Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Sync doesn't update any bookmarks.

  • 7 replies
  • 3 have this problem
  • 10 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

more options

I just had to format my computer and start over. I can link my account and it says it has synced, but none of my bookmarks actually sync.

I just had to format my computer and start over. I can link my account and it says it has synced, but none of my bookmarks actually sync.

All Replies (7)

more options

Did you have any problems when logging into Sync after the format? Like, maybe a problem that caused you to request a new Password?

more options

I am able to log in easily. I have reset the password 2x just to see if that helped. It says I am logged in and all synced but I don't have any bookmarks.

more options

Sorry, but when you reset your Sync password your data gets wiped from the Sync server, because Sync uses that "Password" to encrypt your data. Change the Password and Firefox can't decrypt your Sync data when it connects to your Firefox installation.

more options

So when I changed my password I lost all my information forever? I've been using Firefox for years. I had tons of stuff saved. I counted on Firefox to save my information. It never said anything about deleting all my personal information. I would have gone and looked up my password, resetting it seemed quicker. There has to be a way to recover it, right? Gmail doesn't delete my email if I lose my password. This is insane. Guess I'm off to Google Chrome. WOW. Please tell me this isn't true.

more options

Did you back up any of your data before doing the reformat? Like a Time Machine backup? Maybe your Firefox data is saved with all your other data.

more options

So firefox doesn't save my data? How? Name an online company that doesn't do this? Google? Yahoo? Dropbox? Microsoft/hotmail.... they all save my data on password resets.

more options

The Sync service uses a sync key to encrypt data locally before uploading. This Sync key is generated internally from the password of your Firefox account, so you do not need to worry about it. Without the correct password it isn't possible to decrypt the data stored on the Sync server because the correct Sync key can't be generated. The Sync key changes when you change the password of the Firefox account and you lose all data stored on the Sync server when you change the password of the Sync account. Other connected devices use the same name and password to log in to the Firefox Sync account, so they can decrypt data downloaded from the server locally.