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How to Enable, Disable, and Manage Google Sync

How to Enable, Disable, and Manage Google Sync

June 6, 2019 by Judy Sanhz 12 Comments

Google Chrome allows you to sync the extensions and bookmarks that you have onto other computers. This is useful because there is no need to add everything all over again to the computer you are using at that moment.

This is a feature you definitely want to be enabled, especially if you have various computers at home. It can be very annoying and time-consuming to have to add everything to every single computer you want to use. Discover how you can enable the feature and save some valuable time.

Enable Google Sync [Desktop]

Turning on Google Sync is quick and easy. Select the 3 dots menu icon at the top right of the browser and select the “Sign into Chrome” button. Sign into your account and choose the settings you want to sync. You can also select the “Sync everything” option if that’s what you need. You will also need to add a passphrase to encrypt your data.


Enable Google Sync for Android

To check if Google Sync is on your Android device swipe down from the top of your display and tap on the cog wheel. Once you’re in Settings, swipe down and select “Accounts“. You will see a list of all of your accounts, but to check if sync is on tap on the “More” button at the top right. If it’s on it should say “Turn off auto sync“, if it’s not that’s where you can turn it on.

To check if an account you’ve added is synced, tap on that specific account. If it’s off, it will say so as soon as you open it. Select “More” at the top right and tap on the “Sync all” option to sync that specific app.

If your Android device is running on Android Oreo, the steps to enable Google Sync are the following. Go to “Settings” > “Users and accounts“. Swipe down and toggle on “Automatically sync data“.

The following applies whether you are using Oreo or another Android version. If there are certain things of an app you can to unSync, you can.

For example, if you don’t want to sync your calendar or docs in Google, tap on the Google account, you want to modify in “Users and accounts“. Once it’s open tap “Account sync“, then toggle off the options you don’t want to sync.


Sync Non-Google Apps

Google apps are supposed to sync automatically, but just in case they don’t, know you know how to set it up, only in case. But, what about non-Google apps? To sync non-Google apps, you’ll need to change the app’s settings.

To do this, go to your device’s “Settings” and then to “Apps and Notifications“. Look for the app you want to change, but if you don’t see it select “App info” or “See all apps“. Once you’ve found it, browse through the option to see if there is an option to sync. The options will vary from app to app.


Turn Off Google Sync on Desktop and Android

To turn off sync on your computer, open Chrome and select 3 dots menu icon at the top right. Go to “Settings” and the “Turn Off sync” button will be right at the top.

To turn off sync on your Android device, go to “Settings” > “Accounts or Users & accounts“. Tap the account you want to make the changes to and choose “Account Sync“. To finalize things, disable the apps you don’t want the Sync enabled for.


Manage Sync on Chrome [Desktop Only]

Google Chrome also has an option for you to manage Sync. Go back to settings and select the “Sync and Google services” drop-down menu.

Select the “Manage sync” option, and you can toggle the “Sync everything” option at the top right. If you only want to enable specific options, make sure to turn off “Sync everything“so the rest of the option can turn blue.


Conclusion

Google Sync is a useful feature, and it can save you some valuable time. But, just because the feature is available, it doesn’t mean that you have to use it. What will you do? Will you turn it on or off? Share your experience with us in the comments.

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Filed Under: Android

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Walter White says

    November 22, 2022 at 10:57 pm

    Syncing is such a BAD idea. Personal information and photos that are on your home Google account, When synced that information and private photos can show up on your business/school Google account Drive folder. Where admin./your boss has control over what they want to view.
    Better to do everything manually.

  2. Kathie says

    August 16, 2022 at 8:28 pm

    How do I stop syncing my google account bookmark and passwords to a device (desktop) that I do not use any more?

  3. Jessie Alphonse says

    September 24, 2021 at 6:38 pm

    I need to sync my Google account, back on.

  4. Paul says

    May 11, 2021 at 8:15 am

    I came here looking to find out Which PC Controls Sync because when I change Bookmarks on This One it reverts back to the Bookmarks from 1 of 2 others. How do I tell or change which one it is?

  5. Thae Nwae Zun says

    April 17, 2021 at 12:05 pm

    Thank you for the article!

  6. Miguel says

    April 1, 2021 at 1:35 am

    Very useful article, sync is worst than useless if you do not have data connection (for any reason). In that case it is better to disable and do it manually (or re-enable) once you have data connection.

  7. Michaiah Brown says

    December 17, 2020 at 10:54 am

    so when if i do sync my apps or whatever then will a be able to acess the google play store with having to download it

  8. Blake says

    April 23, 2020 at 8:58 pm

    I’m trying to turn off my school’s sync. I understand that when i use my school account, i cant do certain things, but they’re controlling my entire computer through sync. This is my personal computer that i bought with my money, yet i cant see comments on youtube videos on my email.

  9. Kim says

    April 5, 2020 at 11:54 pm

    Ok so I am trying to find out WHY under my google sync on my Metropcs LG K20 the only thing listed is People app? There used to be Docs, contacts, etc…. now there is only People app. And what is this people app anyway? I have tried to google this answer and all I get is how to turn on/off sync. I can’t find how to restore the list that is usually under SYNC. Please someone answer this for me before I lose my mind. Thanking you in advance for your speedy response. Sincerely, Kim

  10. justin king says

    March 9, 2020 at 1:14 pm

    i seem to have no admin access on any of my devices. re routing keeps occuring when i try to search specific url’s. my sync says its not working? the apps on my device are perforing what i feel is illegal activity. for example my calender in app permissions said it can modify, delete and make changes to my storage. other apps seem to have access to my contacts and go through my contact info, make calls on my behalf which may cost me money. why is this happening

  11. Kerry says

    March 3, 2020 at 3:56 pm

    Hi can I please cancel my google sync thanks as not being used thanks

  12. Tavia Hembling says

    September 26, 2019 at 11:28 am

    I just read your advice for keeping me signed into my accounts > sync everything > I had this already selected, so I tried turning it off and only have some selected like my passwords to my gmail accounts that I have to enter over and over! I quit chrome and went back in but again I had to sign in! It never used to be like this, what has changed?

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Baby and Daddy My name is Mitch Bartlett. I've been working in technology for over 20 years in a wide range of tech jobs from Tech Support to Software Testing. I started this site as a technical guide for myself and it has grown into what I hope is a useful reference for all.

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