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Firefox Sync recovery key is lost. No solution on the net works. Help

  • 21 respostas
  • 25 have this problem
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  • Last reply by cor-el

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I have a FF sync account. I purchased a tablet. I want to sync the tablet. During the process I am asked to provide a recovery key which I do not have.

Every solution I find on the Internet is either two years old or the steps (Tools/Options/Synch/Manage Account) are no longer valid as Manage Account is not under Sync any longer.

I either need to find my recovery key, delete the account so I can get a new key, or stop wasting my time and take this process to a different browser.

Can anyone help without pointing to the same web pages I've been to countless times?

I have a FF sync account. I purchased a tablet. I want to sync the tablet. During the process I am asked to provide a recovery key which I do not have. Every solution I find on the Internet is either two years old or the steps (Tools/Options/Synch/Manage Account) are no longer valid as Manage Account is not under Sync any longer. I either need to find my recovery key, delete the account so I can get a new key, or stop wasting my time and take this process to a different browser. Can anyone help without pointing to the same web pages I've been to countless times?

Chosen solution

So, you were able to get Sync set up on both devices, correct?

The initial Sync on each device may take some time, like maybe as much as an hour (per one of the Sync developers) to complete, depending upon the data types the user has selected to be "synced". And if you have both connected at the same time, it might slow the process down. Sorry, there is no progress indicator to "measure" what has been sent to or from the Sync Server. Sync was designed to run completely in the background.

Once Sync data is fully loaded on both devices, the process is almost instantaneous from my own observation. Delete a bookmark on one "device" and within a minute is disappears from another device.

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All Replies (20)

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Where is the device / PC that you originally used to set up the Sync service?
If you have that device you can "Pair" the new tablet with the original device.
Or you can retrieve the Sync Key from the original device, or any other desktop / laptop device that you used with that Sync account.


(Tools/Options/Sync/Manage Account) is still valid on desktop /laptop devices where Sync has been already set up. If the device isn't set up for Sync, you get the option to "Pair" or to Set Up Sync on the device.
The menu path is different on Tablet / Mobile devices than on "desktop" devices.

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Where is the device / PC that you originally used to set up the Sync service? If you have that device you can "Pair" the new tablet with the original device. Or you can retrieve the Sync Key from the original device, or any other desktop / laptop device that you used with that Sync account.

It's sitting right in front of me. I cannot pair the new device (tablet) because when I try I am asked for the recovery key. I cannot retrieve the key because I don't know how.

(Tools/Options/Sync/Manage Account) is still valid on desktop /laptop devices where Sync has been already set up. If the device isn't set up for Sync, you get the option to "Pair" or to Set Up Sync on the device. The menu path is different on Tablet / Mobile devices than on "desktop" devices.

Tools/Options/Sync/Manage Account is apparently not still valid. I know this for a fact because when I go to that screen Manage Account is not there. I know the PC is set up because I just reset the password today as a test.

Since I don't get Manage Account then I assume my account is screwed up and I need to delete it, which I cannot do because that requires the recovery key.

This is the dumbest damn execution of a system I've ever seen.

Rhys3300 modificouno o

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I went to my account and opted to delete the account. I waited a while and the end result was a screen that said this:

502 Bad Gateway nginx/0.7.65

So I can't manage he account from the FF menu even though it's there, and I can't delete the account because the FF system is screwed up.

Very nice.

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Forget it. I created a new account. Let my old junk clog up the system.

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Is the new Sync account working properly?

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I honestly don't know. It said it was copying data, but I can't figure out how to access bookmarks on my new tablet. It's a Samsung Galaxy 10.1 2014 Edition and is my first. I have been looking through hhe menu and clicking everything in sight, but I have yet to find the list of bookmarks that should have synced.

Sorry. Not too frustrating.

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Chosen Solution

So, you were able to get Sync set up on both devices, correct?

The initial Sync on each device may take some time, like maybe as much as an hour (per one of the Sync developers) to complete, depending upon the data types the user has selected to be "synced". And if you have both connected at the same time, it might slow the process down. Sorry, there is no progress indicator to "measure" what has been sent to or from the Sync Server. Sync was designed to run completely in the background.

Once Sync data is fully loaded on both devices, the process is almost instantaneous from my own observation. Delete a bookmark on one "device" and within a minute is disappears from another device.

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Yes, I think it worked on both. Once I figure where the bookmarks are on the tablet I'll be certain.

Your help is appreciated. It got pretty frustrating today.

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delete sync account and make a new one.. worked for me!!

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I appreciate your reply.

I have dropped Firefox on my Android products and switched to Dolphin. It is a much better Android browser than Firefox.

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Yes this part is silly. No way of getting a recovery key. Why not have a new one sent to the email account? Years of data about to be lost by deleting the account!!!!!!!!!

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siriuszw,

The Recovery Key is the encryption / decryption algorithm for the user's data while that data if off the user's devices. Only the Sync user ever sees the Recovery Key, it isn't sent to the Sync server with the user's data.

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Fair and fine so if I lose if I lose my data? Have been battling to log onto my account. I reset my password but there is no recovery key reset/recover option

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sync options - manage account - does NOT exist from the TOOLS menu!

I can get the codes entered to pair the devices -but cannot SYNC the data from my main pc to my tablet! For cryin out loud - how can something so simple be such a nightmare?

There is a SYNC OPTIONS button on the pair a device window, but nothing seems to happen when I select replace all data on this device with Sync data.

There is no way to get to the recovery key? Really? Support for the how to generate a recovery key page is no longer current? geez! And I thought MS IE was backwards!

Come on folks - a little help here.

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Is there any device that has Syn set up and is connected to the Sync server?

You can find the sync account password and the sync (recovery) key in the password manager on computers where a sync account with a specific e-mail address has been set up.

  • Firefox/Tools > Security: Passwords: "Saved Passwords" > "Show Passwords"

Look for:

  • chrome://weave (Mozilla Services Password)
  • chrome://weave (Mozilla Services Encryption Passphrase)
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I'm sure that other users are just as frustrated as me. I did not register my recovery key at the time, why should I? The other device is at the bottom of a land fill and I can't sync. Why can't I get a new recovery code?

eh? 

This really is a load of frustrating rubbish.

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A possibility is to remove the Sync account and start anew if you aren't able to connect to an existing sync account.

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Thanks. I have deleted my sync account three times this afternoon. On the advice of Firefox I downloaded FF 29.0 beta so that I could use the new sync function, and I can't log in to this service as 'my account does not exist'. All my bookmarks are working so it can't be my fault. In addition, I can't get to 'pair a device' any more, the sync is stuck on 'sync bookmarks, preferences, and so on. Getting sick of this, why can't I just log in and sync?

user94065 modificouno o

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I just did. I am fairly intelligent. I have deleted my account four times this afternoon as you advise, thanks. Still stuck on 'manage sync' when I set up a new account.

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