How Do I Sync Read It Later?

First asked 425 days ago

How do I sync the data. I did find the sync information and am about to add it to my other computer - but can't seem to figure it out.

In addition, is all of the info that I put 'online' in Read it Later private? I do not want to accidentally share it.

posted by Susan
Resolved with Instruction from the Developer:

Updated instruction on syncing can be found here:

http://readitlaterlist.com/firefox/guide/#syncing

  • Nate

    Hey Susan

    Read It Later can be setup to sync between all of your computers. Here is a quick summary on how to make it happen.

    1. Open the Read It Later options on the first computer.
    2. Click the 'RSS / Syncing' Tab
    3. Enable Online access by clicking the 'Save Reading List Online' checkbox.
    (Note, this will store your list on the Read It Later server and on an RSS Feed. If you'd like to password protect your feed from the public, click the 'password protect my RSS Feed' checkbox at the bottom of the options window)
    4. Turn sync on
    5. Click 'Setup Sync'
    6. Select 'I am syncing up for the first time'
    7. Click 'Next'
    8. The first computer is now setup.
    9. Write down the username and password given (If you'd like to change it to something more easily remembered, click 'change username/password'.
    10. Hit Okay and close out of the options window.
    11. Open your Reading List
    12. Click 'Sync'
    13. Click 'What to do if still out of sync'
    14. Click Hard Sync

    On your other computers:
    Follow steps 1 -> 5 from above.
    6. Select 'I already have the feed id and sync password for a list I want to sync to'
    7. Click 'Next'
    8. Enter the username and password you copied down from the first computer
    9. Click 'Finish'
    10. This computer is now syncing.
    Complete steps 11 -> 14 from above.

    Posted Jan 19 09 reply
    • oliver

      I don't even understand instruction #1, where do you find read it later options?

      I'm using firefox, i can't see it in my program files, in mozilla firefox folders, etc. please help,

      Posted Aug 19 09 reply
    • Snoops a.k.a. Alan

      Hi ,I'm having a problem syncing. I've followed the instructions on the above page but after step 4. Turn sync on, there is no button (option) to "Setup sync"    Private comment hidden

      Posted Oct 2 09 Browser: Firefox 3.5 reply
      • Snoops a.k.a. Alan

        HOLD EVERYTHING - Even a 56 yr old nutter can sort some things himself. I noticed that the computer generated username etc. had only been changed on one machine. Clever eh! So - all sorted and syncing sweetly. Thanks for a really useful programme. Snoops...

        Posted Oct 2 09 reply
    • Gayla

      Hello Nate~
      Thank you and thank you so much! You give the best instructions ever. I followed them step-by-step and it totally worked. No problems at all :)
      You are amazing and thoughtful for taking the time to type out and post these accurate and easy to understand instructions.

      Thank you again......you rock!
      Happy Holidays,
      Gayla
         Private comment hidden

      Posted Dec 17 09 Version: 2.0 Browser: Firefox 3.5 reply
  • Nobody

    "Open your Reading List": where is that located?

    Posted Apr 14 09 reply
  • Nate

    Updated instruction on syncing can be found here:

    http://readitlaterlist.com/firefox/guide/#syncing

    Posted Jun 16 09 reply
  • Parker

    I think what is being asked is, where are the files located on the PC? Because if you want to move the files to a phone or pocket pc, it makes sense to grab the files and sync to your phone.

    Do I understand that what you have to do is use a browser on your phone to sync, then you can read the files on your device through your browser?

    Posted Jun 24 09 reply
    • Nate

      Hey Parker

      It depends on the type of phone you are using. If you are using an iPhone, you can use the RIL iPhone app to download the content offline for you.

      Syncing through RIL syncs your list, not the actual offline content. Each client handles the offline downloading independently.

      If you are using the Firefox add-on, your offline content is stored in a folder inside of your Firefox Profile folder. Currently you can't sync this or move it. But that will change in 2.0

      Posted Jun 24 09 reply
      • Parker

        I can't seem to find the Firefox Profile folder, or at least there are no files in them. When does version 2 come out? I don't think anything fancy is needed, just an option to change the download folder if you need to. It should be something like my documents\my downloads\read it later, IMO.

