I've been using this for a while now, works great for companies where our primary servers are across the country, accessed by VPN tunnel, so it takes a while for those of us in a remote office to access some files. I just sync folders I need (echo for source files, for example), and then I just access them locally.
Thanks for making this! I'm getting another machine and need project files to be synced across the two machines. Hoping it'll work for that. Do you have to have the drives on another machine mapped for SyncToy to see them? Or does it look at machines on the wireless network?
When I first installed Synctoy, I was using it for a very similar purpose! I was trying to sync certain folders on both my laptop and my desktop, which would connect to each other over the same Wi-Fi network. This is back in the days of Windows 7. All I did was make sure that these folders were accessible over the network using the network feature of windows. Then, I would pair the folders on the desktop with those on the laptop on synctoy, which was installed on both of the devices. I started on both devices so that I could run the program from other device, and I made sure that the sink toy pairing was set to synchronize. Keep in mind, that a sync task like this will only work if both devices are turned on and connected to the network.
Yes, they should. It’s just pretty old software, so maybe that’s why they don’t. Yes, the task scheduler can do that, like I show in the video. I have scheduled it to run five minutes after start up.
Hi Tutor Terrific, I wondered if you had any more thoughts on why SyncToy was only syncing a few of the sub folders in the folders I`d set it up to sync. I set up all my folder pairs originally as you showed in this video and was syncing over to an absolutely blank HDD. On the first run I just accepted it because the report afterwards was good, and didn't check that it had picked up all the sub folders, so thats my error. I just wonder if it would be best to copy manually the folder and all its sub folders onto the HDD first and THEN set up a folder pair, set it up as `Echo` and run it, because if the folder and all the sub folders within it are there to start with surely all SyncToy has got to do then is compare the Left and Right locations each time you run it, and update accordingly. Do you think that might have a better chance of working? Thanks for your help
I have been thinking about your situation, and I’m very perplexed. You need a folder pair in existence before you ever should’ve been able to sync anything. Thus, I ask you: did you set up blank folders in the blank HDD to sync to before you did the first run? If so, then I could understand it bugging out and only syncing the primary folder and none of the sub folders. However, you state that it was syncing a fraction of the sub folders and a majority of them were not being synced. That is odd. Sync toy should have been copying all files and sub folders and files in those sub folders during the first run. If you were set up even to synchronize, and you are making no changes in the external hard drive, it still should’ve copied over every sub folder and every new file in every sub folder.
@@TutorTerrific Hi Alley, I just followed your video when I set SyncToy up. BUT this might be where I went wrong, I set up the folder pairs within SyncToy and then ran the software and at the end, on every pair I set up up it said `successful`, so I thought that was it. But I never checked that all the subfolders had been copied over, and as I said initially this only came to light when I got that error report. Yesterday I set up a blank folder on my HDD and called it DESKTOP and then copied all the folders off my desktop into this manually. I then set up a sync pair and ran it and when it had run checked `properties` of Left and Right folders to make sure size of each agreed and that the exact number of files were in both the L and R folders. If that was what I should have done right from the start then I apologise because I clearly misunderstood your video instructions. When I set this up I created blank folders in the Right location and named them, but I didn't copy all the files over from the L to R folders manually to start with! I also checked on one of the other videos on YT talking about SyncToy and the guy who put that up didn't say to set up blank folders in Right location either, just to set up sync pairs and `run`. If this was me misunderstanding your original videos then I apologise and I`ll be more than happy to remove all of my comments from your video. Let me know if I`m now doing it properly and I`ll get my comments taken down and apologies once again for any inconvenience caused. Thanks for all the time you've taken to help me on this because SyncToy seems easy enough to set up, far easier than any other back up software I`ve tried, so I`d like to get it to work correctly.
Great video, thanks! Question: If I close the Command Prompt window when it pops up (when SyncToy is running) will the backups stop? In other words, must I leave the Command Prompt window open until it is finished? Thanks!
Question; This is what I need it to do; tell me if it can do this: I want to take video files (from my desktop) and save them to (2 external hard drives) without have to save to both external hard drives one by one-twice; I'd like to do one save but it goes to both hard drives the same? If this is possible, which save option on the program would be best for this operation?
