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How do I adjust the frequency that Firefox performs a sync?

  • 5 replies
  • 6 have this problem
  • 215 views
  • Last reply by guigs

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I am running firefox 29.1 on a windows 7 netbook and windows XP (yes, I know). I have a slower internet connection (tethering from a 3G mobile) and find the rate at which Firefox syncs is too frequent thus slowing down my browsing and would like to adjust when the browser decides to sync (or set it to 'Manual'). I have searched thoroughly on the internet and within the about: menus but cannot figure out where this setting would be. Can you please send directions as to how to do so?

I am running firefox 29.1 on a windows 7 netbook and windows XP (yes, I know). I have a slower internet connection (tethering from a 3G mobile) and find the rate at which Firefox syncs is too frequent thus slowing down my browsing and would like to adjust when the browser decides to sync (or set it to 'Manual'). I have searched thoroughly on the internet and within the about: menus but cannot figure out where this setting would be. Can you please send directions as to how to do so?

All Replies (5)

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Hi sailorwayne, Of course!

  1. Open up about:config.
  2. In the Location bar, type about:config and press Enter. The about:config "This might void your warranty!" warning page may appear.
  3. Click I'll be careful, I promise! to continue to the about:config page.
  4. Search for sync and change the value in services.sync.nextSync, no no actually: services.sync.schedule.idleTime and services.sync.scheduler.activeInterval

Mess with those a bit.

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Thank you for your assistance. However, I was hoping for something a little more definitive than "mess with those a bit" as I have looked in about:config and seen those settings but am not sure what the values represent. Hopefully somebody else knows what the setting values mean and which to adjust.

Again, thanks.

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Hi sailorwayne, To be more specific each of those figures control how often Firefox syncs.

services.sync.schedule.idleTime This is how much time sync is idle before it syncs again.

services.sync.scheduler.activeInterval is when the next scheduled sync will be initialized.

If you have any other questions about this we can elaborate as well.

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What do the numerical values for each represent? Minutes? Hours? Days?

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