Quick Answer
Sign into the same Google account on every device, then go to Settings > You and Google > Sync and Google services on your Chromebook to confirm sync is turned on. From there you can choose exactly what syncs, including bookmarks, passwords, extensions, apps, and open tabs.
How Sync Works
Chrome sync stores your browsing data in your Google account and applies it to any device where you sign in with that same account, whether it’s another Chromebook, a Windows PC, a Mac, or the Chrome app on your phone. This is what lets a bookmark you save on your Chromebook show up instantly on your phone’s Chrome browser, or a password you save at home autofill correctly at work.
Fix Steps
Step 1: Confirm you’re signed in
Sync only works while you’re signed into a Google account on your Chromebook. Check Settings > You and Google to confirm the correct account is active.
Step 2: Open Sync settings
Go to Settings > You and Google > Sync and Google services. If sync is off, click “Turn on sync” and confirm.
Step 3: Choose what to sync
Click “Manage what you sync” to see a full list of data types, including bookmarks, history, passwords, extensions, open tabs, apps, and themes. You can sync everything or uncheck specific categories you’d rather keep device-only.
Step 4: Sign into the same account elsewhere
On any other device where you want the same data, sign into Chrome with the identical Google account and confirm sync is turned on there too.
Step 5: Check for a sync error
If Sync and Google services shows a warning icon, click into it for details, since sync sometimes pauses due to a passphrase mismatch or an account permission issue that needs re-authentication.
Still Not Working?
If data isn’t appearing on a second device, confirm both devices show “Sync is on” with no error banner in Settings > You and Google. If sync looks fine but data still won’t match up, a fresh reconnection using reset sync often clears whatever got stuck.
FAQ
Does turning off sync delete my data?
No, turning off sync just stops new changes from being uploaded or shared between devices; your existing local bookmarks, passwords, and settings stay right where they are on each device.
Can I sync only passwords and nothing else?
Yes, “Manage what you sync” lets you turn off every category except passwords if that’s the only thing you want shared across devices.
Does sync work across different Google accounts?
No, sync only shares data between sessions signed into the exact same Google account, so a second account won’t see the first account’s synced information.
