Forum Discussion
*Updated 9/3* Syncing in Microsoft Edge Preview Channels
Syncing your browser data in Microsoft Edge Preview builds
We heard your feedback and are committed to making sync a more reliable feature across devices. We’ve rebuilt our sync experience from the ground up and we’re making extra effort to ensure that sync meets your expectations. Our goal for sync is to ensure that you have a consistent browsing experience when you choose to roam your favorites, passwords, history, and other data across your devices.
*Updated 9/3* What is the current state of sync and what is the road ahead?
- You can now sync Favorites, Settings (preference), Passwords & Form-fill data across Windows devices, and across Microsoft Edge on Android and iOS (instructions below).
- Sync is enabled for both Microsoft accounts (MSA) as well as work or school accounts (AAD).
- Note that AAD sync is only available for AAD premium accounts (SKUs which include Azure Information Protection) and is not yet rolled out for macOS.
- We are working on pending attributes and will be enabling them soon (history, extensions & open tabs)
- As we are building a new system, Edge builds are not expected to sync with earlier versions of Microsoft Edge. You can import your existing favorites from earlier versions of Microsoft Edge.
Enabling sync on PC
When you sign in with your Microsoft account on Microsoft Edge Insider Channels, you’ll get a dialogue asking for consent to enable sync. Once you give the consent, your favorites should start syncing. Note that you can customize the sync behavior from the sync settings page.
Note that some attributes might be disabled on this page. They will be enabled on this page as we enable sync for them.
Enabling sync on Android
Our Microsoft Edge app on Android can now sync with the Microsoft Edge Insider Channels. But first, you’ll need to upgrade to the latest version on Google play.
To sync with Microsoft Insider Channels, sign in with your Microsoft Account, ensure that it is selected as your active account, go to Settings > Account and select your Microsoft account, then select Microsoft Edge Insider Channels > Switch.
After you switch to Microsoft Edge Insider Channels, you will be asked how you want to handle your existing favorites. You can choose to import and sync your existing favorites with Microsoft Edge Insider Channels. If you choose no, your existing favorites will be deleted before sync is enabled.
If you choose to import favorites, when you visit Favorites for the first time, you’ll see all your current favorites and they’ll start syncing with your Microsoft Edge Insider Channels on your PC.
Enabling sync on iOS
We are happy to announce that we have expanded our sync support to iOS. To begin syncing your favorites between you iOS devices and your other Microsoft Edge Insider devices, you must first update Microsoft Edge for iOS to the latest version on iTunes. To sync with the Insider Channels you can follow similar steps as those listed above in the Sync with Android section.
First you will need to sign in with your Microsoft Account, ensure that it is selected as your active account, go to Settings > Account and select your Microsoft account, then select Microsoft Edge Insider Channels > Switch.
After you switch to Microsoft Edge Insider Channels, you will be asked how you want to handle your existing favorites. You can choose to import and sync your existing favorites with Microsoft Edge Insider Channels. If you choose no, your existing favorites will be deleted before sync is enabled.
Once you have completed these steps you will see all of your imported favorites in your favorites list.
What do you think?
We are excited about sync in Microsoft Edge Insider Channels and are very optimistic that we are building it right. However, we want to be sure that sync works across your workflows and browsing scenarios. Please give it a try and let us know how it worked for you. If you run into any issues, use the in-app feedback button to submit the details. If you have other feedback for us about sync, please leave a comment below.
Thank you for trying the new Microsoft Edge.
Hi All,
We have rolled out a fix to the problem where clients were reporting error on sync. We expect an app restart should get the client back into a functional state for sync now. We so much appreciate your patience and willingness to help all this while. Apologies that it took us time to get this fix across to you. If you still see any errors, please submit using in-app feedback button (and drop me a private message so that we jump on it faster). Sincere thanks for working with us on building a better product.
Ankur
CC. @Mike_BNL , @DiggsMcGee , @bassoprofundo , @indospot , @Stephen Berard , @billbyrnes
- Mike_BNLBrass Contributor
I get the following since this latest update, "Not Syncing" with error message "Couldn't connect to the sync server. Retrying..."
- DiggsMcGeeCopper Contributor
Mike_BNL Mine says the same thing...I logged out and back in and it asked if I'd like to sync stuff. So I clicked "Sync" and it still says in nice red letters "Not Syncing."
- Mike_BNLBrass ContributorWill do!
- bassoprofundoCopper Contributor
I get the same error message on mine... Happens on every computer with my primary MSFT account. I can, however, sign in with a different account for sync and don't have an issue.
- Mike_BNLBrass Contributor
Strange, same thing happens to me. Only difference I can think of right now is that my primary MSFT account is also linked to my Edge on Android, with the preference set to Edge Insider build.
- rjansen85Iron ContributorIs there no commitment to sync on iOS? I noticed the distinct -and disturbing- lack of mention about the platform in this post.
