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i WANT TO SET UP 2 SYNCS FOR 2 USERS ON THE SAME COMPUTER

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  • 7 have this problem
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  • Last reply by ruggb

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I have 2 users who each have a FF sync account on 2 different computers. How do I set them up on the SAME computer keeping the syncing separate on their login?

When I tried it merged the 2. Since the profiles are separate under their user names why does it even think about merging them?

I guess I would also have the same problem if I set up 2 different profiles under the same user? That does not seem like it is implemented properly.

I have 2 users who each have a FF sync account on 2 different computers. How do I set them up on the SAME computer keeping the syncing separate on their login? When I tried it merged the 2. Since the profiles are separate under their user names why does it even think about merging them? I guess I would also have the same problem if I set up 2 different profiles under the same user? That does not seem like it is implemented properly.

All Replies (13)

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I think the best way is to set 2 different profiles (each profile will have its own Sync), and you choose which profile you want to use when Firefox starts.

By default, Firefox is always using the same profile. To create a new profile, close Firefox, press the combination key Windows + R, enter firefox.exe -ProfileManager and click on OK. Follow instructions to create the second profile and uncheck Default to this profile (or Use the selected profile without asking at startup). Close the Profile Manager and start Firefox: the Profile Manager should open, just choose the profile you want and click on Start Firefox.

Next set corresponding Sync account for each profile, and it should work!

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Note that Firefox will always merge between connected devices, so you need to set up different Sync accounts on each of the computers.

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Banban said

I think the best way is to set 2 different profiles (each profile will have its own Sync), and you choose which profile you want to use when Firefox starts. By default, Firefox is always using the same profile. To create a new profile, close Firefox, press the combination key Windows + R, enter firefox.exe -ProfileManager and click on OK. Follow instructions to create the second profile and uncheck Default to this profile (or Use the selected profile without asking at startup). Close the Profile Manager and start Firefox: the Profile Manager should open, just choose the profile you want and click on Start Firefox. Next set corresponding Sync account for each profile, and it should work!

I'm not following this answer against my question. I have 2 USERS on one computer. That automatically creates 2 profiles in each user's appdata. FF should only use the same profile if both users use the same login on the computer.

I thought that this "Since the profiles are separate under their user names" in my question made that clear. This is user 1 profile.ini: [General] StartWithLastProfile=1

[Profile0] Name=Bill IsRelative=0 Path=D:\Users\Bill\Mozilla\FireFox\Bill Default=1


and user 2's profile.ini: [General] StartWithLastProfile=1

[Profile0] Name=Nancy IsRelative=0 Path=D:\Users\Nancy\Mozilla\FireFox\Nancy Default=1

This seems to work as expected in TB with different email accounts under each user. So why is FF trying to merge syncs for different profiles? Even if both users r logged in at the same time, only 1 is operating so there should be no connection.

these profile.ini s r under each users folder (user\appdata\roaming\mozilla\firefox\) on the C: drive. The actual profile folder is on the D: drive.

Both users have a sync acct under their email.

Modified by ruggb

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It is not about being connected to Sync, but about being connected to a specific Sync account. As I posted above, you need more than one Sync account with a different e-mail address to separate data and prevent merging data between different users.

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maybe u should read my whole response b4 u answer if the rest of it wasn't clear I added the last line for clarity.

"Both users have a sync acct under their email." As hard as I try, ppl still read what they want.

For more clarity: THAT means both users have a sync account using their email - which makes 2 accounts. Yet FF wants to merge them --- WHY? ALSO note that there ARE 2 profiles.

Modified by ruggb

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I assume there are 2 different Windows user accounts (one by user) on this computer. Can you check that each user account corresponds to a different Firefox profile folder?

Directory of Firefox profile folder: C:\Users\<user_name>\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles

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this is frustrating:

There is nothing to assume, I think I clearly stated there r 2 user accounts. The FF profile is not on the C: drive === only the profile.ini for each user is. FF will not start up if all that was not right. Each user logs onto their account. They cannot open FF with the other users profile because the profile.ini only points to their FF profile.

These r profile.ini I previously posted the PATH is clearly different for each user. they r clearly under separate user accounts

[General] StartWithLastProfile=1

[Profile0] Name=Bill IsRelative=0 Path=D:\Users\Bill\Mozilla\FireFox\Bill Default=1


and user 2's profile.ini: [General] StartWithLastProfile=1

[Profile0] Name=Nancy IsRelative=0 Path=D:\Users\Nancy\Mozilla\FireFox\Nancy Default=1

Modified by ruggb

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The profiles.ini files should be in X:\Users\<name_user>\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox and the profile path is something like Profiles/abcd1234.default.

Did you customize the directories of profiles folders?

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Banban

I appreciate u trying to answer my question. I am going to have to ask u to stop as I am tired of reiterating the same information with each of ur replies. thanks

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Could you past a more detailed description about the current setup of each of the computers like the Windows accounts (account1, account2) and the users (user1, user2) on the same account and profile folder locations on each Windows account to give as a better understanding.

A merge can only happen if users are connected to the same Sync account or if profile locations are shared.

You can use this button to go to the current Firefox profile folder:

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cor-el said

Could you past a more detailed description about the current setup of each of the computers like the Windows accounts (account1, account2) and the users (user1, user2) on the same account and profile folder locations on each Windows account to give as a better understanding. A merge can only happen if users are connected to the same Sync account or if profile locations are shared.

windows 10 pro FF39.0 Win account1=Win user1=Bill=admin Win account2=Win user2=Nancy=std FF user1profile under account1=Bill Ff user2 profile under account2=Nancy

C:users\Bill\AppData\roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profile.ini C:users\Nancy\AppData\roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profile.ini

[General] StartWithLastProfile=1

[Profile0] Name=Bill IsRelative=0 Path=D:\Users\Bill\Mozilla\FireFox\Bill Default=1


and user 2's profile.ini: [General] StartWithLastProfile=1

[Profile0] Name=Nancy IsRelative=0 Path=D:\Users\Nancy\Mozilla\FireFox\Nancy Default=1


I have Sync account for Bill I have a Sync account for Nancy


When I log in as Nancy [user2] and go to sign in (or create a new account), after entering HER email and pw, I get;

=

Are you sure you want to sign in to Sync?

A different user was previously signed in to Sync on this computer. Signing in will merge this browser's bookmarks, passwords and other settings with [user2 email address]

==

If I continue, as I did on another computer, It merges the 2 accounts.

I have tried variations of the profile.ini of; [profile0] for one and [profile1] for the other I have tried setting use previous profile to 0 nothing changes the message.

it is going to merge the 2

Modified by ruggb

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Thanks for all these details.

But you didn't give us the real directory of profile folder for each user. As cor-el wrote it, click on the menu button upper right, then ? (Help) > Troubleshooting Information > Profile Directory, click on Show Folder : Windows Explorer is opening. Finally copy and paste here the path in the address bar of Windows Explorer.

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Banban said

Thanks for all these details. But you didn't give us the real directory of profile folder for each user. As cor-el wrote it, click on the menu button upper right, then ? (Help) > Troubleshooting Information > Profile Directory, click on Show Folder : Windows Explorer is opening. Finally copy and paste here the path in the address bar of Windows Explorer.

EXCUSE ME! I'd like to know where u found those rocks? Just what do u think the PATH is in the profile.ini - WHICH I have posted more than once. Give me a break - r u really that un-qualified? U need to give up on this topic and learn to read.