Fix Microsoft Edge Not Syncing in Windows 10

If Microsoft Edge on Windows 10 stops syncing your bookmarks, passwords, history, or open tabs, the fix usually involves checking your sync settings, signing out and back in, or resetting the sync data. Below are the exact steps to resolve sync failures, along with common causes and troubleshooting for stubborn cases.

Why Edge Sync Fails on Windows 10

Edge sync relies on your Microsoft account and a stable connection to Microsoft servers. A sync failure can happen for several reasons:

• Sync is paused or turned off in Edge settings, either manually or after an update.
• Your Microsoft account has a sign-in issue (expired password, two-factor authentication prompt not completed, or account temporarily locked).
• Corrupted profile data or a damaged Edge cache can prevent the sync engine from working.
• Network or firewall interference blocks Edge from reaching Microsoft’s sync servers.
• Outdated Edge version with a known sync bug that has since been fixed in a newer release.

Step-by-Step Fix: Check Sync Settings First

1. Open Edge, click the three-dot menu (top-right), and select Settings.
2. Click Profiles on the left, then select your profile (the one with your Microsoft account).
3. Click Sync. If it shows “Sync is on,” check each item (Favorites, Passwords, History, etc.) – they should all be toggled on.
4. If any toggle is off, turn it on. If the whole sync is off, click Turn on sync and sign in if prompted.
5. After enabling, wait 30 seconds and check if the sync status changes to “Syncing” or shows a last-synced time.

If sync was already on, move to the next step.

Sign Out and Back In to Your Microsoft Account

This refreshes your authentication token and often clears temporary sync glitches.

1. Go to Settings > Profiles and click your profile.
2. Click Sign out (under your account email). This does not delete your local data.
3. Restart Edge completely (close all windows).
4. Go back to Settings > Profiles, click Sign in, and enter your Microsoft credentials.
5. Turn on sync again if it asks.

If you have two-factor authentication, complete the prompt. After signing back in, sync should resume within a minute.

Reset Edge Sync Data (Without Losing Local Data)

If signing out/in doesn’t help, you can reset the sync data stored on Microsoft’s servers. This forces a fresh sync from your local device.

1. Go to Settings > Profiles > Sync.
2. Click Reset sync (you may need to scroll down).
3. Confirm the reset. This clears the synced data on the server but keeps your local bookmarks, passwords, etc.
4. After reset, Edge will re-upload your local data to the cloud.

Note: If you have multiple devices, resetting sync will remove the cloud copy, and then each device will re-upload its own data, which can cause duplicates. To avoid that, do this on the device that has the most complete data, and sign out of Edge on other devices temporarily.

Update Edge and Windows

Microsoft regularly fixes sync bugs in Edge updates. An outdated browser or Windows 10 version can cause sync to fail.

• In Edge, go to Settings > About Microsoft Edge. Edge will automatically check for updates and install them. Restart Edge after updating.
• In Windows 10, go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click Check for updates. Install any pending updates and restart your PC.

Most sync issues are resolved by simply updating to the latest Edge version.

Clear Edge Cache and Repair the Browser

Corrupted cache or profile files can block sync. Clearing the cache is safe and won’t delete your bookmarks or passwords.

1. In Edge, go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services.
2. Under “Clear browsing data,” click Choose what to clear.
3. Select Cached images and files (and optionally Cookies and other site data, but that will sign you out of websites).
4. Click Clear now.

If that doesn’t work, repair Edge via Windows Settings:

1. Go to Windows Settings > Apps > Apps & features.
2. Find Microsoft Edge in the list, click it, and choose Modify (or Advanced options on newer builds).
3. Select Repair. This reinstalls Edge without deleting your data.

Check Network and Firewall Settings

Edge sync requires access to specific Microsoft endpoints. If you use a VPN, proxy, or strict firewall, sync may be blocked.

• Temporarily disable your VPN or proxy and test sync.
• Make sure your firewall or security software isn’t blocking edge.microsoft.com or login.live.com.
• Flush DNS: open Command Prompt as administrator and run ipconfig /flushdns.

If you’re on a corporate network, the administrator may have disabled sync via Group Policy. In that case, you’ll need to contact IT.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Edge say “Sync is not available for this account”?

This usually means your Microsoft account is a work or school account, and the administrator has disabled sync. Check with your IT department. If it’s a personal account, try signing out and back in, or resetting sync as described above.

Will resetting sync delete my bookmarks?

No. Resetting sync clears the data stored on Microsoft’s servers, but your local Edge profile keeps everything. After the reset, Edge re-uploads your local data. However, if you have multiple devices, you may see duplicate bookmarks because each device will re-upload its own copy.

Edge sync is stuck on “Syncing” but nothing changes. What to do?

Try signing out and back in, then wait a few minutes. If it’s still stuck, clear the cache, update Edge, and restart your computer. If the issue persists, use the “Reset sync” option, but be aware of potential duplicates on other devices.

Can I sync Edge data without a Microsoft account?

No. Edge sync requires a Microsoft account. If you don’t want to use one, you can manually export bookmarks (Settings > Favorites > Export) and import them on another device, but passwords and history won’t sync.

Why is my password not syncing even though sync is on?

Check that “Passwords” is toggled on in Sync settings. Also, Edge may require you to enter your Windows password or confirm your identity before syncing passwords. Go to Settings > Profiles > Sync and click “Passwords” to see if there’s a prompt to re-authenticate.

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