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.
Table of Contents
Part 1: Set up Firefox Sync on a computer
- In the Menu bar at the top of the screen, click and then select or , depending on your macOS version.Click the menu button and select . In the .OptionsPreferences window, click on the tab.
- Click
. - Click
. - Enter your email address, create a password and confirm it. Then check "I agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy" and click .
- 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 .
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. - Confirm that you are not a robot by entering the text from the image. Then click .
- You will see a Setup Complete! message. Click
to close the setup window and take you back to the Sync panel. - 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.
- At the top of the Firefox window, click the buttonclick the and select menu . The Firefox Sync Setup window will open.
- Click .
- Fill in your account details:
- 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 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 .
- You will see a Setup Complete! message. Click Note: This first sync should happen quickly but may take more than 30 minutes depending on how much information needs to be synced. 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.
- On the menu bar, click the menu and select . The Firefox Sync Setup window will open.
- Click .
- Fill in your account details:
- 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 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 .
- You will see a Setup Complete! message. Click Note: This first sync should happen quickly but may take more than 30 minutes depending on how much information needs to be synced. 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.
- At the top of the Firefox window, click the menu and select . The Firefox Sync Setup window will open.
- Click .
- Fill in your account details:
- 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 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 .
- You will see a Setup Complete! message. Click Note: This first sync should happen quickly but may take more than 30 minutes depending on how much information needs to be synced. 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.
Part 2: Get the easy setup code on another device
Get the code on an Android device
- Tap the at the bottom right on some devices or in the upper right of the browser) , choose (you may need to tap first) and, finally, . button (either
- The code to add this device appears.
Get the code on another computer
Do these steps on the second computer that you are trying to add to Firefox Sync.
- In the Menu bar at the top of the screen, click and then select or , depending on your macOS version.Click the menu button and select .
- Click on the tab.
- Click
. - Under I already have a Firefox Sync account click
and the code to add this computer will be displayed.
- At the top of the Firefox window, click the buttonclick the and select menu . The Firefox Sync Setup window will open.
- Click .
- The code to add this computer will be displayed.
- On the menu bar, click the menu and select . The Firefox Sync Setup window will open.
- Click .
- The code to add this computer will be displayed.
- At the top of the Firefox window, click the menu and select . The Firefox Sync Setup window will open.
- Click .
- The code to add this computer will be displayed.
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
- On the device you want to add, launch Firefox and click on the menu button The image "new FX Menu" does not exist..
- Click on at the bottom of the menu.
- In the panel that opens, click .
- On the Sign In page, enter the same email address and password you used on your other device.
- 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.
- Tap the at the bottom right on some devices or in the upper right of the browser) , choose (you may need to tap first) and, finally, . button (either
- Tap the "Advanced setup..." link.
- Next, enter your Account Name (email address), Password, Recovery Key and tap
Connect another computer
Do these steps on the second computer that you are trying to add to Firefox Sync.
- Click
. - Click .
- Enter your Sync email address and password and then click .
- Enter your Sync Key and then click .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?
- You will see a Setup Complete screen. Click to finish adding this computer to your Sync account.
- At the top of the Firefox window, click the buttonclick the and select menu . The Firefox Sync Setup window will open.
- Click .
- Since you're not near the device with Sync already set up, click the I don't have the device with me link.
- Sign in to your Sync account:
- Enter your account email address
- Enter your password
- Enter your Recovery Key
- Then click
- You will see a Setup Complete screen. Click to complete adding this device to your Sync account.
- On the menu bar, click the menu and select . The Firefox Sync Setup window will open.
- Click .
- Since you're not near the device with Sync already set up, click the I don't have the device with me link.
- Sign in to your Sync account:
- Enter your account email address
- Enter your password
- Enter your Recovery Key
- Then click
- You will see a Setup Complete screen. Click to complete adding this device to your Sync account.
- At the top of the Firefox window, click the menu and select . The Firefox Sync Setup window will open.
- Click .
- Since you're not near the device with Sync already set up, click the I don't have the device with me link.
- Sign in to your Sync account:
- Enter your account email address
- Enter your password
- Enter your Recovery Key
- Then click
- You will see a Setup Complete screen. Click to complete adding this device to your Sync account.