Brave open tab sync feature is unusable

[AdnanHodzic]

Description

Brave browser feature to sync open tabs on other devices is unusable. I'm using latest version of Brave on all my Linux/MacOS/Android devices.

I originally voiced my problem as part of #11183, this issue is now resolved and I still have the same problem.

1. Sending tabs from one device to another is unusable since it takes too long, sometimes I'll get a tab I sent an hour later.
2. In history dialog, I can see maximum of 4 tabs (in no particular order) from other devices, which also makes it impossible to pick up where I left of if I switch devices.
3. Apparently, as part of Sync v2 "Tabs from other devices" feature has been implemented. I don't even see this option in chrome://history 1.19.86 fixed this problem on desktop

Steps to Reproduce

1. Go to chrome://history "Tabs from other devices" option is not there
2. "Hamburger menu" > History > I can see only maximum of 4 tabs (in no particular order) from other devices, which also makes it impossible to pick up where I left of I switch devices.
3. Right click send "Send to your device" takes way to long to execute.

Actual result:

Has been described as part of question above.

Expected result:

I would expect to see "Tabs from other devices" when I go to chrome://history as I do on Chrome. I would expect to see more then 4 tabs on each device in history and I would expect tabs to be sent immediately to other devices.

Reproduces how often:

Perpetually.

Desktop Brave version:

Brave | 1.18.77 Chromium: 87.0.4280.101 (Official Build) (64-bit)
-- | --
Revision | 9407c80213cda69c2b7abcb4fa8e3f74488f4956-refs/branch-heads/4280@{#1807}
OS | Linux
JavaScript | V8 8.7.220.29
Flash | (Disabled)
User Agent | Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux x86_64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/87.0.4280.101 Safari/537.36
Command Line | /opt/brave.com/brave/brave --enable-dom-distiller --disable-domain-reliability --no-pings --extension-content-verification=enforce_strict --extensions-install-verification=enforce --origin-trial-public-key=bYUKPJoPnCxeNvu72j4EmPuK7tr1PAC7SHh8ld9Mw3E=,fMS4mpO6buLQ/QMd+zJmxzty/VQ6B1EUZqoCU04zoRU= --sync-url=https://sync-v2.brave.com/v2 --lso-url=https://no-thanks.invalid --variations-server-url=https://variations.brave.com/seed --enable-features=PrefetchPrivacyChanges,DnsOverHttps,LegacyTLSEnforced,WebUIDarkMode,AutoupgradeMixedContent,PasswordImport,ReducedReferrerGranularity --disable-features=AutofillServerCommunication,PrivacySettingsRedesign,AutofillEnableAccountWalletStorage,AllowPopupsDuringPageUnload,TextFragmentAnchor,SmsReceiver,NotificationTriggers,PasswordCheck,NetworkTimeServiceQuerying,TabHoverCards,IdleDetection,SignedExchangeSubresourcePrefetch,SafeBrowsingEnhancedProtection --flag-switches-begin --load-media-router-component-extension=1 --flag-switches-end
Executable Path | /opt/brave.com/brave/brave
Profile Path | /home/xyz/.config/BraveSoftware/Brave-Browser/Default

Android Device details:

• Install type: ARM
• Device type: Phone
• Android version: Android 11

Version/Channel Information:

• Can you reproduce this issue with the current release?

Yes

• Can you reproduce this issue with the beta channel?

Didn't try.

• Can you reproduce this issue with the nightly channel?

Didn't try.

Other Additional Information:

• Does the issue resolve itself when disabling Brave Shields?

No

• Does the issue resolve itself when disabling Brave Rewards?

No

• Is the issue reproducible on the latest version of Chrome?

No

Miscellaneous Information:

N/A

[AdnanHodzic]

I crossed out "3. Apparently, as part of Sync v2 "Tabs from other devices" feature has been implemented. I don't even see this option in chrome://history" and references to it as this problem has been fixed with 1.19.86 release on desktop. Not sure if it's in the plans, but it would be great to have same functionality on mobile as well.

[Dreathorian]

Same issue. Got the tab the next DAY

[AdnanHodzic]

I crossed out "3. Apparently, as part of Sync v2 "Tabs from other devices" feature has been implemented. I don't even see this option in chrome://history" and references to it as this problem has been fixed with 1.19.86 release on desktop. Not sure if it's in the plans, but it would be great to have same functionality on mobile as well.

Update: almost a month after this feature become available, it's not really usable. I switched from mobile to laptop, and it took ~30 minutes for my phone "tabs form other devices" to become visible on my laptop (a lot of them were missing).

[snowbound]

This has been reported on the desktop side and has been marked as closed but still open to discussion here #11183 . This behaviour is more reliable in MS Edge sorry to say.

[jsecretan]

Hi @snowbound I am hoping that some of what has been put into place from the standpoint of resolving transient error states and reliability server side has helped here. But we are having trouble reproducing the other case which we know we've observed. To resolve this once and for all would you be willing to help us on a screenshare? I realize you are certainly frustrated at this point, but we would truly appreciate help in pinpointing. If you are up for it, please shoot me an email at jimmy@brave.com

[snowbound]

With Version Beta 1.26.43 on Desktops my desktop can see the Open Tabs on my laptop. Whether that will hold is debatable. iOS sync is a different story #11183 (comment)

[albert239825]

Hello, I am on MacOS v1.33.06 and the same on Windows. With regards to seeing open tabs through history, I am able to see all the tabs, albeit 10-15 mins delays. When sending tabs from my Mac machine to my Windows, there's also a ~5 min delay. When sending tabs from my Windows machine to my Mac, there is no notification at all. I am wondering whether anybody else has continued to experience issues with these features or if it is just me. Thanks!

[NayamAmarshe]

Any updates? Is this ever going to get resolved or should I just use another browser where syncing works?