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How to Sync Chrome Bookmarks, Passwords, and Tabs Across Devices

Sign in to Chrome with the same Google Account on each device, choose what to save, and enable History and tabs to access open tabs across devices.
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To sync Chrome bookmarks and passwords, sign in to Chrome with the same Google Account on each device and choose what Chrome saves to that account. To sync open tabs and browsing history, also turn on History and tabs on each relevant device. You can then find tabs from other devices in Chrome’s history or recent-tabs menu.

Before you start: sign in to Chrome, not just Google

Use the same Google Account in the Chrome browser on every device. Signing in to a Google website does not by itself mean you have signed in to Chrome for browser syncing. Google explains that signing in to Chrome lets you save bookmarks, passwords, and other Chrome data to your account; when you are signed out, that information remains on the device. See Google’s explanation of Chrome sign-in and sync.

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Check the account shown in Chrome before enabling sync, especially on a shared computer or a device with multiple Google Accounts. If you already have bookmarks or passwords stored locally from when Chrome was signed out, look for Chrome’s Save in account option after signing in. Existing local information may need this step to be added to the account.

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Turn on sync on a computer

  1. Open Chrome and select More (the three-dot menu) > Settings.
  2. Open You and Google, then select the account name shown there.
  3. Turn on History and tabs if you want open tabs and browsing history available across devices. Use the account’s save or sync controls to choose which other Chrome information, including bookmarks and passwords, is saved to the account.
  4. To open a tab from another device, select More > History > Tabs from other devices.
  5. To view saved passwords, select More > Passwords and autofill > Google Password Manager. To find bookmarks, select Bookmarks and lists > Show all bookmarks.

These are Google’s documented computer menu paths; labels can differ by Chrome version or language. For Google’s full computer instructions, see Get your bookmarks, passwords and more on all your devices — Computer.

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Turn on sync on Android

  1. Open Chrome and tap More > Settings.
  2. Tap the account name at the top of Settings and confirm it is the same Google Account used in Chrome on your other devices.
  3. Turn on History and tabs to make browsing history and tabs available across devices. Use Choose what to save in your Google Account to select the other Chrome data you want saved, such as bookmarks and passwords.
  4. To find tabs from another device, tap More > Recent tabs.

Google’s Android-specific instructions are at Get your bookmarks, passwords and more on all your devices — Android.

What syncs, and where to find it

Bookmarks and passwords are available on devices signed in to Chrome with the same account when that information is saved to the account. Tabs and browsing history have an additional control: History and tabs must be enabled on the relevant signed-in devices. The main distinction is:

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Bookmarks Save bookmarks to the Google Account in Chrome’s account controls. Computer: Bookmarks and lists > Show all bookmarks.
Passwords and passkeys Save them to the Google Account; check Chrome’s account save controls. Computer: Passwords and autofill > Google Password Manager.
Open tabs and browsing history Turn on History and tabs on each relevant device. Computer: History > Tabs from other devices. Android: More > Recent tabs.

Google says an account can hold up to 100,000 bookmarks for cross-device use; the Help page does not state a publication year for that figure. Chrome’s Password Manager guidance also covers using saved passwords and passkeys on signed-in devices: Use passwords and passkeys across your devices — Computer.

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Choose the privacy setup that fits

Standard Chrome sync

Chrome says information sent to Google is encrypted in transit. If Web & App Activity is enabled, including its Chrome subsetting, Chrome history saved to the account may be used to personalize other Google products and services. You can manage Web & App Activity and Chrome data in your Google Account controls.

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Optional custom sync passphrase

A custom passphrase adds a separate access condition for the Chrome data it protects: Google says it cannot read data encrypted with that passphrase. You must enter the passphrase on new devices and on devices already signed in. There are trade-offs: history is not fully saved to the Google Account, some history behavior is restricted, and saved passwords cannot be checked at passwords.google.com while the passphrase is in use. Google Wallet payment methods and addresses are not protected by the Chrome passphrase.

Do not treat a passphrase reset as a routine password change. Google warns that changing or removing it deletes the passphrase-encrypted data from its servers and signs devices out. Its computer and Android guidance advises exporting passwords first if you need to keep using them after a reset. Review the current instructions before proceeding: computer guidance and Android guidance.

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If bookmarks or tabs do not appear

  • Check the account. Make sure Chrome itself is signed in on both devices and that the same Google Account is selected.
  • Check what is saved. In Chrome’s account controls, confirm bookmarks and passwords are selected. If the data was created while signed out, look for Save in account.
  • Check History and tabs. This setting is separate from choosing to save bookmarks or passwords; enable it on each device where you want tabs and browsing history available.
  • Check the correct menu. Computer tabs are under History > Tabs from other devices; on Android they are under Recent tabs.
  • Consider passphrase effects. A custom passphrase changes which history and password-management features are available and must be entered on devices.

Google’s cited instructions do not promise a particular sync delay, so an exact waiting time cannot be guaranteed. Menu wording may also vary by version and language. The available platform-specific steps here cover computers and Android; consult Chrome’s current iPhone or iPad settings for device-specific labels rather than assuming the Android path applies.

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Incognito is separate from Chrome sync

Incognito browsing does not sign you into Chrome. You can still sign in to Google websites separately, but that is distinct from enabling Chrome sync for bookmarks, passwords, and tabs.

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