Chrome sync ties bookmarks, passwords, history, open tabs, and other browser data to your Google Account. When one device stops matching another, it is usually because Chrome is signed into the wrong profile, sync is paused, or the specific data type is turned off.
Does this affect you?
Use this for Chrome on Windows, Mac, Chromebook, Android, iPhone, or iPad when bookmarks, saved passwords, open tabs, or history do not show up on your other devices even though you believe you are signed in.
Confirm you are signed in and sync is on
A quiet sign-out or password recheck is the most common sync failure.
- Click the profile picture in the top-right corner of Chrome.
- Confirm the correct Google Account is shown, not Guest and not a second account.
- Open Settings, or go directly to chrome://settings/syncSetup.
- If Chrome says Sync is paused or Sync is off, sign back in and confirm your Google password.
- Repeat the same check on the other device and make sure the exact same Google Account is selected.
Sync often pauses after a Google password change. Re-entering the password is enough in many cases.
Check which data types are syncing
Chrome can sync some categories while leaving others off.
- Open chrome://settings/syncSetup/advanced.
- Review the switches for Bookmarks, Passwords, Open Tabs, History, and other data types.
- Turn on Sync everything, or enable the specific category that is missing.
- Check the same advanced sync page on the other device.
- Make sure one device is not excluding the exact data type you are trying to sync.
Force a fresh sync
If settings look correct but nothing moves, rebuild the sync connection.
- Open chrome://settings/syncSetup/advanced.
- Choose Reset sync and confirm. This clears the local sync connection; it does not delete your bookmarks or passwords from Chrome.
- Sign back in when Chrome asks.
- Wait a few minutes.
- Open chrome://sync-internals and check the Summary area for Sync is running normally.
- If needed, sign out of Chrome on both devices, restart Chrome, and sign back in.
More control
Work or school accounts may be restricted
If the Google Account belongs to a company or school, an administrator may have disabled Chrome sync. When Chrome says sync is managed by your organization, the fix has to come from that administrator.
Check Chrome profiles
Chrome profiles sync independently. Click your profile picture and inspect the profile list so you are not comparing bookmarks from two different local profiles.
Review mobile sync
On mobile, open Chrome, tap your profile picture, and check Sync. On iPhone, also confirm Chrome can refresh in the background under iOS Settings > Chrome > Background App Refresh.
Disable bookmark or tab extensions
Bookmark managers, tab savers, and session extensions can interfere with what you think Chrome is syncing. Disable them temporarily from chrome://extensions if sync issues started after installing one.
Sources
- Google Chrome Help – Turn Chrome sync on or off (2025)
- Google Account Help – Fix problems signing in to your Google Account (2025)
- Google Chrome Help – Manage synced data (2025)