Firefox 39 'encounters' daily sync errors
Since the new sync system went into effect it hasn't worked correctly and is driving me more than a little crazy. I'm trying to sync to Macs using 39.0. I get a yellow bar every morning that says "Sync encountered an error while syncing: Incorrect account name or password. Sync will automatically retry this action. ["Preferences" link button]
If Firefox ever does retry the sync it doesn't indicate the action. Using "Preferences" lets me sign in, but my account changes its title by incrementing numbers, thus "dual's Firefox on 2011-MacBook-Pro-2".
The text quoted below came from the only thread here that seemed to directly address my problem. However, it's in jargon and I can't understand it.
"The Sync version used in Firefox 34 and later uses the password manager to store the name (e-mail) and password to be used to connect to the Sync server. The chrome://FirefoxAccounts entry in the password manager stores the authentication data (kA and kB) in JSON format. Previous Firefox versions stored this data in the signedInUser.json file in the profile folder, but the current version only stores the sessionToken in this file and needs the password manager for the Sync credentials.
So if you disable the Password Manager then you can't log in automatically because the credentials are stored. PB mode should cause issue."
All Replies (6)
Upon further research I suspect the "Keychain Services Integration" add-on, which is required because Firefox won't work with the Apple Keychain otherwise.
I have unchecked EVERY Sync option box in an attempt to end this hassle and it has no effect. Meanwhile I'm getting emails saying that "A new device is now syncing with all of the devices connected to your Firefox Account."
What an improvement the new Sync has been for me in my day-to-day life!
Ilungisiwe ngu Etnier
Do you see anything in the Firefox Password Manager?
- Firefox > Preferences > Security: Passwords: "Saved Passwords" > "Show Passwords"
If the Firefox Password Manager is disabled (no tick on "Remember passwords for sites") the temporarily enable the PW manager.
You can use this button to go to the current Firefox profile folder where you can find the signedInUser.json file.
- Help > Troubleshooting Information > Profile Directory: Show Folder (Linux: Open Directory; Mac: Show in Finder)
Thanks very much!
The Password Manager is well-populated. I have found the profile directory but am uncertain what I'm supposed to do with or about the signedInUser.json file.
You can try to rename (or delete) the signedInUser.json file to make Firefox recreate a new file.
I did this and thought I had succeeded in solving the problem but it turned out I just turned Sync off somehow. The moment I reactivated Sync the problem came back.
From my 2nd post here "Upon further research I suspect the "Keychain Services Integration" add-on, which is required because Firefox won't work with the Apple Keychain otherwise."
Could this be the problem?
How do I migrate back to a version of Firefox that doesn't cause me all this trouble. I've been in 'hell' for days now and I'm tired of it.