Chrome’s sync function allows you to save your browser settings, saved passwords, bookmarks, and history, among others, across all the devices signed in with the same Google account. It effectively streamlines the workflow across all the linked devices and is often regarded as among the most valuable features of this browser.
So with such a long list of perks attached, there are no points in guessing why it’s always recommended to keep this feature enabled. However, for some, the browser seems to be automatically pausing the sync without any manual intervention from the users themselves.
Signing in to Chrome once a month or two is okay, but frequently pausing the sync is often painful.
More concerning is that this issue seems to be persistent for close to a year, as is evident from the Google Support Forums and this Reddit thread. The fact that this issue seems to behave somewhat arbitrarily and unsystematically only makes it worse.
With that said, there do exist some handy workarounds that seem to have worked out for quite a lot of affected users. And this guide will make you aware of just that. So without further ado, let’s check out the methods to fix the ‘Sync is paused, Sign in again’ issue in Chrome.
Disable Identity Consistency
Chrome’s Identity Consistency setting manages the synced accounts; however, it seems to be behaving inconsistently across various signed-in devices. In this regard, you should consider disabling this feature.
Here are the steps to disable the identity consistency settings in Chrome:
- Head to Chrome’s browser’s address bar and type in chrome://flags in its address bar.
- Now search for the Use Multilogin endpoint flag and change its state from Default to Disabled.
However, if you are using an older build of Chrome (73.0.3683.103 or lower), the above flag wouldn’t be there. Instead, you will have to disable the Identity consistency between the browser and cookie jar flag.
Once done, it will notify you to relaunch the browser as instructed. When Chrome restarts, verify whether the Sync is paused issue has been rectified.
These flags are experimental features; hence you might experience performance and stability issues with the browser. If that happens, it’s better to revert the chrome flag to its default state and try out the other fixes mentioned below.
Whitelist Google Account Cookies
Cookies generally store data such as the login info to the sites you visit, your preferences, and your browsing activities so that the offerings are tailored and made for you. However, for some users, the data related to Google Accounts are no longer stored in the cookies.
Hence as there is no data to deal with, Chrome seems to be pausing the sync functionality across all the synced devices. Fortunately, there’s an easy way to deal with this issue by manually adding the Google Accounts Site to the cookies allowlist.
Here are the steps to allowlist Google Account cookies in the chrome browser:
- Under Chrome’s Settings page, go to the Privacy and Security section and click Site Settings.
- Select and open the Cookies and other site data menu tab.
- Scroll to the Sites that can always use cookies option and click on the button.
- Enter accounts.google.com in the site address field.
- Hit on the command button.
- Restart your browser and check if it fixes Chrome’s Sync is paused issue.
Adding to the above point, ensure you access this page in a normal window, not an Incognito tab. This is because the Incognito window will overlap all the existing cookies rules and wouldn’t allow any site to access the stored cookies, re-creating the sync issue.
Update Windows OS
This might arouse a genuine query how would updating the OS be able to rectify an application-side issue? I was tracking the Chromium Bugs page, where I got hold of this same issue. While it dates back a year, the OS giants seem to have finally addressed it.
As per a Microsoft Contributor, this issue has been fixed in the latest Windows 10 insider channel build and is slated for a stable rollout pretty soon. To check if your PC has been blessed with the latest update, proceed with the below steps:
- Use the + shortcut key combinations to bring up the Settings page.
- Open Update and Security and check whether there is any pending update.
It will check for pending updates and install it on Windows OS. - Download pending updates, and install them right away.
- Hit on the your PC for the update to be successfully applied.
If the issue is still persistent, then the update with the patch has not yet arrived on your PC. Unfortunately, there’s no specified timeline for the update to go live. But when it does, we will update this post accordingly, so don’t forget to bookmark this page.
Bottom Line: Chrome Sync is Paused Error
With this, we conclude the guide on how to fix the Sync is Paused; Sign in again issue in the Chrome browser. We have shared three different workarounds to rectify this issue.
Instructing the browser to store the accounts.google.com cookies was enough to restore Chrome’s sync functionality. Generally, when we clear the site data and cookies, the signed-in accounts will automatically log out.
