Chrome Not Syncing on macOS Mojave: Fix Guide

If Chrome isn’t syncing on macOS Mojave, the fix usually involves signing out and back into Chrome, checking your Google account status, or updating Chrome to a version that still supports Mojave. This guide walks you through the most reliable troubleshooting steps, from simple restarts to clearing sync data, so you can get your bookmarks, passwords, and settings back in sync.

Why Chrome Sync Stops Working on Mojave

Chrome sync relies on a background service that connects your browser to Google’s servers. On macOS Mojave (10.14), several factors can interrupt this connection:

• Outdated Chrome version: Google ended official support for Mojave in early 2023, but older Chrome versions still run. If you haven’t updated in a while, the sync protocol may have changed, causing failures.
• Corrupted sync data: A bad sync token or a conflict in your local profile can prevent Chrome from talking to Google’s servers.
• Network or firewall issues: Chrome needs to reach accounts.google.com and clients4.google.com. A VPN, proxy, or firewall can block these.
• Google account problems: A temporary outage or a security challenge on your Google account (like a suspicious login) can pause sync.
• Keychain conflicts: Chrome stores login tokens in macOS Keychain. If the keychain entry becomes stale, sync fails silently.

Quick Fixes to Try First

Start with these simple steps—they resolve a surprising number of sync issues:

1. Fully quit and reopen Chrome. Use Chrome > Quit Google Chrome (Cmd+Q) to ensure all background processes stop. Then reopen.
2. Restart your Mac. This clears temporary network glitches and refreshes Keychain access.
3. Check your internet connection. Open another browser (Safari) and visit google.com. If that fails, your network is the problem.
4. Check Google’s status. Visit google.com/appsstatus to see if there’s a known service outage.

If sync still shows “Paused” or an error, move on to the next steps.

Sign Out and Back In (The Most Effective Fix)

This forces Chrome to re-authenticate and rebuild its sync tokens. Here’s how:

1. Click your profile icon in the top-right corner of Chrome.
2. Click the gear icon (or “Manage people”) and select Disconnect your Google account. Alternatively, go to Settings > You and Google > Sync and Google services and click Turn off next to “Sync”.
3. After disconnecting, restart Chrome.
4. Go back to Settings > You and Google and click Turn on sync. Sign in with your Google account.

If you have a lot of local data, use the “Disconnect” option rather than just turning off sync—it clears the sync token more thoroughly.

Clear Sync Data and Reset Sync

If signing out/in doesn’t work, the sync data itself may be corrupted. Chrome has a built-in “Reset sync” feature:

1. Go to Settings > You and Google &em; Sync and Google services.
2. Scroll to the bottom and click Reset sync.
3. Confirm in the popup. This clears your sync data from Google’s servers and your local browser.
4. Restart Chrome and turn sync back on.

Note: This does not delete your bookmarks or passwords from your local device—it only clears the synced copy. You’ll re-upload your local data to the cloud.

Update Chrome (Even on Mojave)

Chrome’s official support for Mojave ended in early 2023, but the last compatible versions still receive security updates for a while. To check for updates:

1. Click the three-dot menu > Help > About Google Chrome.
2. Chrome will automatically check for updates. If one is available, it will download and prompt you to relaunch.
3. If you see “Chrome is up to date”, you’re on the latest version that supports Mojave.

If you’re using an older version, updating often fixes sync issues because Google may have changed the sync protocol. However, if you’re already on the latest Mojave-compatible version, this won’t help.

Check Keychain Access

Chrome stores its login tokens in the macOS Keychain. If the entry is corrupted or missing, sync fails. To fix:

1. Open Keychain Access (in Applications/Utilities).
2. In the search box, type Chrome.
3. Look for entries like “Chrome Safe Storage” or “Google Chrome”.
4. Delete any Chrome-related entries only if you’re comfortable—Chrome will recreate them on next launch.
5. Restart Chrome. You’ll be asked to re-enter your password for the keychain, then sign in to Chrome again.

Be careful: deleting the wrong keychain entry can affect other apps. Only delete entries that clearly belong to Chrome.

Use a Different Network or Disable VPN

Sometimes the issue is network-related. Try:

• Disconnect your VPN (if you use one) and try syncing again.
• Switch from Wi-Fi to a wired connection (or vice versa).
• Reset your router if other devices also have trouble reaching Google.
• If you use a proxy, go to System Preferences > Network > Advanced > Proxies and temporarily disable it.

If sync works on a different network, your router or ISP may be blocking Google’s sync ports (which are standard HTTPS ports 443).

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Chrome say “Sync is paused” on Mojave?

Chrome shows “Paused” when it can’t reach Google’s servers or when the sync token expires. This often happens after a Google password change, a network change, or an update to Chrome. Signing out and back in usually resolves it.

Can I still use Chrome on macOS Mojave?

Yes, but Google no longer provides official updates for Mojave. The last supported version (around 109) still works, but you won’t get new features or security patches. For security, consider upgrading your Mac to a newer macOS if possible.

Will resetting sync delete my bookmarks?

No. Resetting sync clears the synced data from Google’s servers and your local browser’s sync profile, but it does not delete bookmarks, passwords, or history that are stored locally. After you turn sync back on, Chrome re-uploads your local data.

How do I know if my Chrome version is too old?

Go to Help > About Google Chrome. If the version number is below 109, you’re using an older version that may not support the current sync protocol. Update to the latest version that still runs on Mojave (109.x) to fix sync issues.

Does Chrome sync work on Mojave with a Google Workspace account?

Yes, Chrome sync works with both personal Gmail and Google Workspace accounts on Mojave. However, if your organization has disabled sync or enforces specific policies, you may see a “Managed by your organization” message and sync might be blocked.

What if none of these fixes work?

If you’ve tried all steps and sync still fails, your Chrome profile may be severely corrupted. Try creating a new Chrome user profile (Settings > People > Add person) and see if sync works there. If it does, you can export your bookmarks from the old profile and import them into the new one.

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