Sync Brave between 2 users on same device

Browser Support Sync
1

Hi all, i cant seem to figure out how to sync brave between 2 users on the same W10 laptop. My wife and i share the same home laptop and would like to share links, passwords etc. We only use 2 separate logins on the home laptop for aesthetics.

When i try to add the sync key for the 2nd user (my wife) it disables sync for the 1st user (me)

This happens every time i try to setup each user

v1.71.121

1x W10 laptop with 2 users, 1x iphone

No additional information

If someone could tell me how to do this that would be great
Thankyou

2

@FrostBite99 official articles are below:

Unofficial guides written by me, which you may want to read (at least first link)

3

On a chance that you may not be able to sync between 2 or more Brave Browser installations on the same machine . . .

Where stuff is, on your Windows OS PC

The important folder for backup, is named “BraveSoftware” - it is the parent for:

  • Brave Browser components that are updated
  • your Profile and other settings

When you first install Brave Browser (Windows OS), your initial Profile (aka Profile 1) is contained within the “Default” folder:

  • C:\Users\your_username\AppData\Local\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Default\

Sometimes, you may see the following method of writing a Windows OS path:

NOTE: %LOCALAPPDATA% is a substitute for the beginning portion:

C:\Users\your_username\AppData\Local

Bookmarks and Bookmarks.bak files location:

  • %LOCALAPPDATA%\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Default\Bookmarks
  • %LOCALAPPDATA%\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Default\Bookmarks.bak

If you create 1 additional Profile (aka Profile 2), it will be stored in (carefully notice the folder name is different):

C:\Users[UserName]\AppData\Local\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Profile 1\

If you create a 2nd additional Profile (aka Profile 3), it will be stored in

C:\Users[UserName]\AppData\Local\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Profile 2\

Repeating:

Initial Profile (aka “Default” or “Profile 1”): C:\ . . . \BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Default
1st Additional Profile (aka “Profile 2”): C:\ . . . \BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Profile 1
2nd Additional Profile (aka “Profile 3”): C:\ . . . \BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Profile 2\

If you create a Guest Profile (or there already is a Guest Profile), it will be stored in:

C:\Users[UserName]\AppData\Local\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Guest Profile\

While Brave Browser is NOT running, you may copy the “Bookmarks” and “Bookmarks.bak” files from one user to another user.

Sharing (syncing) passwords

Consider using one of:

  • 1Password
  • Dashlane
  • LastPass

If you search for those online, you will find plenty of webpages offering what we used to call, “password wallets.”

Housekeeping - routines

As a matter of routine, back up your Windows Registry - BEFORE creating a System Restore Point. How to:

"https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/how-to-back-up-and-restore-the-registry-in-windows-855140ad-e318-2a13-2829-d428a2ab0692

Create a System Restore Point And: Edit its name, to include the date at the beginning of the name (Egs. 20241106_Wed_SysRstrPt_etc) . . . so you can find the specific System Restore Point that you later, suddenly need. How to create a System Restore Point:

“https://www.windowscentral.com/how-use-system-restore-windows-10”

You can use an application named “CCleaner” to police the System Restore Points, deleting old ones.

How to manually back up your Bookmarks as an HTML file:

Two ways to get to the Bookmarks Manager.

One way:

  1. Launch Brave and open the Main menu: newmenuicon.png
  2. Select Bookmarks --> Bookmarks Manage
  3. Open the More options menu at the top right
  4. Select Export and choose where you want to store the exported file.

Another way:

  1. In a new Brave Browser window, go to: brave://bookmarks
  2. Locate the “Organize” (vertically-arrayed 3-dot) menu button in the upper-right area of the window; click on that
  3. You should get a pop-up menu, in which you click on the “Export bookmarks” selection and choose where you want to store the exported file.

The exported file name: “bookmarks.html”

Be sure to store a copy on an external drive.

Back up Passwords that are stored by Brave Browser

Scrolling down the webpage at:

“https://support.brave.com/hc/en-us/articles/360018185951-How-do-I-use-the-built-in-password-manager”

A note states:

" Export Passwords - Selecting Download file will export all credentials you’ve saved in your browser as a .CSV file onto your system. Note that anyone who has access to your system will be able to open and view this file, so it is recommended that you delete this file once you’ve used the file for its intended purpose."

In order to encrypt that .CSV file:

“https://www.crucial.com/articles/pc-users/how-to-password-protect-a-folder”

“https://nordvpn.com/blog/how-to-password-protect-a-zip-file/”

“https://www.winzip.com/en/features/security/password-protection/”

And be sure to copy that compressed and encrypted file, to an external drive that you safely store.

4

Wow thats insanely complicated! i was hoping it would be a simple button then “set and forget” like i suppose a sync should be.

I have manged to export a file then import on my wifes profile but its neither “live” nor user friendly.

I guess there isn’t a straightforward way then

Thanks for your replies anyway

5

@FrostBite99 it is a simple set and forget. Just click to sync, put in password or scan code, then it’s good.

I did relay some extra information for you to look into if you wanted. Especially so you can know that the code changes daily and you weren’t relying on it like some others do since this isn’t account based.

And then 289wk definitely decided to provide a lot of extra details, guess just trying to help you know how to manually backup if you were looking for a more long-term thing “just in case.”

Typically as long as you have two devices going there’s no issue.

6

@FrostBite99 ,

@Saoiray is correct. My purpose re your issue, is a concern of mine, that Brave Browser users be better prepared, by knowing where the Brave Browser ingredients/pieces/parts are, that ought to have been backed up BEFORE a calamity. “Just in case.”

I’m from a generation that carries fire extinguishers and fire-fighting gloves in my car. I have put out:

  • 1 brush fire
  • 1 apartment fire
  • 4 car fires (one, was a Pinto!)

Sudden calamities happen. My early training on computers, included a course on Computer Error. Early hard disk drives failed a lot, and having 3 backup drives kept up-to-date paid off, a lot.

My first computer course was on a Sperry Univac built in the 1950’s; the instructor was the guy who was a leader of the computer’s design team.

Etc. Etc. Be prepared. I try to pass that along. (Thanks for listening.)

7

I think that the issue here is that perhaps you need to use separate browser profiles when using Sync.

For example, if you have a profile in Brave, lets call it User 1 and your wife creates a second profile (User 2), each profile should be able to Sync with the other, despite the browser being on the same machine.

Try creating a separate profile for one of your (Menu --> More tools --> Add profile), then using Brave Sync, adding the new profile to the chain.