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Does Firefox for Android sync passwords from Firefox desktop?

  • 9 replies
  • 36 have this problem
  • 59 views
  • Last reply by cj447

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I do not understand if my Firefox for Android is able to get the passwords stored in Firefox desktop.

I have sync configured on both and is working correctly for tabs and bookmarks.


For passwords I do not know: I do not seem to be able to access those stored on my laptop from mobile.

I do not understand if my Firefox for Android is able to get the passwords stored in Firefox desktop. I have sync configured on both and is working correctly for tabs and bookmarks. For passwords I do not know: I do not seem to be able to access those stored on my laptop from mobile.

Chosen solution

Here are some reasons why passwords are not synced.

  • Using the Master Password feature on Firefox for Android. If you don't know what this is you are not using it. If you are disable it long enough for Firefox for Android to Sync once and then re-enable the master password.
  • Site is saving the password for you using cookies. The remember me check box on many sites login page. Firefox Sync does not sync cookies.
  • The site has a separate mobile page. www.facebook.com is a different site than touch.facebook.com Firefox will not share a password for a site on a different subdomain as there is no guarantee that they are both run by the same company.
Read this answer in context 👍 13

All Replies (9)

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See How do i set up Firefox Sync? this article tell "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". With firefox sync you syncronize all data about fireox on the mozilla server and for that reson your mobile have access to your password stored in your laptop.

Modified by Nellus

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Thanks for posting the article.

I did try to log in to a website I have the password saved for sure in my desktop and it did not work on my mobile.

Test: On my desktop, I go to "www.test.firefox.password" and insert my log in details -- only e-mail is needed, password does show up by itself since it is saved. All good.

On my mobile, I go to the same website and when I insert my e-mail nothing happens. I tried both with mobile and desktop versions of the website.

So, although "passwords" are ticked on both desktop and mobile, it does not actually work.

Any clue?

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Chosen Solution

Here are some reasons why passwords are not synced.

  • Using the Master Password feature on Firefox for Android. If you don't know what this is you are not using it. If you are disable it long enough for Firefox for Android to Sync once and then re-enable the master password.
  • Site is saving the password for you using cookies. The remember me check box on many sites login page. Firefox Sync does not sync cookies.
  • The site has a separate mobile page. www.facebook.com is a different site than touch.facebook.com Firefox will not share a password for a site on a different subdomain as there is no guarantee that they are both run by the same company.
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thanks for your helpful answer-- yet, in my case, i see that in my FF desktop password manager I still have some listed that are not on my FF android's mobile password manager! ( I have been troubled with the inconvenience of having to go back into my home PC to dig up these passwords, even though I have followed all the instructions (several times, in fact!) to set up and force syncing between my two devices.)

How can I get all my passwords actually synced successfully??? What am i not doing? Help Please!

(Example: I type in Amazon.com to the search bar in both PC and android's FF. I try to sign in: I open my FF desktop password manager and i find it fine in the list. But it does not appear in my FF android's mobile password manager list, and since I cannot recall what it was when on my phone, I am stuck unable to view my cart.)

Modified by ZariahArt

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If you clear all the cookies on your desktop Firefox, then you can start over using your Firefox to remember passwords with a master password. Now when you log in to sites that Firefox has not saved you will have to type the user and password (since the cookie is gone) - but make sure you do NOT check "remember me" (which creates another cookie)!

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Thanks pdqpat! :)

However, i'm still unclear on one point:

when you say, "using your Firefox to remember passwords with a master password...", how does this harmonize with kbrosnan's statement, "disable it long enough for Firefox for Android to Sync once and then re-enable the master password..."? I mean, it sounds like you are saying to use a master password, and yet kbrosnan says not to.(?) Or, perhaps, are there two differing master passwords, one for desktop and one for android, and these affect the syncing in different ways....? And, do I have to use a master password for some reason? Or did you have a specific reason for suggesting it here? Thanks for clarifying! :)

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The first suggestion by kbrosnan worked very well for me.

  • Using the Master Password feature on Firefox for Android. If you don't know what this is you are not using it. If you are disable it long enough for Firefox for Android to Sync once and then re-enable the master password.

Now all passwords are synced.

Thank you.

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That's great! :) And yet... I still have the questions I posted yesterday-- can anyone help clarify? Thanks! :)

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If there is the same master password on both devices does sync work?

I deactivated master-passwords on my phone and pc, it is not syncing passwords.

On my tablet, firefox closes or restarts is syncing is activated, and there are also no passwords syncronized.

What can I do ...?