How reliable is firefox sync

Is firefox sync very very very reliable? It's difficult to get an index on how it's doing for people, as there does not seem to be any central location where people post with any support issues for it. There are reports of some issues here, but I still can't get a handle on how the current ff sync is doing for folks.
I have been using xmarks for quite a few years. A half year ago, I fault xmarks for really fouling up my bookmarks, though it's hard to be sure it was the root of the issue. Recently I reformatted my notebook and I can't get xmarks to run the initial sync from it on the server. I've been curious about ff sync and thought maybe this would be the time to check it out. However if it is not extremely reliable might stick with xmarks. With xmarks the only usage pattern I'm confident in now is to always sync one way up to the server from my main pc, and only download full sets to the other pcs that I use.

Yes I'm the same person. It's very difficult to interpret 'some' postings about how sync works, since the product has been in existence for years, and has just had was is purported to be a major revision.
I suppose there is some chance that you're the same the-edmeister that responded to me on mozillazine <g>. There, you didn't post any negative comments about ff sync. But here you're guessing that I might be disappointed by it. Can you explain?
The kind of feedback I'm hoping for is something like: there are 2 million users of the current ff sync, and very few report issues with it. Since ff is an open project I'd hope that someone in the know might be willing to offer that kind of information.
In your case, what you posted 'over there' is that you don't organize your bookmarks, and don't save many new ones these days. To me that means you might not be the best benchmark user for a case like my intended use.
I don't expect to hear 'facts' about ff sync, good or bad, but do hope that someone somewhere has either extensive personal experience with it, or has insight into how the project works for the probable many thousands that use it day to day.

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  • How often does Firefox Sync back-up data? I see there is no preference selection allowing you to change the pre-set frequency (whatever that interval may be).

    How often does Firefox Sync back-up data? I see there is no preference selection allowing you to change the pre-set frequency (whatever that interval may be).

    However, the sync action only triggers every 60-minute and there is no user-configurable option provided. Although one can put a Sync icon onto the toolbar for easier access, it is still far from practical needs.
    To unlock this limitation, do the following:
    1) Type “about:config” at the address bar
    2) Search for “services.sync.syncInterval”
    3) Change the value from 3600000 (milliseconds = 3600 seconds = 60 minutes) to any value (in millisecond) of your choice
    4) Close and restart Firefox
    The Sync action will now trigger at the interval you just set.
    from: http://tomtsui.wordpress.com/2011/04/29/modify-firefox-sync-interval/

  • How secure is Firefox Sync on Android

    First, let me summarize how I understand the current security concept of Firefox4Linux, as some of the documents I read may be old:
    L1) During sync setup Firefox4Linux creates recovery key, encrypt all passwords, bookmarks, ... using this recovery key and upload them to the server[1].
    L2) Passwords are encrypted only by using the recovery key, (not by master password)[2].
    L3) When pairing J-PAKE (Password Authenticated Key Exchange by Juggling) is used to securely transfer the recovery key[3].
    L4) On Firefox4Linux master password is used to encrypt the Recovery Key. Based on my own observation as it is not possible to view Recovery Key without entering the master password at least once.
    This all seems to me reasonably secure and there should be no leakage of recovery key without compromising Master password. Now regarding my findings for Firefox4Android:
    A1) Firefox4Android stops syncing passwords when master password is used[4].
    A2) Based on my observations Firefox4Android continue to sync bookmarks, tabs, ... even when it is still asking for master password and I am not providing it.
    A3) Based on A1 and A2 it looks like that, recovery key is not encrypted using master password.
    A4) Based on A3 anybody who gets physical access to the Android device, can get recovery key, setup synchronization on PC and obtain all the passwords!
    Please let me know, if I missed something. As it looks to me, using synchronization on Firefox4Android is not secure even if you use Master Password.
    Currently I see possible workaround for this issue:
    1) Disable master password on Firefox4Android
    2) Setup synchronization
    3) Let passwords, bookmarks, synchronize
    4) Disable synchronization (deleting synchronization account should delete recovery key)
    5) Enable master password
    Only security issue with this workaround may be, that recovery key may be readable from the NAND flash for a while, because of the wear-leveling techniques. Possible workaround for this, would be generating new recovery key, after performing each synchronization with Android.
    [1] http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-sync-data-secure-find-out-more
    [2] https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=540975
    [3] http://gregoryszorc.com/blog/2012/04/08/comparing-the-security-and-privacy-of-browser-syncing/
    [4] http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/use-master-password-protect-passwords-firefox-andr

