • Finally, click Next.
  4. You will see a Setup Complete! message. Click Close to close the progress window and take you back to Firefox. Don't worry, your data will continue to be encrypted and uploaded in the background.
    Note: This first sync should happen quickly but may take more than 30 minutes depending on how much information needs to be synced.
  1. On the menu bar, click the Tools menu and select Set Up Sync. The Firefox Sync Setup window will open.
  2. Click Create a New Account.
  3. Fill in your account details:
    Sync Setup 10 - Mac
    • Email address
    • Choose a password and enter it a second time to make sure you have it right
    • Agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
    • Confirm that you're not a robot!
    • To change what information gets synced, click Sync Options. The default is to sync your bookmarks, passwords, preferences, history and tabs.The default is to sync your bookmarks, passwords, preferences, history, tabs and add-ons.
    • Finally, click Done.
  4. You will see a Setup Complete! message. Click Close to close the progress window and take you back to Firefox. Don't worry, your data will continue to be encrypted and uploaded in the background.
    Note: This first sync should happen quickly but may take more than 30 minutes depending on how much information needs to be synced.
  1. At the top of the Firefox window, click the Tools menu and select Set Up Sync. The Firefox Sync Setup window will open.
  2. Click Create a New Account.
  3. Fill in your account details:
    Sync Setup 10 - Lin
    • Email address
    • Choose a password and enter it a second time to make sure you have it right
    • Agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
    • Confirm that you're not a robot!
    • To change what information gets synced, click Sync Options. The default is to sync your bookmarks, passwords, preferences, history and tabs.The default is to sync your bookmarks, passwords, preferences, history, tabs and add-ons.
    • Finally, click Next.
  4. You will see a Setup Complete! message. Click Close to close the progress window and take you back to Firefox. Don't worry, your data will continue to be encrypted and uploaded in the background.
    Note: This first sync should happen quickly but may take more than 30 minutes depending on how much information needs to be synced.

Contributors to this page: Verdi, scoobidiver, Ibai

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