        The iphone app is great for iphone users, but remember even though they have doubled their market share they still come in at number three behind RIM and Nokia. Nokia is number 1! These stats are from CNET news May 20 this year. http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10245339-37.html

        Posted Jun 24 09 reply
  • SC

    I tried syncing my list on one computer to that on another computer. I already have a username and password.
    When I click on "sync to a different account" and I enter my username and password, I get a message "sorry the feed-id does not match the password".
    I tried this a couple of times and I know my username and password are correct since I can use them to log in to the readitlater-website.
    What am I doing wrong?
       Private comment hidden

    Posted Jul 24 09 Version: ? Browser: Firefox 3.5 reply
    • Nate

      Hey SC

      Can you send me the username/password you are trying to use? You can provide it in the private information box below.

      Thanks!

      Posted Jul 24 09 reply
      • SC

        Hi,
        I can't access the computer on which I was having trouble syncing at the moment, but I had also chosen a password of 13 characters, so I think that will have been the problem.
           Private comment hidden

        Posted Jul 29 09 reply
  • pacopop

    Hi!

    I have the same problem reported by SC: I can log to the website with my username-password, but I get the message "sorry the feed-id does not match the password" when trying to configure the sync options of the Firefox extension.

    Can you help me? Thanks    Private comment hidden

    Posted Jul 27 09 Version: 0.9947 Browser: Firefox 3.5 reply
    • Nate

      Hey Pacopop

      The password you supplied is off by one character, passwords can only be 12 characters (not sure where you were able to enter one longer). Try removing the last number and trying again.

      Thanks!

      Posted Jul 27 09 reply
      • pacopop

        Thanks for your answer! It works!

        I'll tell you what I did:

        The first time I enabled synchronization in the extension settings dialog, I used the change user/password button to modify the default values. In the web UI I first logged in with the default values and then entered the new ones. The page didn't show any warning about password length restrictions. In fact, it accepted my password with 13 characters. Subsequent log-ins through readitlaterlist.com were also OK.

        It seems like the online pages are always trimming the password field to 12 characters.

        Hope that helps!

        Posted Jul 28 09 Version: 0.9947 Browser: Firefox 3.5 reply
        • Josh Lobel

          i had the same problem as SC and pacopop - when you go to the Read It Later webpage where you can change your username and password (i installed the firefox addon so i was given defaults for both automatically) there are no warnings about limiting passwords to 12 characters or less, and the form happily accepts longer passwords. after reading through these posts, i made my password shorter and it solved the problem.

          Posted Aug 13 09 Version: 0.9947 Browser: Firefox 3.5 reply
  • ALEX

    The same problem as SC was having? hope you remember (I tried syncing my list on one computer to that on another computer. I already have a username and password.
    When I click on "sync to a different account" and I enter my username and password, I get a message "sorry the feed-id does not match the password".
    I tried this a couple of times and I know my username and password are correct since I can use them to log in to the readitlater-website.
    What am I doing wrong?) Please help!!!    Private comment hidden

    Posted Aug 5 09 Browser: Firefox 3.5 reply
  • Nate

    Hey Alex

    Can you email me the username/password you are trying to RIL@ideashower.com?

    Thanks!

    Posted Aug 6 09 reply
  • John Philpin

    For the life of me just cannot get my content to auto such so it is automatically available to me on my touch - followed all instructions - says all synched - take touch off wireless and lo content is not available

    Posted Aug 13 09 Version: Itouch 3 Browser: Safari reply
    • Nate

      Hey John

      On the touch, did you download the content for offline viewing? If the favicon next to each item in your list is blank/faded out, then it hasn't been downloaded yet. If you click the yellow sync icon it will download the articles for offline viewing.

      Afterwards you can click on an item and go to offline or offline text to view it when disconnected.

      Let me know if that helps!

