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Trying to Sync "out" from my current Firefox setup, not pull a previous Sync "in".

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Hi all,

I've searched and read all I can about his topic but although I see many that are almost exactly like it, I don't see any that are exactly like it. The advice to set Firefox with all bookmarks, extension, etc. like I want it then click "Disconnect" in Sync the reconnect is a common "fix" but it does not work.

The problem is this: Evidently, some time ago I did a sync on some device or another that had Firefox, possibly Ubuntu on my laptop. Also evident is the fact that the bookmarks, extensions, etc. are a huge mess in that sync.

Now when I re-installed Firefox on my desktop yesterday and placed my good backup of the profile into the proper profile folder, which is exactly like I want everything , all is good at this point, I then sign in to Sync and instantly the "bad" sync comes "in" and garbles everything into a mess.

So my question is whether there is a way (I'm sure it's simple, I'm just dense) to use this current Firefox on my desktop to be the "master" that all other devices sync to? I just described above what happens when I set it exactly like I like it then sign in to sync, so that's no good as a solution.

Thank you in advance for any assistance you may be able to provide.

Hi all, I've searched and read all I can about his topic but although I see many that are almost exactly like it, I don't see any that are exactly like it. The advice to set Firefox with all bookmarks, extension, etc. like I want it then click "Disconnect" in Sync the reconnect is a common "fix" but it does not work. The problem is this: Evidently, some time ago I did a sync on some device or another that had Firefox, possibly Ubuntu on my laptop. Also evident is the fact that the bookmarks, extensions, etc. are a huge mess in that sync. Now when I re-installed Firefox on my desktop yesterday and placed my good backup of the profile into the proper profile folder, which is exactly like I want everything , all is good at this point, I then sign in to Sync and instantly the "bad" sync comes "in" and garbles everything into a mess. So my question is whether there is a way (I'm sure it's simple, I'm just dense) to use this current Firefox on my desktop to be the "master" that all other devices sync to? I just described above what happens when I set it exactly like I like it then sign in to sync, so that's no good as a solution. Thank you in advance for any assistance you may be able to provide.

Chosen solution

You could reset your Firefox Account password, which deletes all of your Firefox Sync data, and then login on your "master" computer first.

Hope this helps.

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Chosen Solution

You could reset your Firefox Account password, which deletes all of your Firefox Sync data, and then login on your "master" computer first.

Hope this helps.

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Thank you, that worked like a charm.

I was thinking that to do what I wanted, which was to keep a 'bad' sync from over-riding a 'good' one, I'd have to bite the bullet and use a completely different email address and password and forsake the usual one.

However, the email address has nothing to do with anything since as Firefox mentions when you start to do it, your Sync data is encrypted with the PASSWORD so changing one letter or number in the password results in what Firefox considers a completely brand new Sync.

Mr. Branton's tip above is exactly what works. Me thinking that changing the password is accomplished by logging in to Sync and changing it will, however, result in a never-ending circle of setting Firefox up like you want it, then signing in to Sync to change the password and Oops! now the old sync comes in and messes it right back up.

Here are the steps to changing your password to fix your Sync problem, as per Mr. Branton's advice:

1) Open Firefox 2) Click 'Menu' (very top right of the Firefox window) 3) Click 'Options' 4) Click 'Sync' (on the left of the screen) 5) Click 'Sign In' (Click 'Disconnect', then on 'Just Disconnect' button if 'Sign In' is not visible) 6) Click 'Forgot password?' (sends 'password reset' to e-mail address) 7) Open that e-mail (however you normally check your email), click 'Create new password') 8) Enter new password twice in Firefox window that opens 9) Click 'Reset password' 10) Click Firefox 'Menu' once again, click 'Reconnect to sync' (or 'Sign in to Sync', whichever you see), then use the new password

This method appears to completely fix the problem I described.

Thank you for your assistance.

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Each profile logged into the sync shows as a different 'device' in the devices list. When you delete a device (profile), the data which originated on that device (profile) disappears from the 'synced tabs' list. I haven't checked whether bookmarks/passwords are disappeared as well, worth checking that, rather than changing the password and losing ALL profiles/devices?