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

Redid my computer, Reinstalled Firefox. And Profile and Bookmarks were Wiped

  • 4 replies
  • 0 have this problem
  • 5 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

more options

When I reinstalled firefox, I had a complete sync on my Tablet (chrome), and my phone (Android).

I signed in using Authy as the MPA. my account came back as blank. I thought wierd. Then signed in again to my phone, It was also blanked, even though it showed previous website visits than no longer were in the profile.

I know have one device (Chrome book). with a complete profile and book mark list, along with passwords etc. Dont wanna sync, as it will wipe that as well. How can I get it to populate correctly.

From Chrome to Android etc.

When I reinstalled firefox, I had a complete sync on my Tablet (chrome), and my phone (Android). I signed in using Authy as the MPA. my account came back as blank. I thought wierd. Then signed in again to my phone, It was also blanked, even though it showed previous website visits than no longer were in the profile. I know have one device (Chrome book). with a complete profile and book mark list, along with passwords etc. Dont wanna sync, as it will wipe that as well. How can I get it to populate correctly. From Chrome to Android etc.

All Replies (4)

more options

When one reinstalls fresh everything is gone. The devices will have the sync data but not the original data since that was on the computer but was wiped clean in the reinstall and sync isn't a backup and can take time to restore the data back to the computer. Sync will replace one data with another data that is what sync does. If you don't want to clear that data you need to logout of the sync to stop it but if that data isn't sync connected there chance it will be deleted when it reconnects back to sync. Sync isn't to be used as backup it only sync data from one device to another.

more options

But the definition of sync, syncronize. Means to make 2 lists the same. as in update them both? with missing information.

And another question, The only backup firefox has is a manual coppying of folders and files from someones profile.?


Thank for your reply.

more options

Hi Steve

Just to confirm, do you still have your data on your Chromebook?

If so,

  1. Go to https://accounts.firefox.com/signin and remove the other devices under "Connected Services".
  2. Save a new bookmark in your Chromebook when online, this will trigger a sync event.
  3. Connect your other devices as if they are new devices to your Firefox Account

You should then find (possibly after a few sync cycles) your data restored across devices.

more options

You can consider to create a new account and use that to upload the chromebook data to the Sync server. You can create a new profile on the desktop device and connect that to the Sync account to the new Sync account.

Once you have the logins and other data, then you can possibly copy/transfer the files to the old profile with all devices disconnected to the old account.

You can install the About Sync extension in Firefox 72 and newer on desktop to check what data is stored on the Sync server via the about:sync page provided by this extension.

Close and restart Firefox to access the about:sync page added by this extension (see the about:about page for possible about pages).