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Can't get a Recovery key

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  • 38 have this problem
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  • Last reply by cor-el

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Hi, I just reinstalled Firefox on my smartphone, trying to sync it with my desktop, but no success. It's asking me for the recovery key, but I don't have it. Tried the trouble shooting at Firefox's website, but it doesn't help. Please, help!

Hi, I just reinstalled Firefox on my smartphone, trying to sync it with my desktop, but no success. It's asking me for the recovery key, but I don't have it. Tried the trouble shooting at Firefox's website, but it doesn't help. Please, help!

Chosen solution

You can only generate a new Sync key when you are connected to the Sync server and that requires to enter the correct name and password credentials for the Sync account.

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To find your Recovery Key, complete the following steps in Firefox on a computer that already has your Sync account set up:

  • Firefox > Options > Sync > Manage Account > My Recovery Key


Refer to this article for more information about managing a Sync account:

How do I choose what information to sync on Firefox?

Modified by Brayden M

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If Sync is running in your desktop computer, and you have the two devices near each other, you should be able to add your mobile using a simpler method described in this article: How do I add a device to Firefox Sync?

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When i get to step 4 and enter the 3 codes and press Next, it takes to the net step, where i have to enter the username, password AND the Recovery key, which i dont have. Thats where i get stuck. :(

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Have you tried following my steps to find your Recovery Key?

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It says I have to go to Firefox options -> Sync -> My account settings , but when i get to Sync tab it only has two options: Sync settings and Pair a device :(

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I don't have the Manage Account option in Sync tab.

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Same Problem here. There is no manage account option in sync tab.

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I'm having the same problem. There is no manage account option. Someone please look into this!

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On what device are you trying to setup Sync?

If Sync isn't set up on any of the devices and you have "Firefox > Set Up Sync" on a desktop computer then you need to setup Sync on at least one device if you want to pair another device.

If you have used Sync before, but no devices are currently connected to the Sync server and you want to set up Sync then you need have a backup of the previously used Sync key to be able to set up Sync.

If you didn't backup the Sync key then you will have to generate a new Sync key.


Use these steps on the desktop computer that doesn't have set up Sync, but Sync is set up on an Android device:

  1. Firefox (or File) > Set Up Sync
  2. Click "I have an account"

That brings you to the "Pair a Device" window that show a 3x4 character code:

  • To activate, select "Pair a Device" on your other device. Show me how.
    Then, enter this code: xxxx xxxx xxxx

Then go to the Android device that has Sync set up :

  1. Android OS > Settings > Accounts > Firefox Sync > Pair a new Device
  2. Enter the 3x4 character code that you got on the desktop computer

Make sure that the desktop computer is online when you enter the pairing code on the Android device.

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Thanks so much! Got the key now....never thought of clicking "don't have device with me" to generate a key, since the device was in my hand, but oh well, it worked!

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I have tried this and it will not work

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Hi jrruta

Is there currently a device that has setup Sync and is connected to the Sync server?

Do all devices run the same Firefox version?

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I FINALLY HAD SUCCESS and not even sure how I made it work, but best recollection is when I opened the SYNC option on my laptop and re-followed the instructions for I've Lost My Device, it allowed me to generate a NEW KEY (that I could then SAVE) but

                          • ONLY AFTER I had my account id and password filled into the dialog box***************.

The FIRST zillion times I tried it, I simply CLICKED that link ("I've lost my other device" and the link took me NOWHERE. It had no response. But when I input the id/password and THEN clicked it, it worked, generated the new key and now all my stuff is happily synced again.

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Chosen Solution

You can only generate a new Sync key when you are connected to the Sync server and that requires to enter the correct name and password credentials for the Sync account.