Internet Explorer 11 Synced Tabs - Open in Windows 8.1

How to Open Synced Tabs from your PCs in Internet Explorer 11 in Windows 8.1


information   Information
IE11’s new syncing features on Windows 8.1 are designed with device-switching in mind. When a user leaves a device, all open tabs, except for InPrivate Browsing tabs, are synced using Microsoft SkyDrive servers so they are readily available when the user opens IE on another device.

Synced tabs have entry points in both Internet Explorer in the Windows UI and Internet Explorer for the desktop. When you sync additional settings and user preferences in IE11, you don't have to configure IE11 on a new device. User-configured settings and preferences are synced by default.

For more information, see: Windows integration (Windows)


This tutorial will show you how to open synced tabs across your multiple PCs in both the modern and desktop Internet Explorer 11 in Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1.

Note   Note
Internet Explorer will need to be set as the default program to have the synced tabs feature available.

You would need to turn on web browser (IE11) in your sync settings to have your open tabs in IE11 sync across all your Windows 8.1 PCs that you sign in with the same Microsoft account.

Like other apps on Windows that use the sync platform, the synced IE data is not visible to the user in SkyDrive. Users are able to see their synced data in IE11.





OPTION ONE

Open Synced Tabs from your PCs in Desktop Internet Explorer 11


1. Open the desktop IE11, and do step 2, 3, or 4 below for how you would like to open the New tab page.​
2. Press the CTRL + T keys, and go to step 5 below.​
3. Type about:tabs in the address bar, press Enter, and go to step 5 below.​
4. If you have your Tabbed Browsing Settings set to open the New tab page when a new tab is opened, then click/tap on the new tab button to open a new tab, and go to step 5 below. (see screenshot below)​
New_Tab_button.jpg

5. In the New tab page, click/tap on one of your PCs (ex: BRINK-PC) you want to show synced tabs from. (see screenshot below)​
NOTE: How many PCs you have listed here will depend on how many PCs you sign in to with the same Microsoft account and have turned on to sync their "Web Browser" (IE11).​
Desktop_IE11_New_tab.jpg

6. From here you can click/tap on a synced tab to open that site in a tab on your current PC. (see screenshot below)​
Desktop_IE11_New_tab_Synced_PCs.jpg








OPTION TWO

Open Synced Tabs from your PCs in Modern Internet Explorer 11


1. Open the modern IE11 from your Start screen, and do step 2, 3, 4, or 5 below for how you would like to open the Tabs page.​
2. Press the CTRL + T keys to open the New tab page in a new tab, and go to step 6 below.​
3. Press the CTRL + W keys to open the New tab page in the current tab, and go to step 6 below.​
4. Click/tap on the Tabs button Tabs_button.jpg, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)​
Modern_IE11_Tabs.jpg

5. Either click/tap on the Address bar button address_bar_button.jpg at the bottom right corner, press the :winkey: + Z keys, right click on an empty area in modern IE11, swipe/flick up from the bottom of a touch screen, or swipe/flick down from the top of a touch screen. (see screenshot below)​
Modern_IE11_open_address_bar.jpg

6. Click/tap on the Tabs drop down menu, and click/tap on This PC (current PC) or one of your PCs (ex: BRINK-PC) you want to show synced tabs from. (see screenshot below)​
NOTE: How many PCs you have listed here will depend on how many PCs you sign in to with the same Microsoft account and have turned on to sync their "Web Browser" (IE11).​
ModernIE_Synced_Tabs-2.jpg

7. From here you can click/tap on a synced tab to open that site in a tab on your current PC. (see screenshot below)​
ModernIE_Synced_Tabs-3.jpg




That's it,
Shawn


 

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Last edited by a moderator:
Hello nonpasaran,

Interesting, but yes it turns out that Internet Explorer must be set as the default program to be able have sync tabs.

You would think that it wouldn't matter other than being able to open the modern IE.

Thank you for pointing this out to be confirmed.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Yes it weird. But there is a workarround:
You can set IE default browser for only HTTP file extension. In this way you can use another browser as default (Mostly) but Windows still think IE is default browser :)
So you can use Modern Internet Explorer 11 and sync feature
 

My Computer

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