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How do I share tabs between my different Firefox installations using the new Firefox Accounts system?

  • 5 replies
  • 12 have this problem
  • 10 views
  • Last reply by gfactor

gfactor
gfactor
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I am using Firefox Nightly (30.a1, 2014-02-18, x64) on my laptop computer (Windows 8.1 Pro x64) and I was using Firefox Beta on my Nexus 5 (Android 4.4.2). Recently, Mozilla announced the new Firefox Accounts system (which is replacing the old Firefox Sync Account) and I created a Firefox Account for my laptop Nightly installation. Since the new Firefox Account doesn't work with the old Firefox Sync Account, I replaced my Android installation of Firefox Beta with Firefox Nightly and signed into Firefox Account on my Android. However, when I attempt to send a tab from my Android installation to my laptop installation using the "Share to Nightly" intent, Nightly asks me to set up a Sync account, which is impossible to complete in my laptop Nightly installation. I've tried replacing my Android Nightly installation with an Android Aurora installation, but the same problem occurs.

What's worse is that even with both my laptop and Android installations signed into the same Firefox Account, I cannot see any information being synced between the 2 installations. No history is being shared, and I cannot see the open tabs list from the other device. I cannot pass tabs between my phone and my laptop, which is something I used every week as I visited websites and read my RSS feeds on my phone. Does anyone know how to share tabs using the new Firefox Accounts? Does anyone know why Firefox Accounts does not seem to be syncing data between my 2 installations?

I am using Firefox Nightly (30.a1, 2014-02-18, x64) on my laptop computer (Windows 8.1 Pro x64) and I was using Firefox Beta on my Nexus 5 (Android 4.4.2). Recently, Mozilla announced the new Firefox Accounts system (which is replacing the old Firefox Sync Account) and I created a Firefox Account for my laptop Nightly installation. Since the new Firefox Account doesn't work with the old Firefox Sync Account, I replaced my Android installation of Firefox Beta with Firefox Nightly and signed into Firefox Account on my Android. However, when I attempt to send a tab from my Android installation to my laptop installation using the "Share to Nightly" intent, Nightly asks me to set up a Sync account, which is impossible to complete in my laptop Nightly installation. I've tried replacing my Android Nightly installation with an Android Aurora installation, but the same problem occurs. What's worse is that even with both my laptop and Android installations signed into the same Firefox Account, I cannot see any information being synced between the 2 installations. No history is being shared, and I cannot see the open tabs list from the other device. I cannot pass tabs between my phone and my laptop, which is something I used every week as I visited websites and read my RSS feeds on my phone. Does anyone know how to share tabs using the new Firefox Accounts? Does anyone know why Firefox Accounts does not seem to be syncing data between my 2 installations?

Chosen solution

Hi gfactor:

A update on this issue. I believe this (bug 965811 ) was fixed in Firefox 29 Beta. 

Please try beta if you have some time (just search for Firefox Beta on the google play and then install firefox beta) and let us know if Firefox 29 beta sendtab now works for you.
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All Replies (5)

guigs
guigs
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Hi gfactor,

Thank you for asking about the new sync. At the moment I have only tested Aurora, however this is definitely something that you can report with the steps to reproduce.

If you go to about:accounts you can sign in with the account here: [see image for sucess]

When you go in and add a bookmark you can check when the last sync was by checking out the about:config page in each of the devices. Be sure to check the ones that you are certain are connected to the same account.

  1. from the about:config page type sync
  2. last sync will be listed as one of the preferences
guigs
guigs
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Unfortunately with further investigation, Roland informed me that share tab was removedhttps://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=965811

guigs
guigs
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Try setting the sync.servicesinterval to something other than 600000 to see if any synced items show up.

Roland Tanglao
Roland Tanglao
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Chosen Solution

Hi gfactor:

A update on this issue. I believe this (bug 965811 ) was fixed in Firefox 29 Beta. 

Please try beta if you have some time (just search for Firefox Beta on the google play and then install firefox beta) and let us know if Firefox 29 beta sendtab now works for you.
gfactor
gfactor Question owner
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Excellent, I'm glad to hear this option is back. While I've switched to Pushbullet for now, I'll test the new system and see if I want to switch back.