    I would need a help, how to use Firefox Sync safely on Android devices, without that crazy workaround. I believe I am not the only person having this problem and somebody has find out something more straight forward.

  • Where is documentation on How to Use Firefox sync?

    I can find info on how to setup Firefox Sync. I can find NO INFORMATION on how to use it.

    Hello,
    First, you are using an outdated and insecure version of Firefox. It is highly recommended that you update it:
    * Help (or [[Image: New Fx Menu]] > [[Image: Help-29]]) > About Firefox
    Or download a fresh copy here:
    * https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/
    * (if you need a different localization): https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all/
    Once you update, don't these articles contain the information you need?
    * [[How do I set up Firefox Sync?]]
    * [[How to update to the new Firefox Sync]]
    * [[How do I add a device to Firefox Sync?]]
    * [[How do I choose what types of information to sync on Firefox?]]
    * [[Firefox Sync troubleshooting and tips]]
    What is it you are trying to do?

  • For how long does Firefox Sync keep synced tabs?

    I wonder if there's any time limit Firefox Sync has for storing opened URLs in the cloud? I don't have access to the computer which ran Firefox and kept its opened tabs in Firefox Sync. But now I don't see them in the "Tabs from other devices".

    Thanks, but it doesn't say anything on how long Firefox keeps tabs in the sync.

  • How to reset firefox sync?

    My device is on sync devices 5times,why

    Hi johnboy1981
    Since we can't read minds :-) we need more troubleshooting details to help you:
    # What model of Android tablet or phone are you using? What version of Android are you using (e.g. Jellybean 4.1-4.3, Kitkat 4.4, Lollipop 5.0, 5.1, etc)?
    # What version of Firefox for Android are you using? (please try the latest version which is currently FF37.0.1)
    # What did you do exactly, what happened and what did you expect? (details please! especially the steps that led to conclude "My device is on sync devices 5times," often posting a screenshot is super helpful )
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    ...Roland

  • If I lost my mobile, how can I deactivate firefox sync on it... without it?

    I have Firefox Sync running on my laptop, my desktop and on my smartphone too. If someone stole my phone... how can I stop Firefox Sync only on that device, from my laptop or desktop? I only know how to disable firefox sync on the device I want to disable. But if the device is not with me anymore... What should I do? If I stop using Firefox Sync on my desktop, my laptop will not sync anymore..

    You'll need to change your Sync password and then reconnect things using the new password. For more detail, read here:
    [[I've lost my phone — how do I deactivate Sync?]]

  • Cannot configure firefox sync and do not have add a device option

    I am very frustrated. I have spent a lot of time over the past two days trying to figure out how to ocnfigure Firefox sync. I am specifically trying to sync my iphone to my account. I have downloaded two apps from the Apple App store, both of which are designed to allow me to do so. When I open both of these apps they provide me with a pass code that is broken up into three sections each containing 4 letter and or number combinations, just as I see in all the articles designed to assist me with this issue. However, I open my sync dashboard and do not see ANY tab that states "Add a Device" as the articles also say. So I click on the "I am not near my computer" tab in the apps (both appear to work identically) and I am asked to enter my account, password, and sync key info. I cannot find an article anywhere that tells me what my sync key is or how to recover it if I have forgotten it~!!!@!!!!!!!! Please freaking help me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Apps in the Apple App Store are not from Mozilla and possibly no longer work with Firefox as Firefox has now moved from Sync to Firefox Accounts. Mozilla does not have any apps out there in the Apple app store however, 3rd parties may but they're not vetted by Mozilla.