- Elliot KirkMicrosoftHi rjansen85. We have a policy of only talking about features and capabilities of Microsoft Edge that are already available to you. Please don't read too much into the fact that we haven't talked about features that are currently not publicly usable.
- Dennis5mileSilver ContributorThis is great! Just did all the steps here mentioned and right now the sync status says "Syncing" Love it!! Will post again when it is finished...
Dennis5mile - Dennis5mileSilver Contributor
- Stephen BerardCopper Contributor
I'm still seeing Edge on my Windows 10 PC showing "Not Syncing". In settings I can't update any of the sync settings (it's grayed out) indicating that it can't connect to the sync server.
I'm experiencing this on both of my PC, exact same error.
I have setup my Android phone correctly as well, but that's not syncing for obvious reasons.
I'm running the latest Dev Channel build [Version 75.0.139.4 (Official build) dev (64-bit)]
-Stephen
- ikjadoonBronze Contributor
One neat suggestion for syncing:
- Enable edge://flags syncing between devices, optionally. We make tweaks to the flags and it's confusing copying them between systems.
Chrome doesn't sync chrome://flags and Firefox doesn't sync about:config. That's always been annoying: I would love if Edge beat them at their own game.
- demodulatedCopper Contributor
Elliot Kirk I had some trouble getting this to work but it's synced correctly now.
My trouble occurred due to being logged in with both my personal and work accounts on Edge for Android. While logged in to both accouts, on the Account screen my work account page showed the text SIGNED IN TO MICROSOFT EDGE AS. I have no favorites on this account and am not running Edge Dev on that account - it's my personal account I wanted to sync.
Only my personal account page had the Sync option, and tapping it revealed both the Microsoft Edge and Microsoft Edge Insider Channels options, but tapping the latter did nothing as if it was greyed out.
I tried removing my work account but still could not tap the Insider Channels option on my personal account. I tried removing my personal account but it would not disappear from my list of accounts. I ended up going to my Android settings and clearing the cache and all data from that app to revert it to its fresly installed state.
I then logged on with only my personal account. The account page still did not say SIGNED IN TO MICROSOFT EDGE AS, but the Sync option now let me tap Insider Channels. I did so and shortly thereafter my favorites began to sync.
I've now re-added my work account and it again says SIGNED IN TO MICROSOFT EDGE AS. I don't know whether favorites I add in the future on my personal account will be synced to my Android.
Furthermore, when I open a new tab on Edge on my Android, my account icon at the top left corner displays a white circle in the corner with a briefcase icon. I presume this means it is logged on as my work account. I'd like to be able to choose which of my two accounts is the primary, or currently selected, account.
- akhatorMicrosoft
demodulated thank you for trying Edge on Android. In case you are signed into Edge Android with multiple accounts, you can choose active account to be used by tapping on the profile picture on top left. If you have selected your Microsoft account here, you will be able to enable sync with Insider channels on PC.
- demodulatedCopper ContributorThanks for the tip about the long press. I did that and it worked.
Perhaps this functionality could be introduced with a quick popup every time you add a new account? It's rare that someone adds a new account so I think it's reasonable to give that tip every time a new account is added, as a reminder.
- Elliot KirkMicrosoftThank you demodulated for trying this, and I am sorry that it was so difficult. This feedback is really helpful, and I am getting it to the right team.
- demodulatedCopper ContributorMy pleasure. If I can provide additional detail please let me know. Edge is a great browser and it's a privilege to influence an improvement!
- gaetanvdlaanBrass Contributor
Elliot Kirk For what it is worth: I'm more interested in syncing my iCloud bookmarks. Because Edge now can load Chrome extensions, I installed the official Chrome Apple iCloud bookmarks extension in both Edge Canary and Dev edition. Unfortunately the iCloud software doesn't recognize Edge with the extension installed as Chrome/Chromium. Strange enough iCloud does work with the Vivaldi browser (also based on Chromium).
Is there any information on this subject? I think lots of people use iCloud bookmarks and would see (both Apple and Microsoft) support for the new Edge browser based on Chromium.
- suttledee760Copper ContributorSyncing is really cool and i don't know I ever live without it. It truly is a must have.
- hedi13Copper Contributor
- hedi13Copper ContributorKeine anung
- lexcynSteel Contributor
Can't wait for the rest of sync!
One suggestion - for favourite sync, could there be some sort if dialogue if you are merging into existing bookmarks? Currently you end up with a mess of duplicate folders. Not sure if there can be some sort of bookmark sync wizard.
- e_rottierCopper ContributorThe new Edge browser is really good BTW! No errors or crashes so far, except for the thing there I can't sync with an Office 365 account.
I use it everywhere now, on my personal computer, at work, my (android) phone.
Before I was using Vivaldi because of all their features. That still is a good browser, but the new Edge is going to be a new industry standard; mark my words!
I work as an IT admin. When Edge Chromium is released, I am going to use it as the next company default at all my customers, instead of the good ol' Internet Explorer 11.
Keep it up folks at the Edge Chromium team!