How to Sync Browsing Data Across Devices

You can sign into a web browser to sync your bookmarks/favorites, history, and settings from that browser for backup or migration to a different browser or computer. This article explains how to sync your data on Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, and Apple Safari for both Windows and MacOS users. This is the preferred method over manually exporting and importing browser data between devices.

1. Sign in to Chrome:

On each device, open Chrome and sign in to your Google Account.  Click the "user icon"  on the top right. 

2. Enable Sync:

• On a computer: Click the profile icon, then click "Turn on sync". 
• On an Android device: Tap the "More" button, then "Settings," then your Google Account, and toggle on "Sync". 

3. Choose Sync Options:

You can choose what to sync, such as bookmarks, extensions, passwords, and more. Choose "Yes, I'm in" to finish and enable sync, or select "Settings" if you prefer to customize your sync preferences.

If you choose to customize your sync preferences, carefully review your settings and then select "Confirm" to begin syncing.

 

4. Sync Settings:

Ensure that "Sync" is enabled for your Google Account in your device settings (e.g., Android device settings, Accounts, Google). Your bookmarks/favorites, history, and settings are now synced between two or more Google Chrome installations.

1. Sign up for or log in to a Mozilla account: If you don't have one, create a free Mozilla account at this link. 

2. Install Firefox on all devices: Install Firefox on every device you want to sync with. 

3. Log in with your Mozilla account: On each device, open Firefox and log in with the same Mozilla account by clicking the "Three bars"  on the top right and choose "Sign in" Sign in and close the account preview page. 

4. Enable Sync: In Firefox settings, under "Sync," make sure that you have enabled the data you want to sync (bookmarks, history, tabs, etc.) by clicking the "User icon" on the top right and select "Sync settings".

5. Sync manually if needed: Firefox Sync usually happens automatically, but you can manually trigger a sync by clicking the "Sync now" button in the toolbar. 

Profiles sync automatically between all of your devices that are using Safari 17 or later, are signed in with the same Apple Account and have Safari turned on in the iCloud section of Apple Account settings. Manual instructions are below.

1. Select the "Apple icon"  from the top left, then select "System preferences/Settings".

2. Select "Apple ID".

3. Select "iCloud" and check Safari 

Your bookmarks/favorites, history, and settings are now synced between two or more Apple Safari installations.

Here's how to enable and use sync in Microsoft Edge:

1. Sign in:

Open Microsoft Edge on each device and sign in using your Microsoft account. 

2. Enable Sync:

• Open the browser menu (three dots in the top right corner). 
• Go to "Settings". 
• Select "Profiles", then select "Sign in to sync data" and sign in with your account 
• Select "Sync". 
• Enable sync by toggling the switch. 

3. Choose what to sync:

You can choose to sync different aspects of your browser data, such as bookmarks, history, passwords, and extensions and then click the "Re-sync" at the bottom of the page. Your bookmarks/favorites, history, and settings are now synced between two or more Microsoft Edge installations.

4. Verify Sync:

You can verify that sync is enabled by going to edge://sync-internals/ in a new tab. 

• Google Help - Get your bookmarks, passwords and more on all your devices 
• Microsoft Support - Sign in to sync Microsoft Edge across devices 
• Firefox Support - Sync bookmarks, tabs, history and passwords on Android 
• Apple Support - Set up iCloud for Safari on all your devices