  • Firefox Sync is the most infuriating thing ever, how has it lasted this long like this?

    I'm sorry if this comes across as more of a rant than a query, but I am absolutely disgusted with how incredibly difficult it is to get Firefox Sync working properly (or perhaps how easy it is to break it).
    I opened a previous support thread @ https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/983868 but I was unable to get any advice that seemed to change anything.
    I have tried 2-3 more times on the latest Firefox (27 I believe) with new profiles, clearing my sync data, and every possible combination inbetween, and I can never get my devices to sync reliably past, even the "First sync" progress bar fails while adding devices #2, 3, etc.
    I got so desperate that I decided to try Nightly's new Sync (Firefox 30), hoping that things would have improved without the need for a Sync key (since I was confusingly getting sync key errors, despite entering it manually). Low and behold it STILL does the same thing, except that now I'm provided with an even more transparent service. I am unable to view my data quota, and Firefox doesn't even ask me for my master password now when I hit sync. That, and it's STILL complaining about the lack of a recovery key, when there is no such thing as a recovery key anymore, what the heck?!
    In the course of a few hours I have created dozens of error logs, and this is all by trying to use just 1 Desktop installation and 1 mobile installation. I have probably approached burning over 20 hours trying to get Firefox Sync to work, and it's apparent that the feature is just flat out broken.
    Even with all of the errors, some things sync properly like Tabs and occasionally preferences, but other things like history, bookmarks, and add-ons never work after the initial sync (or even during the initial sync). It seems though that the further away I get from the initial sync point, the less reliably these features work.
    This may fall on deaf ears, but I thought I'd reach out for help one last time to see if anyone can help, or perhaps point me to a place where I can receive more technical support. If anyone is able to help, it would be greatly appreciated. My logs can be found here
    Firefox 27: https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B4KtJAZ-pKFqZkMyZ3R5MTVRWFE&usp=drive_web
    Firefox 30: https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B4KtJAZ-pKFqWXFtb3Y2ZWxiQ1U&usp=drive_web

    I'm not exactly sure if that's a statement or a question, but it doesn't really pertain to my predicament.
    I created an entirely new Sync account with brand new Nightly profiles, the only thing I brought over was my places.sqlite file, as I could not transport my history via any other means (passwords, bookmarks, add-ons, etc I all did via other methods).
    The initial sync usually works, but after that things just don't seem to work correctly.
    I also ran into another problem in that I cannot delete my sync data via
    * https://account.services.mozilla.com/
    I also tried deleting the account, which kind of seemed to work as I was no longer able to log in via the above website; however when I tried to create a new Sync account with the same e-mail address, it said an account already existed. I tried logging in to my deleted Sync account via Nightly, and it logged in as if it was never deleted.

  • How many users are registered for using the firefox sync server?

    I'm working on a german wikipedia article about "Firefox Sync" and I need more information about the current usage and the historical development of this feature - number of registered users for the Sync Server at Mozilla - would be nice to have numbers for 2011, 2012, and current usage.
    If possible, it would be also useful to know how many german speaking users are using the sync service.
    Where are your Sync Servers located (US, Europe, Asia)?
    What kind of systems and platforms are supported?
    Is there a current documentation about the importance of the Firefox Sync Service, that I may reference?

    thanks for your fast reply,
    your URL to the page with the ideas of the new PiCL service shows in the remark about the usability of the "Firefox Sync" some hints about the usage of the current sync service "only 1% of our users have actually done so" - so I will use that as reference.
    But it would be nicer to have some public message - for example: a mozilla blog entry - from the mozilla services group about the number of registered Sync Server User - and also about performance and reliabilty.
    But if that is private information only, you can close this problem.

  • How do I enter multiple email addresses for a Firefox Sync account?

    How do I enter my multiple email addresses for one Firefox Sync account?

