Sync Configuration

Sync Configuration

This guide covers advanced configuration options for customizing your cloud sync experience to match your specific workflow and preferences.

Sync Mode Configuration

Available Sync Modes

Disabled

• Use case: Temporarily disable sync without losing configuration
• Behavior: No data is uploaded or downloaded
• When to use: Troubleshooting, limited bandwidth, or when working offline

Upload Only

• Use case: Primary device that sends data to the cloud
• Behavior: Device uploads changes but doesn’t download updates from other devices
• When to use:
  • Main work computer where you want to preserve local state
  • Device with limited storage that shouldn’t receive large datasets
  • Testing sync setup before enabling full synchronization

Download Only

• Use case: Secondary device that receives data from the cloud
• Behavior: Device downloads updates but doesn’t upload local changes
• When to use:
  • Read-only devices where you don’t want to affect the main sync dataset
  • Temporary devices or shared computers
  • Devices used primarily for viewing synced content

Stay Synchronized (Recommended)

• Use case: Full bi-directional synchronization
• Behavior: Device both uploads changes and downloads updates
• When to use: Most common scenario for personal devices you actively use

Changing Sync Modes

1. Navigate to Settings → Sync Settings
2. Locate the “Sync Mode” section
3. Select your desired mode from the radio buttons
4. Changes take effect immediately
5. Monitor sync status to confirm the new mode is working

Data Type Configuration

Each data type can be individually configured with specific sync behaviors and timing settings.

Extension Settings

What’s Included

• Theme and appearance preferences
• Keyboard shortcuts and hotkeys
• Tab display and sorting options
• Extension feature toggles
• Custom CSS and styling preferences

Configuration Options

• Sync Delay: 5 seconds (default, not configurable)
• Enabled: Toggle on/off to include in sync

Site Configurations

What’s Included

• Per-site custom tab titles
• Site-specific display preferences
• Custom site behaviors and rules
• Website-specific settings

Configuration Options

• Sync Delay: 5 seconds (default, not configurable)
• Enabled: Toggle on/off to include in sync

Quick Access Items

What’s Included

• Bookmarked tabs and frequent sites
• Custom quick access collections
• Quick access organization and ordering

Configuration Options

• Sync Delay: 5 seconds (default, not configurable)
• Enabled: Toggle on/off to include in sync

Recent Closed Tabs

What’s Included

• History of recently closed tabs
• Tab closure timestamps
• Associated tab metadata (title, URL, favicon)

Configuration Options

• Sync Delay: 60 seconds (default, not configurable)
• Enabled: Toggle on/off to include in sync
• Retention: Number of recent tabs to keep (configured in main extension settings)

Window Tabs and Groups

This is the most complex data type with advanced configuration options.

What’s Included

• Currently open tabs in all windows
• Tab groups and their organization
• Window positioning and state
• Tab pinning status
• Tab group collapse states

Basic Configuration

• Sync Delay: Configurable (default: 60 seconds)
• Enabled: Toggle on/off to include in sync

Advanced Options

Click “More Options” to access advanced settings:

After-Sync Behavior

Choose what happens when tabs are downloaded from the cloud:

Append Mode

• When activated: Current window has fewer than 5 tabs
• Behavior: Synced tabs are added to the end of the current window
• Multiple windows: First synced window merges with current window, others create new windows
• Use case: Light browsing sessions where you want to add synced tabs

New Window

• Behavior: Always creates new browser windows for synced tabs
• Use case: Keep current work separate from synced content
• Advantage: Preserves your current browsing session

Replace Mode

• Behavior: Closes current tabs and opens synced tabs in new windows
• Use case: Full restoration of synced browsing state
• Warning: Current unsaved work will be lost

Create Snapshot

• Behavior: Saves synced tabs as a new snapshot without opening them
• Use case: Review synced content before deciding to open
• Advantage: Non-destructive sync that preserves current state

Special Behaviors

Skip Last Window Close

• Default: Enabled
• Behavior: When you close the last browser window, sync is temporarily paused
• Purpose: Prevents clearing synced tabs on other devices when you shutdown your browser
• Recommendation: Keep enabled unless you specifically want shutdown to trigger sync

Sync Delay (Advanced)

• Range: 1-300 seconds
• Default: 60 seconds
• Purpose: Controls how long to wait after tab changes before syncing
• Considerations:
  • Lower values: More real-time sync but higher bandwidth usage
  • Higher values: Less bandwidth but potential data loss if browser crashes
  • Recommended: 30-60 seconds for most users

Tab Snapshots

What’s Included

• Saved tab collections
• Snapshot metadata (creation time, description)
• Tab details within snapshots
• Snapshot organization and tags

Configuration Options

• Sync Delay: 30 seconds (default, not configurable)
• Enabled: Toggle on/off to include in sync

Global Sync Triggers

Configure when automatic synchronization should occur.