      Posted Aug 14 09 reply
  • John Philpin

    My icons are bright I press the yellow synch button .... It only downloads if I go in one by one

    Posted Aug 14 09 Version: 3 Browser: Safari reply
    • Nate

      Hey John

      Can you email me a screenshot of the list to RIL@ideashower.com?

      You can take a screenshot by holding the top button and home button at the same time. It stores an image in your photo album.

      Thanks!

      Posted Aug 15 09 reply
  • Shrik

    I am not able to sync my bookmarks from my work PC due to a firewall
    How do I get the bookmarks transferred to my account in such a case?
    could not find any link that would help me do this
    Please help.
    I just get an error message - 'An error occured during the operation. If it persists contact readthislater'
    Thanks
    Shri

    Posted Aug 14 09 Browser: Firefox 3.5 reply
    • Nate

      Hey Shrik

      If your work firewall is blocking the RIL server, there is no way to sync your items as is. You would have to find a way around the firewall, which I'm not sure is a good idea. ;)

      Posted Aug 15 09 reply
  • Ryan Lynch

    I'm also having an issue with syncing my browser with the website. After installing the plug-in and tagging a few websites, I created an account on the readitlater website and tried to sync the browser with the newly-created account. I keep getting "Sorry but the Feed Id and Sync Password do not match." What do I do now?    Private comment hidden

    Posted Sep 27 09 Version: 0.9947 Browser: Firefox 3.5 reply
    • Nate

      Hey Ryan

      Sorry about the delay in response. I've been working hard on the upcoming 2.0 version of Read It Later. Which is now in public beta:
      http://readitlaterlist.com/blog/2009/09/read-it-later-20-beta-1/

      The new beta simplifies the login process for the Firefox extension. However, before upgrading I would recommend solving your login issues first.

      1. Open your reading list
      2. Click 'options'
      3. Select the 'Rss / Syncing tab'
      4. Turn on 'Save Online'
      5. Turn on Syncing
      6. If the username displayed does not match your username, click 'Sync to a Different Account'
      7. Enter your actual username and login

      Posted Oct 2 09 reply
  • keynell

    i'm trying to setup sync as well
    i already have an account i've been using for more than a year
    my list of links is available online but i cannot see it in the firefox extension even after giving the same username & password, tried to sync using 'sync to different account' but it still list some number instead of my username, also if want to view my feed online - it is empty
    the link contains the number,if i replace it with my username the list is there

    Posted Nov 21 09 reply
  • Nate

    Hey Keynell,

    Try upgrading to 2.0:
    http://readitlaterlist.com/blog/2009/09/read-it-later-20-beta-1/

    It makes managing your account a lot easier.

    Posted Nov 21 09 reply
    • keynell

      thanks for prompt response!
      it works with v2.0

      Posted Nov 21 09 reply
  • iam

    There seems to be a tendency for developers to want end-users to sync via the developer's server. This has always been a deal-killer for me in using an app. Yes, there are advantages to having data is one place that is available from many platforms; but, the end-user loses final control over that data. Personally, I run my own home network/server that I use to sync information. While I realize that not everyone does that, forcing the use of a server over which you have no control is not the answer. Developers need to provide an option for end-users to sync their data via their own resources instead of the developer's resources. For instance, I use X-Marks BYOS (bring your own server) and/or goodsync. Many other sync programs exist. Unfortunately though, RIL 2.x does not provide an easy way to sync data. I've returned to version .9x and disabled automatic updates for this add-on. I encourage the developer to follow X-Marks realization that it will lose users by bundling too many features together and solve the syncing issues by trying to force use of their server. I would happily use RIL 2.x when the end-user is given the option of syncing on their own network, not the developers.

    Posted Dec 20 09 reply
  • islamref

    After syncing with my online account and resyncing online account again with my PC, RIL shows all of them as "today"?! So the sorting has changed and is messy.
    How can I sync with proper date function?

    Posted Jan 7 10 Version: 2.0 Browser: Firefox 3.5 reply

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