    Sorry, but Address Book does not allow you to select more than one email address to send to in a group. There's really no reason why people need multiple copies of a message, anyway; they have the option of forwarding email to another email address of theirs.
    Mulder

  • How do I permanently remove email accounts from firefox sync on Android ics?

    I have 10 email accounts and would like to sync them all - unfortunately being new to Android and Firefox sync I started with Googlemail so I already had installed a couple of Google mail accounts when I found the Firefox options which were much simpler. I find I've now 2 email accounts each with the same 2 addresses. I thought I'd start again - i ditched Firefox on my Neuropad and unsynced my desktop, re-installed firefox on my neuropad but all the accounts reappeared. Please advise..

    Thank you so much for tolerating the confusion I created for myself. YEA
    About the "enter email address" ... gee, how did I think Firefox was going to be able to communicate with me?
    So... I go to the AOL mailbox, sign in as usual, the little box is coming down, and I click on save ... ah ha
    If I am on another computer, I will open Firefox ... enter the master password ... and move on as usual? ... because all this is on Firefox servers.
    Small confusion ... scenario ... I am to work on a computer without Firefox installed, and I may not install it. What do I do (say, to get on Yahoo mail) or anywhere else?
    Thank you many many times.

  • I had saved all my bookmarks using firefox sync. Now i changed the OS and trying to get the bookmarks . how can i do this

    i had change my operating system. so the bookmarks which i had in firefox i saved using firefox sync by creaating the account. Now i have changed my operating system but no idea how to get back those bookmarks on the same laptop. cani do that? is there any solution for this

    Add another computer
    Do these steps on the computer you are trying to add to Firefox Sync.
    At the top of the Firefox window, click the Firefox button and select Set Up Sync. The Firefox Sync Setup window will open.
    Click I Have an Account.
    Since you're not near the device with Sync already set up, click the I don't have the device with me link.
    Sign in to your Sync account:
    Enter your account email address
    Enter your password
    Enter your Recovery Key
    Then click Next
    You will see a Setup Complete screen. Click Finish to complete adding this device to your Sync account.

  • How do I "add another email address" to FireFox Sync

    Please know I am a 65yr old female neophyte. I am lucky I can follow directions and try to find answers on Firefox, which I love to try to use.
    '''Please excuse these questions -- A PhD in personnel/ administration is not an indicator of how ignorant I am in FireFox and computers."
    Let me say what I think I did: I thought it was a very neat idea to guard the names and passwords I use all over the Internet ... So I think I followed all the directions to store my passwords in the encoded "vault" - looked at the list of sites, names, passwords, and eliminated/ deleted wrong combinations on the list. carefully copied the sync key.
    '''Then came the Problem:''' it asked me for an email name and the password for it. So... I gave it [email protected]
    I cannot find how to add into the "Firefox sync" the other email names and passwords?
    Some are on Yahoo, some on AOL, one on "live"
    and sites such as Facebook with its passwords
    '''"One of the biggest reasons for using "Firefox Sync", was to quit having to get a new password every time I signed in to emails or AOL or Facebook.'''
    '''Then came another 3 problems from that:'''
    Can I still use the other emails ... how????
    Can I still use the emails on another computer and access Facebook on another computer, and go surfing on the Internet, assuming I have the passwords written down and with me?
    '''Help'''

    Thank you so much for tolerating the confusion I created for myself. YEA
    About the "enter email address" ... gee, how did I think Firefox was going to be able to communicate with me?
    So... I go to the AOL mailbox, sign in as usual, the little box is coming down, and I click on save ... ah ha
    If I am on another computer, I will open Firefox ... enter the master password ... and move on as usual? ... because all this is on Firefox servers.
    Small confusion ... scenario ... I am to work on a computer without Firefox installed, and I may not install it. What do I do (say, to get on Yahoo mail) or anywhere else?
    Thank you many many times.

  • How can I delete my Firefox Sync account?

    How can I delete my Firefox Sync account?

    Did you really delete that Sync account?
    Does it work if you ask for a new password?
    * https://services.mozilla.com/ Firefox Sync » Home
    * https://account.services.mozilla.com/

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