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

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

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

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1. Open the desktop IE11, and do step 2, 3, or 4 below for how you would like to open the New tab page.​

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2. Press the CTRL + T keys, and go to step 5 below.​

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3. Type about:tabs in the address bar, press Enter, and go to step 5 below.​

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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)​

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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).​

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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)​

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OPTION TWO

Open Synced Tabs from your PCs in Modern Internet Explorer 11

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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.​

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2. Press the CTRL + T keys to open the New tab page in a new tab, and go to step 6 below.​

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3. Press the CTRL + W keys to open the New tab page in the current tab, and go to step 6 below.​

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4. Click/tap on the Tabs button , and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)​

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5. Either click/tap on the Address bar button 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)​

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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).​

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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)​

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Sync Your Settings Between PCs in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Remove Your Synced Windows 8.1 Personal Settings from SkyDrive
• Delete Your Synced Settings Backed Up on SkyDrive for Windows 8.1 PCs and Devices
• How to Open and Close Tabs in Modern IE11 in Windows 8.1
• How to Open Tab in New Modern IE11 Window Side by Side in Windows 8.1
• View and Open Favorites, Frequent, and Pinned Sites in Modern IE11 in Windows 8.1

 

[nonpasaran]

Hi Shawn,

I thing for sync tabs IE must be default browser otherwise sync tabs doesn't work. Can you confirm this?

 

[Brink]

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.

 

[nonpasaran]

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