How do I set up Sync on my computer?

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When you set up Firefox Sync on your computer, all of your data (such as your bookmarks, history, passwords 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 bookmarks, history, passwords, 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.

Note: This applies to the latest Firefox version which can be downloaded from mozilla.org/firefox.

Part 1: Set up Firefox Sync on a computer

  1. In the Menu bar at the top of the screen, click Firefox and then select Preferences or Settings, depending on your macOS version.Click the menu button Fx89menuButton and select Settings. . 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 buttonclick 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 - 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 by filling the captcha form!
    • 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 add-ons, bookmarks, passwords, preferences, history and tabs.
    • 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 by filling the captcha form!
    • 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 add-ons, bookmarks, passwords, preferences, history and tabs.
    • Finally, click Continue.
  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 by filling the captcha form!
    • 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 add-ons, bookmarks, passwords, preferences, history and tabs.
    • 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.

Part 2: Get the easy setup code on another device

Get the code on an Android device

  1. Tap the Menu button (either at the bottom right on some devices or in the upper right of the browser) , choose Settings (you may need to tap More first) and, finally, Sync.
  2. The code to add this device appears.
    sync_recovery3

Get the code on another computer

Do these steps on the second computer that you are trying to add to Firefox Sync.

  1. In the Menu bar at the top of the screen, click Firefox and then select Preferences or Settings, depending on your macOS version.Click the menu button Fx89menuButton and select Settings.
  2. Click on the Sync tab.
  3. Click Set Up Firefox Sync.
    Sync Setup 1
  4. Under I already have a Firefox Sync account click Connect and the code to add this computer will be displayed.
    Comp Code
  1. At the top of the Firefox window, click the Firefox buttonclick the Tools menu and select Set Up Sync. The Firefox Sync Setup window will open.
  2. Click I Have an Account.
  3. The code to add this computer will be displayed.
    Pair - Win
  1. On the menu bar, click the Tools menu and select Set Up Sync. The Firefox Sync Setup window will open.
  2. Click I Have an Account.
  3. The code to add this computer will be displayed.
    Pair - Mac
  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 I Have an Account.
  3. The code to add this computer will be displayed.
    Pair - Lin

Part 3: Connect your other device to your Sync account

Enter the setup code on your computer to connect your other device to your Sync account

  1. On the device you want to add, launch Firefox and click on the menu button The image "new FX Menu" does not exist.Fx57Menu.
  2. Click on Sign in to Sync at the bottom of the menu.
  3. In the SyncFirefox account panel that opens, click Sign In.
  4. On the Sign In page, enter the same email address and password you used on your other device.
  5. After you've signed in, Firefox will start syncing your information. You're all done!

What if I'm not near my computer?

Do these steps on the device that you are trying to add to Firefox Sync.
If you are trying to add a device to Firefox Sync and you are not near your computer so that you can enter the code, you can still get it done by entering your account information.

Connect an Android device

Do these steps in Firefox for mobile on your Android device.

  1. Tap the Menu button (either at the bottom right on some devices or in the upper right of the browser) , choose Settings (you may need to tap More first) and, finally, Sync.
  2. Tap the "Advanced setup..." link.
    sync_recovery3
  3. Next, enter your Account Name (email address), Password, Recovery Key and tap Connect.
    sync_recovery4


Connect another computer

Do these steps on the second computer that you are trying to add to Firefox Sync.

  1. Click Set Up Firefox Sync.
    Sync Setup 1
  2. Click I Have A Firefox Sync Account.
  3. Enter your Sync email address and password and then click NextContinue.
  4. Enter your Sync Key and then click NextContinue.
    Add comp 2
    Your Sync Key is a long series of characters that was created for you when you set up your Sync account. You can find it by following the instructions in Where can I find my Sync Key?
    Your Recovery Key is a long series of characters that was created for you when you set up your Sync account. You can find it by following the instructions in Where can I find my Recovery Key?
  5. You will see a Setup Complete screen. Click FinishDone to finish adding this computer to your Sync account.
  1. At the top of the Firefox window, click the Firefox buttonclick the Tools menu and select Set Up Sync. The Firefox Sync Setup window will open.
  2. Click I Have an Account.
  3. Since you're not near the device with Sync already set up, click the I don't have the device with me link.
  4. Sign in to your Sync account:
    • Enter your account email address
    • Enter your password
    • Enter your Recovery Key
    • Then click Next
  5. You will see a Setup Complete screen. Click Finish to complete adding this device to your Sync account.
  1. On the menu bar, click the Tools menu and select Set Up Sync. The Firefox Sync Setup window will open.
  2. Click I Have an Account.
  3. Since you're not near the device with Sync already set up, click the I don't have the device with me link.
  4. Sign in to your Sync account:
    • Enter your account email address
    • Enter your password
    • Enter your Recovery Key
    • Then click Continue
  5. You will see a Setup Complete screen. Click Done to complete adding this device to your Sync account.
  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 I Have an Account.
  3. Since you're not near the device with Sync already set up, click the I don't have the device with me link.
  4. Sign in to your Sync account:
    • Enter your account email address
    • Enter your password
    • Enter your Recovery Key
    • Then click Next
  5. You will see a Setup Complete screen. Click Finish to complete adding this device to your Sync account.