Unfortunately, you cannot do this with one command, you’ll have to set up two folder pairs. One that is connected to one of the external drives and one that is connected to the other external drive. However, when you set that up, you can make every setting identical so that it will sync everything from the original folder to the two external hard drives identically.
Hello, this is great! I used syncToy for a while but I was not aware of the Task Scheduler part. I Installed synctoy 2.1.I set up as instructed, however, on "logon" nothing happens. I then changed to Action> "C:\Program Files\SyncToy 2.1\SyncToy.exe" (-R) and now I get a popup "the ability to execute folder pairs from the command line (-r option) is now available". If I click "OK" popup goes away and, again, nothing happens. I am not sure if I missed something. Any ideas? thanks
Thanks for a good video! I downloaded SyncToy but when I try to install it tells me the setup requires the .NET Framesork v. 2.0.50727. I have v.4* on my computer. Do you know if there is a way I can install SyncToy, or if it needs something else? I'm on a desktop running latest version of Windows 10 Pro
One other person has commented on this a couple months ago, I am very confused by what your computer is telling you. I’ve downloaded SuncToy to three different devices, and I’ve never been asked for that specific .net framework. Have you tried to see if anyone has asked that question in a forum online?
@@TutorTerrific Thanks for replying. I did ask somebody who pointed me to a download for V.2, but obviously I'm very reluctant to do so. I do not know of any forum online where I could ask. Guess I'll have to look for another program
@@TutorTerrific I have the same issue, when I try to run sync toy I get "requires the .NET Framesork v. 2.0.50727" I searched microsoft for it, there's a framework already installed,,,this is on an updated windows 10 computer
I’ve heard that there’s a new version of Synctoy called Synctoy2. I’m guessing if you have two new version of that framework that you have to use Synctoy2 instead of the original.
@@TutorTerrific Fixed it, My framework was turned off,,,turned it on (took awhile to download everything) and now synctoy is loaded and set...here's the link if anyone needs it: answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/how-to-install-net-framework-20-in-windows-10/61616e06-5785-4cac-a030-b59d1fe6ec2c
Thanks a lot. That’s a great tutorial. I used SyncToy2 on an updated Windows 10 system to sync a downloaded OneDrive folder (~500 GB) to an external Extreme Portable SSD 1TB using “contribute” option. Everything was fine over 8 hrs of synchronization, except unfortunately it took a double space on the SSD (only 10 GB are remaining in the latter). That’s very disappointing indeed. How can I fix that? Any ideas?
Double check that your portable SSD does not have a bunch of bloatware on it, every external drive I’ve had has a ton of that stuff installed to try and get you to use their software to sync your folders and files, or do back ups automatically.
Tutor Terrific Thank you very much for prompt response. It has ScanDesk Security Access. Should I format it and start over the sync? After redoing manual sync, I have only 1 MB remaining?
@@TutorTerrific Thanks a lot. It works well although it took 35% space larger than the backup. Another question, how to identify and sort out the problem of failed files/folders to sync? Thanks in advance.
That is weird, I’ve never seen that before. If you’re still trying to install this, restart the computer, delete the download, and download it again and re-install.
@@TutorTerrific Hey I tried restarting and same problem. I even tried 32 bit even i have 64 bit. no luck. same error and interesting thing is .NET version it is looking for me to download is older version.
Hi, i've one concern here. I am planning files & folders are need to syn between two systems.I need to install Microsoft toy on both sides of the computer?? So kindly clarify..
If you’re going to be editing the set of files on both systems, then you would set sync toy up on both systems, make sure they’re connected to each other over a local Internet network, and you would select “synchronize” as the setting for both. However, it will only synchronize if both systems are on at the same time and connected to the network. This is how I first used sync toy.
