Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Bookmarks not syncing: Skipping check of bookmarks - disabled via preferences

  • 2 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 10 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

more options

Hi - I'm signed into firefox sync on two different computers, both running Ubuntu 20.04. I can tell that they're connected to the same account because I can see the other computer in the list for "Send tab to device".

However, the bookmarks aren't syncing - one computer has the full set, the other (newly set up) computer still has the default bookmarks.

When I check `about:sync-log`, I see these lines:

``` 1654551773179 Sync.Doctor INFO Skipping check of prefs - disabled via preferences 1654551773179 Sync.Doctor INFO Skipping check of passwords - disabled via preferences 1654551773179 Sync.Doctor INFO Skipping check of tabs - disabled via preferences 1654551773179 Sync.Doctor INFO Skipping check of bookmarks - disabled via preferences 1654551773179 Sync.Doctor INFO Skipping check of addons - disabled via preferences 1654551773179 Sync.Doctor INFO Skipping check of forms - disabled via preferences 1654551773179 Sync.Doctor INFO Skipping check of history - disabled via preferences 1654551773179 Sync.Doctor INFO Skipping check of extension-storage - disabled via preferences 1654551773179 Sync.Doctor INFO Skipping validation: no engines qualify 1654551773179 Sync.Status DEBUG Status.sync: success.sync => success.sync 1654551773179 Sync.Status DEBUG Status.service: success.status_ok => success.status_ok 1654551773180 Sync.Synchronizer INFO Sync completed at 2022-06-06 14:42:53 after 1.48 secs. ```

That is, it seems to think that bookmark syncing is disabled - however, I have bookmark syncing enabled, as you can see in the attached screenshot.

Hi - I'm signed into firefox sync on two different computers, both running Ubuntu 20.04. I can tell that they're connected to the same account because I can see the other computer in the list for "Send tab to device". However, the bookmarks aren't syncing - one computer has the full set, the other (newly set up) computer still has the default bookmarks. When I check `about:sync-log`, I see these lines: ``` 1654551773179 Sync.Doctor INFO Skipping check of prefs - disabled via preferences 1654551773179 Sync.Doctor INFO Skipping check of passwords - disabled via preferences 1654551773179 Sync.Doctor INFO Skipping check of tabs - disabled via preferences 1654551773179 Sync.Doctor INFO Skipping check of bookmarks - disabled via preferences 1654551773179 Sync.Doctor INFO Skipping check of addons - disabled via preferences 1654551773179 Sync.Doctor INFO Skipping check of forms - disabled via preferences 1654551773179 Sync.Doctor INFO Skipping check of history - disabled via preferences 1654551773179 Sync.Doctor INFO Skipping check of extension-storage - disabled via preferences 1654551773179 Sync.Doctor INFO Skipping validation: no engines qualify 1654551773179 Sync.Status DEBUG Status.sync: success.sync => success.sync 1654551773179 Sync.Status DEBUG Status.service: success.status_ok => success.status_ok 1654551773180 Sync.Synchronizer INFO Sync completed at 2022-06-06 14:42:53 after 1.48 secs. ``` That is, it seems to think that bookmark syncing is disabled - however, I have bookmark syncing enabled, as you can see in the attached screenshot.
Attached screenshots

All Replies (2)

more options

Try downloading Firefox from Mozilla on to both computers, run it from the folder and see if you have the same issue. https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all/#product-desktop-release

Modified by jonzn4SUSE

more options

I don't think that this section is that important as I've seen these lines quite often mentioned. If there are problems with syncing the bookmarks then there should be lines about this further up in the log.


If you use Sync then best is to disconnect Sync temporarily during troubleshooting.

This could be a problem with the places.sqlite and favicons.sqlite files in the Firefox profile folder.

  • use the "Places Database" -> "Verify Integrity" button on the "Help -> More Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page

If errors are reported with "Verify Integrity", close and restart Firefox or reboot and retry.

If "Verify Integrity" cannot repair places.sqlite, rename/remove all places.sqlite and favicons.sqlite files in the Firefox profile folder with Firefox closed. Firefox will rebuild places.sqlite and restore the bookmarks from the most recent JSON backup in the bookmarkbackups folder.

  • keep a backup copy of places.sqlite in case a new places.sqlite database has to be created
  • you lose the history when a new places.sqlite is created

You may have to restore an older bookmarks backup in the bookmarkbackups folder via the Bookmarks Manager (Library).

See also:

You can use the button on the "Help -> More Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page to go to the current Firefox profile folder or use the about:profiles page (Root directory).