Try to delete sync account and start anew.

• https://services.mozilla.com/ Firefox Sync » Home
• https://account.services.mozilla.com/

Both devices need to be online at the same time if you want to pair a device with the (3x4) 12-character code.

Sync needs to be set up and working on at least one (desktop) computer, so you can enter the 12-character code, provided by the device (computer) that you want to pair, in three fields to pair a device on the computer that has a working Sync setup.

Enter all details like the account name (email address) and password and the 26-character Sync key manually to connect to an existing sync account instead of using the 12-character code to pair a device if pairing isn't possible.

1. open "Tools > Options > Sync" or "Firefox > Set Up Sync"
2. click "Set Up Firefox Sync" to go to "Firefox Sync Setup"
3. click "I Have an Account" : Connect
4. click "I don't have the device with me" at the bottom to enter the account settings (email, password, sync key)

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/how-do-i-set-up-firefox-sync
• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/add-a-device-to-firefox-sync

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/how-do-i-manage-my-firefox-sync-account
• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/firefox-sync-troubleshooting-and-tips

I have tried this several times & nothing works. I tried doing these steps from the computer that is already working & I also tried it the other way In either case even if I say I don't have the device with me & it generates a new sync key it doesn't like it.

I will try it again but please clarify: do I follow those steps on the new computer & copy the 12 character code to the old computer or visa versa?

If it generates a new code & it says it's not valid then what? I don't want to lose everything that is on this computer if I can't set up the new one.

Create a new profile as a test to check if your current profile is causing the problems.

See "Creating a profile":

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-firefox-profiles
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Standard_diagnostic_-_Firefox#Profile_issues

If the new profile works then you can transfer some files from an existing profile to the new profile, but be careful not to copy corrupted files.

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Transferring_data_to_a_new_profile_-_Firefox

I will give this a try later. Right now the new computer is installing a zillion new updates ;(

I forgot to ask. Am I doing this in the new computer or the old one?

If your old computer has Sync setup then you need to generate the 12 character code on the new computer and enter this 12 character key on the old computer the pair the new computer. Both computers need to be online to make this work.
Otherwise you need to get the Sync key from the old computer and manually set up the new computer (I don't have the device with me).

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/ive-lost-my-firefox-sync-account-information

You would have to install Sync on the new computer if Sync was/is installed on your old computer. If neither computer has a working sync then you first need to make sync work (installed) on at least one computer and best would be the old computer because you want to transfer data to the new computer.

Note that you can also transfer data by copying files in the Firefox profile folder to an USB stick and paste them in the profile folder of the other computer.

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Recovering+important+data+from+an+old+profile
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Transferring_data_to_a_new_profile_-_Firefox

thank you for the help. I tried this on the original computer that I gave to my husband. For some reason the new computer (that isn't working well & being returned) was not working so that I could do the sync. As soon as I pulled up Firefox on hubby's computer & on my new one it synced without any hitches. As soon as we finish installing the rest of my software so I can check everything out I will be able to test it but the main thing is that all my add on's are showing up so I should be able to print my shipping labels from Pay Pal. Without those working I can't do that.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

I have been tearing my hair out trying to sync my tablet to my laptop. All well and good to say. "Sync needs to be set up and working on at least one (desktop) computer..." but there is nowhere to see that it is. Logging on to the Mozilla website does not give the information and neither does the laptop. Like many other posters, I do not have a "Manage Account" link on the Sync page....

If you still have Set Up Sync in the Firefox menu button drop down or Tools menu then Sync hasn't been set up.

You need to set up Sync on at least one desktop computer to be able to add other devices via the 12-character pairing code.
Both devices need to be online at the same time if you want to pair a device with the (3x4) 12-character code.
Sync needs to be set up and working on at least one (desktop) computer, so you can enter the 12-character code, provided by the device (computer) that you want to pair, in three fields to pair a device on the computer that has a working Sync setup.
Enter all details like the account name (email address) and password and the 26-character Sync key manually to connect to an existing sync account instead of using the 12-character code to pair a device if pairing isn't possible.

1. open "Tools > Options > Sync" or "Firefox > Set Up Sync"
2. click "Set Up Firefox Sync" to go to "Firefox Sync Setup"
3. click "I Have an Account" : Connect
4. click "I don't have the device with me" at the bottom to enter the account settings (email, password, sync key)

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/how-do-i-set-up-firefox-sync
• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/add-a-device-to-firefox-sync

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/how-do-i-manage-my-firefox-sync-account
• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/ive-lost-my-firefox-sync-account-information

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/firefox-sync-troubleshooting-and-tips

@cor-el

Thanks for the quick response.

When I try to set up sync again on my laptop (after step 3 above) I click on "Set up an Account" but when entering my details on the subsequent screen it says that my email address is already in use. If I go back and click "I already have an account" it says my Account and/or password is bad. I need to delete it and start over but I can't do that either! (See https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/971229#answer-479224)

I have tried changing my password but it makes no difference.

I will continue the discussion in the thread that you created to avoid confusion.

• [/questions/971229]

According to cor-el above, "Both devices need to be online at the same time if you want to pair a device with the (3x4) 12-character code."

My problem is that I'm trying to sync a new desktop computer with an old desktop computer. I can't connect them at the same time, they use all the same cables.

Then you can't use the 12-character paring code, but will have to enter all data (email, password, sync key) manually.

Enter all details like the account name (email address) and password and the 26-character Sync key manually to connect to an existing sync account instead of using the 12-character code to pair a device if pairing isn't possible.

1. open "Tools > Options > Sync" or "Firefox > Set Up Sync"
2. click "Set Up Firefox Sync" to go to "Firefox Sync Setup"
3. click "I Have an Account" : Connect
4. click "I don't have the device with me" at the bottom to enter the account settings (email, password, sync key)