Hello, i would like to ask you something about moving files, because of corrupted profiles: When i copy all files of the corrupted user profile to a new created profile; Microsoft say, do NOT tough : show protected system files and show hidden files What i understand as: DON'T uncheck the setting: "hide protected system files" DON'T check the setting: "show hidden files" I have an idea, why this is important. BUT: what is with the settings in SyncToy ? - which i like to use for this? SyncToy main settings are: Exclude read only files Exclude hiden files Exclude system files I guess, that SyncToy copy these files - even, when i did NOT change the settings on drive C So, i think, that i explicit have to CHECK these settings in SyncToy. But ! what is about: "Exclude read only files" ???? My problem is: I have not enough free space on the HDD. When i copy the files from the corrupted profile, i have to copy 55 GB to the new created profile. But, when i copy it, i need the double space - to do that. I don't have tat much space - so; i have to move the files to an external USB drive; which is / has no OS. Microsft just write, that you don't tough the settings for system and hidden files. OK - but, they think, that i just copy from one to annother user profiel, which is NOT the procedure in my case.....
So, are you saying that you’re trying to copy all files, including system files, from a corrupted hard drive to a different non-corrupted hard drive? If the hard drive is corrupted, I’m not sure you will be able to access all the system files for the sync-toy copy. Read only files are those files that cannot be edited by default, but only opened and viewed.
Oh, that’s an interesting idea. If they are both connected by USB to a single computer, then you can just select all the folders you want from one hard drive on the left side and all the folders you want to sync to on the other hard drive on the right side. Nothings gonna happen unless they’re both connected.
Just wanna try this software to make my own cloud gaming system using PPSSPP so I could play and share the save data between My Phone and PC. Thanks anyway, let me try
Oh no! Just search sync toy in a search engine and see if you can find it another website. I’ll have to look and see if they switched over to sync toy 2.
SyncToy was discontinued in January 2021. SOURCE: answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-files/where-is-synctoy/ce25629a-7489-4489-8480-cdf36e67bb7c
I've been using this for a while now, works great for companies where our primary servers are across the country, accessed by VPN tunnel, so it takes a while for those of us in a remote office to access some files. I just sync folders I need (echo for source files, for example), and then I just access them locally.
Nice, thanks for sharing :)
You're using Windows in a Corporate setting...yikes scary
Thanks for making this video! It is exactly what I needed to decide SyncToy would solve my problem.
Awesome, I am glad I could help. I love this software!
Thanks for making this! I'm getting another machine and need project files to be synced across the two machines. Hoping it'll work for that. Do you have to have the drives on another machine mapped for SyncToy to see them? Or does it look at machines on the wireless network?
When I first installed Synctoy, I was using it for a very similar purpose! I was trying to sync certain folders on both my laptop and my desktop, which would connect to each other over the same Wi-Fi network. This is back in the days of Windows 7. All I did was make sure that these folders were accessible over the network using the network feature of windows. Then, I would pair the folders on the desktop with those on the laptop on synctoy, which was installed on both of the devices. I started on both devices so that I could run the program from other device, and I made sure that the sink toy pairing was set to synchronize. Keep in mind, that a sync task like this will only work if both devices are turned on and connected to the network.
Unfortunately Download is not available. :(
Thanks a lot. This was exactly what I was searching for.
Wondeful, Synctoy was exactly what I was looking for back in 2012. It hasn’t let me down yet!
Thank you. You made me notice a small detail I had missed - synctoyCMD.exe (I was trying the one without the CMD). Great video!
You are welcome
That link for downloading SynToy is no longer active.
microsoft should promote this more, I was also wondering if there was a way to schedule syncs?
Yes, they should. It’s just pretty old software, so maybe that’s why they don’t. Yes, the task scheduler can do that, like I show in the video. I have scheduled it to run five minutes after start up.
@@TutorTerrific @clipsXD Unfortunately Microsoft stopped this tool and not available for download. such a pity.
@@ChakrasMusicLab Get from CNET.
