I can't set up sync
I have followed the instructions on this page https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-do-i-set-up-firefox-sync
I reach Part 3, step 4. The next step should be the appearance of a message saying "Device Connected". Instead, I get a page titled "Firefox Sync", inviting me to set up an account or use an existing one.
When I click on "I Have an Account", I am invited to enter a Recovery Key, but I do not have another device from which to take this key. When I click on "I have lost my other device", a key is generated, but the "Next>" button does not work.
What am I doing wrong? I have used this before without problem. Has the system changed?
All Replies (7)
A new version of Sync is coming in Firefox 29 which is currently in Beta testing. It looks like some of the images (the ones that say Beta) in that KB article are for the new Sync while other images are from the current version.
Let me recap what I read from your posting.
- You already have a Sync account.
- You have only ever had one device connected to that Sync account and are unable to "pair" with another device connected to your Sync account.
- You didn't save the Recovery Key from the one device that you were using Sync with, and you want your data from the Sync server after doing a fresh installation or reformat on the same PC or have a new PC.
My conclusion is that you weren't using Sync correctly; you were trying to use Sync as a "cloud" service with only one device. That Recovery Key is the data encryption "key" for your data, and without that specific "key" your data can't be decrypted - its' worthless And if you requested a new "key", your data was wiped from the Sync server to ready your account to upload your data using the new "key".
Sorry if I made any incorrect assumptions, but you didn't make what you are doing clear enough.
Hi, thanks for your reply.
To clarify, I had two Windows computers with Firefox (computers A and B). The bookmarks were syncronised between them. I have replaced computer A with computer C. I am trying now to synchronise the bookmarks on computers B and C. The bookmarks are all in place on computer B. I have a sync account to which I am able to log on at https://account.services.mozilla.com/.
Does that clarify what I am trying to do?
Anyone else have any ideas how I can fix this problem?
Hi,
If the sync is still in tact on computer B then follow the following to have computer c synched.
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/add-a-device-to-firefox-sync
Hi Laurens,
Many thanks for your reply. Unfortunately I come up against the same problem described in my first post. Instead of getting the device connected message described at step 5 of your link, I am sent to a window saying, "Firefox Sync. Welcome! If you've never used Firefox Sync before, you will need to create a new account". When I click on "I have an account", I am prompted to enter a username, password and recovery key. I enter the username and password, but I do not have a recovery key.
Can you suggest what to do?
Hi,
Unlink computer b from sync server. Setup sync again on computer b (after it is unlinked) using your credentials but make a new recovery key. This will delete all the data from the sync server but since all information is on computer b it will be synched again. Now you can link computer c as you have the credentials and you have the new recovery key. Although you should not need the recovery key or credentials in order to link computer c. Hope this helps
I think I've got it sorted out. This time when I requested a new recovery key, Firefox logged me in to the system, rather than simply returning me to the login page without any way of proceeding. I don't know why it was doing that before.
Thanks again for your messages.
