How do I list what is on the Mozilla site that is being synched?
I'm interested in listing what bookmarks are being synched. You'd think that's the dumbest question on earth. Obviously, just look at my bookmarks Ctrl+Shift+o. There they are. But that's not what I'm asking. I want to see what has been stored on the Mozilla site in the way of bookmarks. I want to see what Mozilla will send to a second device when I get on that second device & tell the Firefox on the second device to synch. And not just bookmarks. I want to see everything that will get downloaded onto the second device when it synchs. I suppose it depends partly on what the second device is: PC, phone, something else. But that doesn't change my question. I'd like to list what is on the Mozilla site in the way of synching data. It's all well & good to say it's doing what it needs to. I think I'm in the trust but verify camp on this subject.
Vahaolana nofidina
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).
Hamaky an'ity valiny ity @ sehatra 👍 0All Replies (4)
Hello Wild Willy
As soon as you sign in on both devices (whether it be computer to computer, computer to device, device to computer, or device to device) and click sync (in your account), you can decide what to sync. Let that be autocompletes and bookmarks.
What will be sent? Whatever you click (bookmarks, autocompletes) will be sent to a database somewhere along with all your other account belongings.
In a little more detailed way, once you are signed in, all your data (search history, bookmarks) will go to the cloud (a database). Once you sign in on another device and click sync, all data from that cloud database will be copied and sent to your computer so you can browse as usual.
Hope this helps, and happy browsing!
As you know, you control the categories. How do I choose what information to sync on Firefox?
Within that category, you cannot independently view the data on the Sync server. Before data is sent to the server, it is encrypted locally using your Firefox Account credentials. Therefore, the actual data on the server is unreadable.
Note: When Sync'ing between Desktop installs (Windows, Mac, Linux) and mobile installs, the bookmarks are kept separate. On Desktop, Mobile will be a fourth "bucket" alongside Bookmarks Menu, Bookmarks Toolbar, and Other Bookmarks in the Library window and Bookmarks sidebar. On mobile, there's a separate list for desktop bookmarks.
Vahaolana Nofidina
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).
Thank you, cor-el! Before I posted my question, I did some general Google searches and some searches in this forum. I never saw any mention of about:sync. Of course, if you search on about:sync, you'll find it. But how would anybody know to pick that search string if they'd never heard of the thing before? Maybe this thread will start showing up in more general searches. That tool is exactly what I was looking for. I don't know that I'll be using any significant portion of its power, but I now know it exists & I'll know to look at it should something ever come up that makes me think about this. It always just kind of bugged me that the whole synching thing seemed a bit mysterious & hush-hush. I see now that it's all quite accessible to the casual user. May said casual user never hang himself with it, which it looks like he very well could. I now have a bookmark for about:sync in my Firefox bookmarks. And that bookmark has synched to my phone, not that it's meant to work over there, but it's there. Just for yucks, I tried it on my phone. Gives an error. Gee, I'm so surprised . . . NOT. Anyway, thanks again!