If you are also on the same page, then make sure not to delete the browser’s cookies shortly (until an official patch is released); otherwise, it will make this fix null and void.
Please let us know which method spelled out successfully for you in the comments. What has worked to fix the Chrome Sync is Paused, Sign-in again error?
FAQs: Sync is Paused on Chrome Browser
Here are the frequently asked questions regarding how to fix Sync is Paused; sign in again on Chrome Browser.
How to Disable Identity Consistency on Chrome Browser?
Head over to Chrome’s browser’s address bar and type in chrome://flags in its address bar. Now search for the Use Multilogin endpoint flag and change its state from Default to Disabled.
How to Whitelist Google Account Cookies on Chrome Browser?
Under Chrome’s Settings page, go to the Privacy and Security section and click on Site Settings. Select and open the Cookies and other site data menu tab. Scroll to the Sites that can always use the cookies option and click on Add button and enter accounts.google.com in the site address field. Finally, hit on the Add command button and restart your browser and check if it fixes Chrome’s Sync is paused issue.
The only way that worked for me is deleting google chrome then install it again
But think, if you have it installed in 2 different laptops and in each laptop you have 2 different OS, Linux and Windows. So, basically we have to handle with 4 different timeline using Google Chrome, so maybe because of this the problem, sometimes in my case I don’t use Windows for months and when I needed to use I got that problem and right now it a common issue every time, just restart the browser and the message is there, PAUSED, sync again!
Nothing has worked for me. I even reset my windows 10 completely and did a fresh reinstall. I deleted and reinstalled Chrome 3-4 times. I tried the 3 steps in your article after every reinstall. But, still same issue. Extremely annoying.
Works! I finally can stop resigning every time! Thank you so much!!
That fix did not work for me, still paused.
nothing seems to work
Did you try login in to the Google account? How frequently do you get this Sync is Paused alert?
Every time I log into a certain email address that I used for my iCloud account. Do you know if pausing is also affecting the updates of my photos? It seems my photos are updating on all other devices except my MacBook Pro which has the most storage and has this pausing error status dating back 10th of July. So I am going to try to do these steps and perhaps one of these options will work for me.
I’m glad I found this article. I’ve been having a problem with this for about 3 months as of Sept. 19, 2021, today. I was about ready to uninstall Boogle Chrome and install a browser that didn’t make me sign in everytime I opened the browser. [When I’m the ONLY ONE that even uses my PC and it has a password so it’s not even enough of a security issue for me to even be logged out in the first place] My go to Alternatives are Opera and Mozilla Firefox. Thanks to this article Boogle doesn’t make me log in to my account to sync the data each time I open the browser. I tend to call Google Boogle because they’re always bungling something. Thank you for the very useful article.
None of these work for me.
[System Summary]
Item Value
OS Name Microsoft Windows 10 Home
Version 10.0.19043 Build 19043
Other OS Description Not Available
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name CERBERUS
System Manufacturer To Be Filled By O.E.M.
System Model To Be Filled By O.E.M.
System Type x64-based PC
System SKU To Be Filled By O.E.M.
Processor AMD Ryzen 5 5600X 6-Core Processor, 3701 Mhz, 6 Core(s), 12 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date American Megatrends Inc. P1.70, 2021-03-02
SMBIOS Version 3.3
Embedded Controller Version 255.255
BIOS Mode UEFI
BaseBoard Manufacturer ASRock
BaseBoard Product B550M/ac
BaseBoard Version
Platform Role Desktop
Secure Boot State Off
PCR7 Configuration Binding Not Possible
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = “10.0.19041.1151”
Hello Matthew, sorry to hear that it didn’t work. The issue mostly lies in the browser itself rather than the system, however, your system configuration looks great and has no problem. I’d suggest rechecking the browser settings once again, especially cookies and javascript settings. Let us know how it goes.
Go to Settings, Privacy and security, Cookies and other site data. Then turn off “Clear cookies and site data when you close all windows”. That’s the fix
This worked for me. Thank you so much!
Thank you! This does work. Amazing a whole website about this situation can not include anything about this simple hidden setting.
