# Brave Sync expired

**URL:** <https://community.brave.app/t/brave-sync-expired/650865>\
**Category:** Sync\
**Tags:** windows, sync, bug, browser\
**Created:** [March 21, 2026, 12:51am UTC](https://community.brave.app/t/brave-sync-expired/650865 "2026-03-21T00:51:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![GabrielToth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e95f7d/32.png) [@GabrielToth](https://community.brave.app/u/GabrielToth)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2026, 12:51am UTC](https://community.brave.app/t/brave-sync-expired/650865/1 "2026-03-21T00:51:43Z")

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I’m having an issue with Brave Sync. I had saved a recovery code before formatting my computer the first time, and when I used it, everything worked fine. After that, I enabled some settings, used the browser for a few hours, and then had to format my computer again.

Now, when I try to use my old recovery code, I can’t recover anything at all. It says the code has expired, and there doesn’t seem to be any way to restore my data.

I’d really appreciate some help with this issue.

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**Author:** ![MasterLink](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brave/user_avatar/community.brave.app/masterlink/32/204132_2.png) [@MasterLink](https://community.brave.app/u/MasterLink)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2026, 2:19am UTC](https://community.brave.app/t/brave-sync-expired/650865/2 "2026-03-21T02:19:24Z")

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When you say recovery code, are you referring to the “Sync Code”?

If so, a few years ago I remember reading a thread that stated the last word of the code changes daily, thus before reformatting, you should have re-checked that code, because it’s not a _recovery_ code, but a sync code, which for security reasons, does change.

(I am aware this is not disclosed on the Sync Code page):

 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/brave/original/3X/f/b/fbfb7fe975d398a6b987bdc866a569e3f2705649.png)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![GabrielToth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e95f7d/32.png) [@GabrielToth](https://community.brave.app/u/GabrielToth)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2026, 3:30am UTC](https://community.brave.app/t/brave-sync-expired/650865/3 "2026-03-21T03:30:49Z")

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You’re right, it’s the sync code, and the sync code is correct because I synced just 4 hours before this happened.