A user in matrix reported that on about:preferences#sync, because the "device name" field was above the list of things to sync, they assumed it was asking what should be synced on this device - which seems like a reasonable assumption. However, it is asking what should be synced for the account - we do not support per-device syncing.

There's no general information on that page that syncing is per-account. There seems an opportunity for a sentence or 2 to explain to the users how sync works in this regard.

This confusion has been noted in several Connected threads too.

Perhaps, before we can holistically address the UX of the whole sync page in about:preferences, it will be acceptable to change the copy on this page slightly:
You are currently syncing these items
->
You are currently syncing these items between all connected devices
?

Meridel, Francesco, would you have concerns over this small adjustment? I'm attaching screenshots for reference below.

I'm not sure this helps: you're syncing these items from the current devices, you're not syncing them to all devices. For example, I could have bookmarks selected on my home computer, but deselected on my work computer, which means bookmarks are not synced to all devices.

Also, I think the colon at the end should remain, given it's followed by a list of items.

(In reply to Francesco Lodolo [:flod] from comment #4)

For example, I could have bookmarks selected on my home computer, but deselected on my work computer, which means bookmarks are not synced to all devices.

Not on the same account - if you disable it on one device, it will be disabled on all other devices when they next sync.

(In reply to Mark Hammond [:markh] [:mhammond] from comment #5)

(In reply to Francesco Lodolo [:flod] from comment #4)

For example, I could have bookmarks selected on my home computer, but deselected on my work computer, which means bookmarks are not synced to all devices.

Not on the same account - if you disable it on one device, it will be disabled on all other devices when they next sync.

Lovely, I have no idea how sync works then :-( Was this behavior changed at some point? I'm convinced I had it set up this way, although it was ages ago.

That's even more confusing though, because it means sync is syncing its settings, which is not called out anywhere. I think clarifying that is as important as fixing the "all devices" part.

(In reply to Francesco Lodolo [:flod] from comment #6)

Was this behavior changed at some point? I'm convinced I had it set up this way, although it was ages ago.

Given how old bug 894553, I guess not (I probably set it, and didn't realize the setting was lost).

Yeah, it's never worked that way. It's a very common misconception (and feature request once the show drops)

it means sync is syncing its settings, which is not called out anywhere. I think clarifying that is as important as fixing the "all devices" part.

The only settings it syncs is what the "engine choices" are - so to me "settings" vs 'the "all devices" part' are one and the same - whatever terms should be used to convey this is roughly the point of this bug.

(In reply to Mark Hammond [:markh] [:mhammond] from comment #8)

The only settings it syncs is what the "engine choices" are - so to me "settings" vs 'the "all devices" part' are one and the same - whatever terms should be used to convey this is roughly the point of this bug.

It's clear to me now, but it wasn't from comment 0, or from Ania's update.

I'm not exactly sure how you could cover both clearly in one string.

Maybe change this to what Ania suggested (slight variation at the end)

You are currently syncing these items across all your connected devices:

And add an intro string in the "Change…" dialog, e.g.

Changes to the list of items to sync will be reflected across all your connected devices.

My sincere apologies for dropping the ball on this.
I agree with Francesco's suggestions here, and I've attached a crude visualization for both strings placement.

Let me ping someone on the content design team to make sure we have adequate strings, and I'll be back here.

Weighing in with a content design recommendation. I prefer a variation on the first string, just removing a word for brevity:
"You are syncing these items across all your connected devices."

Thank you, Emily!
So it looks like we have settled on:

Sync page in about:preferences
You are syncing these items across all your connected devices.

Change Sync settings modal - assuming we can add this line into the modal
Changes to the list of items to sync will be reflected across all your connected devices.

https://hg.mozilla.org/mozilla-central/rev/43e086011769

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