How to stop ‘ChromeSync passphrase’ popup

[Wiganken]

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8T – MIUI v12.5.2 – Android 11 RKQ1.201004.002

Apps that require an email address to sign in have started to cause a ‘ChromeSync passphrase’ popup to appear when I try to log in to the app.

I have never created a ‘ChromeSync passphrase’ as far as I remember. This started to happen about the beginning of June 2022.

Tapping on ‘Cancel’ does nothing. The popup stays in-place and I cannot proceed to log in to the app. All I can do is quit the app.

Tapping on ‘Google Dashboard’ takes me to my ‘Google Account’ page where I can ‘Clear Data’ but there is no ‘Reset Sync’ option anywhere.
I have run the ‘Clear Data’ and there is no data in my account now but the popup still happens.
I can go to the Dashboard manually but, again, there is no ‘Reset Sync’ option available.

All I can do via my phone Settings is to turn ‘Auto-sync Data’ On or Off. There is no ‘Reset Sync’ option.

Question 1 – Since Google’s own advice doesn’t work does anyone know any other way to stop the popup happening? Step-by-step instructions if possible please.

Question 2 – If there is no answer to Q1 then can anyone provide step-by-step instructions (please do not repeat Google’s advice since it is wrong) on how to get to the ‘Reset Sync’ command on my phone? I should then be able to proceed from that point and hopefully stop the popup happening.

 

[B. Diddy]

Just to be sure, you followed these steps? https://helpdeskgeek.com/how-to/how-to-reset-chrome-sync-to-fix-problems/

 

[Wiganken]

Thank you and yes, I have followed the steps as best I can. I say "best I can" because there are numerous differences in the procedure between the helpdeskgeek article and what I see on my PC and phone.

Following the instructions for Windows PC I do not see any "Reset Sync". I only see "Clear Data". I suspect this is the same thing because the words are identical except for "Clear Data" instead of "Reset Sync". See photo.

Following the instructions for Android mobile device: -
There is no "Sync and Google Services". There is "Sync" and this is where I see "Sync Everything".
There is no "Data from Chrome Sync". There is only "Sign out and turn off sync".

I believe I have followed what I have been able to but it does not stop the popup.

 

[B. Diddy]

Hmm. What version of Chrome do you have?

Also, do these steps work for you? https://www.howtogeek.com/712645/how-to-secure-chrome-sync-with-a-custom-sync-passphrase/. Can you get to the section for Encryption Options and change it from "Encrypt synced data with your own sync passphrase" to "Encrypt synced passwords with your Google account"?

 

[Wiganken]

The 'About Chrome' shows: -
Chrome is up to date
Version 102.0.5005.115 (Official Build) (64-bit)

Yes I can get to the section "section for Encryption Options and change it from "Encrypt synced data with your own sync passphrase" to "Encrypt synced passwords with your Google account" but as soon as I try to enter my own sync passphrase the 'ChromeSync passphrase' box pops up again asking for the passphrase that I don't know. Google's 'ChromeSync passphrase' system is so rigid that you can't change away from it without knowing the passphrase in the first place. It is in a loop.

What I want is to be able to opt-out of using 'ChromeSync passphrase' to stop the popup but it seems there is no way to do that.

 

[Madd62]

I haven't seen the message you're seeing, but I've had problems where most Google apps didn't recognise my account saying there was a network error, when I could use all other apps at up to 200mbps.

This is while I was on 12.5.2 with my (2020)Xiaomi Poco F2 Pro.
It had stopped receiving updates for 6 months until I eventually got the MIUI 13 OS and Android 12 in April, which brought Google Play Services up to date and brought Security up to March, and I expect I will get 3 - monthly patches from now on.

What was troubling me while everything was 6 months + behind was I couldn't updates the Google Play Services app. I did eventually Uninstall it's updates but it never updated itself until MIUI 13.

So for me, (as I'm now the STAR of this thread!) I would look at Apps - Manage Apps and see how up to date the Play SERVICES app is, and also how far behind are you in Passwords and Security - Privacy.

I did find one or two things that were related to my problem, but I cannot remember them.

So at a guess it's more a dated MIUI issue affecting parts of your Google account, possibly a different Google Avatar initial like there was on mine, and stopping Google apps like Chrome and Maps from functioning correctly or at all.

At another guess this possibly has nothing to do with your issue, but I could help you see where you are in Settings and with updates.

I presume this only happens on the Redmi and not with Chrome on other devices.

---
You could clear the Cache in Chrome (mine is now up to 0.93 Gb of cache memory.

Sorry about all the screenshots but I can't view what I'm posting!

 

[Wiganken]

Thanks. I'll look into your suggestions when I have time, in about 5 days time. Your effort is appreciated.

 

[Wiganken]

Re your text "I presume this only happens on the Redmi and not with Chrome on other devices." In response yes it only happens on the Redmi but: -

a) I don't have any other Android devices. I have two other Windows devices but these do not have the apps I am having the popup trouble with since the apps are not available for Windows.

b) I have been on this version of MIUI and Android 11 for some months now but the popup only started around beginning of June.

I'll just have to hope that the next MIUI update might fix things.

 

[Madd62]

(I'm not getting notifications for new posts, only likes, so sorry if I miss some posts)

I was more curious what month your Play System Update (aka Google Play Services) and your Security Update were up to.
Also look (if you have time - I may be just shortening your lifetime of happiness for no reason)

The best way I found to manually search for updates was through the Passwords and Security Setting - then Privacy.. (sorry if I got wrote that incorrectly earlier).

Then you could also go to Manage Apps and find Google Play Services on the list (it may not always appear so use the search bar) to see what version it is on.
You can also go the Chrome here and empty the Cache that's showing in Storage via the right button on the bottom.

I also am now back home with my spare Mi 10 Lite 5G which had and has similar OS and MIUI versions but the Launcher is more similar to your Redmi than the Poco F2 I'm using, though there are little differences.

 

[Madd62]

More lovely screenshots!

 

[Wiganken]

In case it helps anyone else out there: -

I cannot stop the 'ChromeSync passphrase' pop-up happening but I have found a work around in that the pop-up can be ‘Dismissed’ by tapping anywhere outside the pop-up. I can then continue as normal.

That's good enough for me so I'll call this thread closed as far as my input goes.