Thank You! After hours of trying to fix with no luck, your simple solution fixed my PAUSED problem.
Thanks for the tip, Sam!
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!
That worked. This has been driving me nuts for months!!!
What then do you do when Chrome pauses your Gmail sync after 10 mins browsing??
I have multiple google accounts. Do i need to do this on each one or just the original account that is paused?
Just the accounts which have the problem.
Thank you Sam. It worked! Such a save comment.
No, it is not. Mine is turned off and it still does it.
That worked sam.
Whitelisting google accounts cookies worked for me! This was not a problem until two or three days ago, but it’s been INCREDIBLY irritating. I’m a grad student, so I’m on my computer all the time, and I hated having to re-sign in every single time I wanted to look at my email or check my university’s LMS. And I use two-factor authentication, so I had to approve it in my phone every single time. You just cured a massive headache, and I’m so, so thankful 🙂
Your suggestion – ” In my case, instructing the browser to store the accounts.google.com cookies was enough to restore Chrome’s sync functionality. Generally, when we clear the site data and cookies, the signed-in accounts will be automatically logout. “, well worked out for me and fixed the problem. Thanks
The whitelist option worked for me finally after weeks of having this problem! I rebooted and everything came back up including all my tabs. I’m a happy camper today!
Very grateful, thank you!
I followed steps 1-6 in Chrome settings and added ‘accounts.google.com’ to the whitelist and viola no more “sync paused sign in” problems. Thank you for assisting, I mean, solving this issue.
This worked by making that small insertion in my Chrome settings — accounts.google.com. Thanks very very much.
Glad to know.
didn’t work. this is driving me CRAZY
same here. none of the solutions in the internet working! and I am not able to sign in also. giving me something went wrong everytime.
idk what to do now!
I am confused! My Computer is on paused and it is rediculous that I have to go to my phone and say “YES it is me!”. Then I have to sign in again.
This needs to be fixed and is a pain to deal with. HELP!
Do the Whitelist Google Account Cookies
Weird issue, but thanks for the solution!
Thanks soooo much. Whitelisting Google Account Cookies worked for me.
Thank you so much! This worked for me!
It is no new thing. In start, these services get us be used of it. Then when our each & every thing is used and managed with it then they are starting playing. They changes outlook, theme, system & each & everything. In the same way, Google has started “Sync Paused”. Even before 1 minite, I have closed my synced Chrome, next minite when I open, it shows “Sync Paused”. So they are giving us 2 options by this, be their slaves or BOYCOTT their Services. By paying Internet charges, I am already paying to such services so how I can accept such thing, so it’s better to choose BOYCOTT.
The Whitelist google Account Cookies worked. Thank you so much for the help. Keep it up.
Yep, thanks for the help. The Whitelist fix worked. The Geek Squad could not even do this. You have made me and my desktop happy again. May you have happiness also.
Thank you all you explained worked well by adding the gmail in cookies section
Chrome on my Windows 10 had worked for years. The latest version: 105.0.5195.127 (Official Build). Then I’ve had this ‘Sync is Paused’ issue for about 2 weeks now.
I’ve tried everything from Google search results; Community Help; reinstalled Chrome; tried the previous version of Chrome; cleaned up with CCleaners; rebooted the computer a million times; nothing has worked. So far, I have spent about 12 hours on this.
Thanks for your post , however…
– ‘chrome://flags > search or for the Use Multilogin endpoint’ and ‘Identity consistency between the browser’, none of the arguments is there.
– Whitelist Google Account Cookies
– Windows10 OS is up to date.
– Restart Chrome.
Problem is still there. I have aged 10 years since this happened. So tired now. Thank you Chrome programmers.
It’s not possible to check the exact issue, but did you try whitelisting the google.com domain under Allowed Cookies?
Nothing worked for me. I’ve now updated to Windows 11 today, and the issue still persists.
Tried every suggestion to no avail. Finally used REGEDIT to set a DWORD (32-bit) named ‘SyncDisabled’ value ‘0’ under ‘HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Google\Chrome’ which did the trick.
thanks