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Can't sync two computers, despite following all instructions, including updates, sign-ins, etc.

ebachrach@hotmail.com
ebachrach@hotmail.com

I had my desktop repaired, with a prior data download, but none of the items on the bookmarks toolbar came through. They are all on my laptop, so I thought if I sync'ed Firefox on both devices, they would be retrieved on my desktop. I hadn't done such a sync before, but I have followed all of the instructions and reached a point where everything looks in order. However, there is no "start sync" button, and I can't get anything to happen. When I pull up sync on one or the other device, it just takes me through the same steps that I've done before. I have updated Firefox on both devices, made sure that the two appear in Manage (disconnected a duplicate), checked what I want sync'ed, which is everything. At one point, my desktop showing sync was preparing or something like that, but nothing happened. Nor do any of the current references help. What can I do?

Perhaps I should note that my desktop has Windows 10, while the laptop has Windows 7. It turns out that Acer Aspire laptops don't work with Windows 10, so I can't fix this. Still, given that Firefox is the same version on both, this shouldn't be a problem.

I had my desktop repaired, with a prior data download, but none of the items on the bookmarks toolbar came through. They are all on my laptop, so I thought if I sync'ed Firefox on both devices, they would be retrieved on my desktop. I hadn't done such a sync before, but I have followed all of the instructions and reached a point where everything looks in order. However, there is no "start sync" button, and I can't get anything to happen. When I pull up sync on one or the other device, it just takes me through the same steps that I've done before. I have updated Firefox on both devices, made sure that the two appear in Manage (disconnected a duplicate), checked what I want sync'ed, which is everything. At one point, my desktop showing sync was preparing or something like that, but nothing happened. Nor do any of the current references help. What can I do? Perhaps I should note that my desktop has Windows 10, while the laptop has Windows 7. It turns out that Acer Aspire laptops don't work with Windows 10, so I can't fix this. Still, given that Firefox is the same version on both, this shouldn't be a problem.

All Replies (1)

user1378671
user1378671

Make sure that you don't have a 2nd "Bookmarks Toolbar" folder mixed in among your bookmarks on the Desktop device.

Chances are that "duplicate device" may have confused Sync. I had that happen once or twice myself. IMO, the "log" that keeps track of the individual devices that are running on that Firefox Account / Sync has some undesirable "quirks".

If that is the case, just copy those bookmarks that are in the 2nd Bookmarks Toolbar into the main Bookmarks Toolbar folder - but first you should disconnect that device from the Sync server.

Then restart Firefox and make sure those bookmarks remain where you copied them. Then you should delete that 2nd folder. Then and only then, it should be safe to re-connect that device to Sync.


As far as the old "Sync Now" button is concerned, that was removed when the "Show synced tabs from other devices" button was added to the UI.