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Is there still an option to remove/delete synced data when disconnecting a device?

  • 8 replies
  • 3 have this problem
  • 9 views
  • Last reply by Bob Giesen

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I use firefox on multiple PCs at work and sign in to sync my bookmarks and passwords; it's been an excellent feature given I'm not guaranteed to be in the same room and on the same PC. Since the latest update, when I choose to disconnect, I no longer have the option to remove/delete synced data, specifically bookmarks and passwords. I can't find it anywhere is settings. Has this been removed?

I use firefox on multiple PCs at work and sign in to sync my bookmarks and passwords; it's been an excellent feature given I'm not guaranteed to be in the same room and on the same PC. Since the latest update, when I choose to disconnect, I no longer have the option to remove/delete synced data, specifically bookmarks and passwords. I can't find it anywhere is settings. Has this been removed?

All Replies (8)

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Yes, it looks like they've removed it.

See bug 1582023 and bug 1568357.

Modified by TyDraniu

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Thanks. That's disappointing. Unfortunately it means it's not fit for purpose for me (and presumably a lot of other users).

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Hope this will help.

Type 'about:support' in address bar and Enter. Then go to the profile folder and click open folder button in the right side. Then delete the places.sqlite database file in the profile folder and JSON backups in the bookmarkbackups folder to remove the bookmarks and history.

Modified by Senali Madawala

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My situation is basically like that of the original poster, above. I migrate between several PCs - home, office, library, friends' and relatives' houses - several times a week. I sign in, sync, use the browser, and sign out, selecting the option to delete all local synced browser data (for the obvious privacy and security reasons) - easy! PLEASE tell me you're going to give us an easier way to continue doing this without the insanely complicated "about:support" > "profile folder" > delete ... what? One or two of those complicated jargon-named files? Am I supposed to memorize that? This is a HUGE step backward, complicating a feature that I, and I'm sure many others, have found invaluable.

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Senali Madawala said

Hope this will help. Type 'about:support' in address bar and Enter. Then go to the profile folder and click open folder button in the right side. Then delete the places.sqlite database file in the profile folder and JSON backups in the bookmarkbackups folder to remove the bookmarks and history.

With those two files deleted, synced login IDs and passwords are still retained locally. Which file(s) do you delete to clear those?

Or, if you will, what are ALL the files you need to delete to clear ALL synced data locally in the same way that you could in previous versions of Firefox (via the account sign-out process, before this option was removed)?

I'll start doing this manually several times a week, as needed, but you realize it's a hassle! :(

Thanks.

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Sync wasn't designed to be used on public PCs.

You could try this:

Overview of Steps

(1) Create a temporary Firefox profile for yourself and make it the default (2) After using the temp profile, disconnect from your Firefox Account (3) Switch Firefox back to the default profile (4) Delete your temp profile

Creating Your New Temporary Profile

[i] Identify currently running profile

Inside Firefox, type or paste about:profiles in the address bar and press Enter/Return to load it.

This page should list at least one profile and could list many. The profile that Firefox is currently using will have this:

This is the profile in use and it cannot be deleted.

** Make a note of that profile name, since that is the one you will switch back to later.

Before you can remove that profile, you need to switch Firefox to a clean one:

[ii] Create new profile

Click the "Create a New Profile" button, then click Next. Assign a name like Monday, ignore the option to relocate the profile folder, and click the Finish button.

After creating the profile, scroll down to it and click the Set as default profile button. (Firefox 71 might do this automatically?)

Exit Firefox.

Start Firefox, and it should open in the new profile. Go ahead and use that as normal.

Removing Your Temporary Profile

When you are ready to exit and clean up:

[iii] Switch back to the default profile

Open the about:profiles page and find the one you want to switch back to (that you identified in step [i]), and click its Set as default profile button. In the upper right corner of the page, click the Restart Normally button.

[iv] Delete your temporary profile

Firefox should reload to the about:profiles page. Now you can find your Monday profile and click its Remove button. That will give you the choice whether to leave the profile folder and all the data files, or remove those as well. Click Delete Files to finish the job:

Modified by jscher2000 - Support Volunteer

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I hope they will reinstall the option to erase everything once desync in a simpler way than those workarounds. THIS IS MANDATORY. Thanks

Modified by gillesmarodon

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jscher2000 said

Sync wasn't designed to be used on public PCs. You could try this: . . .

Why should it matter if it's used on a public PC, when there's a login required (which the user stated he has to do)? Profiles are stored in the %APPDATA% tree (on Windows, at least; I don't know about the other OS's), which is tied to the user. I don't see how that's relevant.

Thanks for the workaround, though. I hope someone finds time to fix this. I have spent more time on cleaning up this mess than Sync saved.