Browser Startup Sync

• Setting: “Browser first startup sync”
• Default: Enabled
• Behavior: Performs full sync when browser starts for the first time in a session
• Use case: Ensures you have the latest data when starting your browsing session
• Performance note: May slightly increase browser startup time

Manual Triggers

Manual sync options are always available regardless of trigger settings:

• Sync Now: Full sync of all enabled data types
• Individual data sync: Sync specific data types using the sync buttons next to each type

Device Management

Device Information

Device Name

• Purpose: Human-readable identifier for this device
• Examples: “Work Laptop”, “Home Desktop”, “Travel Tablet”
• Usage: Appears in sync logs and helps identify which device performed actions
• Modification: Can be changed at any time

Device ID

• Purpose: Unique technical identifier
• Generation: Automatically created during first setup
• Usage: Internal sync coordination and conflict resolution
• Modification: Cannot be changed (would require reconfiguration)

Sync Status Monitoring

Status Indicators

• Last Sync Time: Shows when the most recent sync operation completed
• Upload Status: Green (success), Red (failed), Gray (not synced)
• Download Status: Green (success), Red (failed), Gray (not synced)

Manual Sync Controls

• Sync Now Button: Forces immediate sync of all enabled data types
• Individual Sync Buttons: Available for each data type in the detailed configuration
• Loading States: Visual feedback during sync operations

Security Configuration

Encryption Password Management

Setting a Custom Password

1. Click “Set Local Password” or “Change Local Password”
2. Enter a strong password (minimum 6 characters with numbers and letters)
3. Confirm the password
4. Critical: Use the same password on all devices

Password Requirements

• Minimum 6 characters
• Must contain at least one number
• Must contain at least one letter
• Case sensitive
• No maximum length limit

Using Default Encryption

• Alternative to custom passwords
• Still provides encryption but uses a standard key
• Less secure but more convenient
• Good for users who don’t want to manage passwords

Password Security Notes

::: warning Important Security Information

• Your encryption password is never transmitted to our servers
• If you lose your encryption password, your synced data cannot be recovered
• Each device must use the same password to decrypt shared data
• Changing your password will invalidate previously synced data :::

Performance Optimization

Sync Timing Best Practices

Frequent Changes

For data that changes often (like open tabs):

• Use longer delays (60+ seconds) to batch changes
• Avoid syncing every single tab switch or page load

Infrequent Changes

For data that changes rarely (like settings):

• Shorter delays (5-10 seconds) provide near-instant sync
• Less impact on performance due to infrequent updates

Network Considerations

• Slower connections: Increase delays to avoid sync queuing
• Limited bandwidth: Consider disabling large data types like window tabs
• Mobile connections: Be mindful of data usage with frequent syncing

Troubleshooting Performance Issues

Slow Sync Operations

1. Check data size: Large numbers of tabs/snapshots increase sync time
2. Network speed: Test your connection speed
3. Concurrent operations: Wait for current sync to complete before triggering another

High Bandwidth Usage

1. Review sync frequency: Increase delay times for high-change data types
2. Disable unnecessary data types: Only sync what you actually need
3. Monitor network usage: Use browser developer tools to track sync traffic

Battery Impact (Mobile Devices)

1. Reduce sync frequency: Increase delay times
2. Limit data types: Focus on essential data only
3. Use Wi-Fi: Avoid frequent syncing on cellular connections

Advanced Use Cases

Multi-Device Workflows

Home and Work Setup

• Work device: Upload only mode to prevent personal data mixing
• Home device: Download only mode to access work bookmarks safely
• Personal device: Stay synchronized for full access

Primary and Secondary Devices

• Primary: Stay synchronized with all data types enabled
• Secondary: Download only with essential data types (settings, quick access)
• Temporary: Download only with minimal data types

Development and Testing

• Development: Disabled mode to prevent test data from syncing
• Staging: Upload only to share test configurations
• Production: Stay synchronized with production data

Data Management Strategies

Selective Syncing

• Enable only the data types you actively use across devices
• Disable large data types (like window tabs) if you don’t need cross-device tab sharing
• Use snapshots for one-time data sharing instead of continuous sync

Backup Strategies

• Use upload only mode on primary device for backup-style sync
• Create regular snapshots before major browsing session changes
• Keep sync enabled even on single devices for data protection

Troubleshooting Configuration Issues

Common Configuration Problems

Sync Not Working

1. Check enabled status: Ensure sync mode isn’t disabled
2. Verify data types: At least one data type must be enabled
3. Password mismatch: All devices must use the same encryption password
4. Premium status: Confirm your subscription is active

Partial Sync Failures

1. Individual data types: Check which specific types are failing
2. Network timeouts: Increase delay times for problematic data types
3. Data corruption: Clear local cache and retry sync

Performance Issues

1. Reduce sync frequency: Increase delay times across all data types
2. Limit data scope: Disable data types you don’t need
3. Check device resources: Ensure adequate memory and storage

Getting Help

If you continue to experience configuration issues:

1. Check the sync status indicators for specific error messages
2. Try disabling and re-enabling problematic data types
3. Consider resetting sync configuration and starting fresh
4. Contact support with specific error messages and your configuration details