Hi Tutor Terrific, I wondered if you had any more thoughts on why SyncToy was only syncing a few of the sub folders in the folders I`d set it up to sync. I set up all my folder pairs originally as you showed in this video and was syncing over to an absolutely blank HDD. On the first run I just accepted it because the report afterwards was good, and didn't check that it had picked up all the sub folders, so thats my error. I just wonder if it would be best to copy manually the folder and all its sub folders onto the HDD first and THEN set up a folder pair, set it up as `Echo` and run it, because if the folder and all the sub folders within it are there to start with surely all SyncToy has got to do then is compare the Left and Right locations each time you run it, and update accordingly. Do you think that might have a better chance of working? Thanks for your help
I have been thinking about your situation, and I’m very perplexed. You need a folder pair in existence before you ever should’ve been able to sync anything. Thus, I ask you: did you set up blank folders in the blank HDD to sync to before you did the first run? If so, then I could understand it bugging out and only syncing the primary folder and none of the sub folders. However, you state that it was syncing a fraction of the sub folders and a majority of them were not being synced. That is odd. Sync toy should have been copying all files and sub folders and files in those sub folders during the first run. If you were set up even to synchronize, and you are making no changes in the external hard drive, it still should’ve copied over every sub folder and every new file in every sub folder.
@@TutorTerrific Hi Alley, I just followed your video when I set SyncToy up. BUT this might be where I went wrong, I set up the folder pairs within SyncToy and then ran the software and at the end, on every pair I set up up it said `successful`, so I thought that was it. But I never checked that all the subfolders had been copied over, and as I said initially this only came to light when I got that error report. Yesterday I set up a blank folder on my HDD and called it DESKTOP and then copied all the folders off my desktop into this manually. I then set up a sync pair and ran it and when it had run checked `properties` of Left and Right folders to make sure size of each agreed and that the exact number of files were in both the L and R folders. If that was what I should have done right from the start then I apologise because I clearly misunderstood your video instructions. When I set this up I created blank folders in the Right location and named them, but I didn't copy all the files over from the L to R folders manually to start with! I also checked on one of the other videos on YT talking about SyncToy and the guy who put that up didn't say to set up blank folders in Right location either, just to set up sync pairs and `run`. If this was me misunderstanding your original videos then I apologise and I`ll be more than happy to remove all of my comments from your video. Let me know if I`m now doing it properly and I`ll get my comments taken down and apologies once again for any inconvenience caused. Thanks for all the time you've taken to help me on this because SyncToy seems easy enough to set up, far easier than any other back up software I`ve tried, so I`d like to get it to work correctly.
Great video, thanks! Question: If I close the Command Prompt window when it pops up (when SyncToy is running) will the backups stop? In other words, must I leave the Command Prompt window open until it is finished? Thanks!
I believe you need to leave it open, but you can minimize it.
@@TutorTerrific Thanks!
Question;
This is what I need it to do; tell me if it can do this:
I want to take video files (from my desktop) and save them to (2 external hard drives)
without have to save to both external hard drives one by one-twice; I'd like to do one save but it goes to
both hard drives the same? If this is possible, which save option on the program would be best for this operation?
Unfortunately, you cannot do this with one command, you’ll have to set up two folder pairs. One that is connected to one of the external drives and one that is connected to the other external drive. However, when you set that up, you can make every setting identical so that it will sync everything from the original folder to the two external hard drives identically.
@@TutorTerrific Thanks
very clear instructions! Thank you.
You’re very welcome, I hope to Synctoy works well for you!
Thanks a lot for very clear explanations
I heard Microsoft discontinued this software. Were you still able to get it?
@@TutorTerrific I just got the software a few days before
Very detailed and useful video.
Thank you 🙏🏻
Hello, this is great! I used syncToy for a while but I was not aware of the Task Scheduler part. I Installed synctoy 2.1.I set up as instructed, however, on "logon" nothing happens. I then changed to Action> "C:\Program Files\SyncToy 2.1\SyncToy.exe" (-R) and now I get a popup "the ability to execute folder pairs from the command line (-r option) is now available". If I click "OK" popup goes away and, again, nothing happens. I am not sure if I missed something. Any ideas? thanks
you're AWESOME!! THANKS!!
You are welcome, enjoy!
Incredible. THANK YOU!
You’re welcome, I hope this program fits your needs.
@@TutorTerrific It definitely did. Just Echoed two hard drives! Absolutely amazing. Hope you have a great day! (:
Thanks for a good video! I downloaded SyncToy but when I try to install it tells me the setup requires the .NET Framesork v. 2.0.50727. I have v.4* on my computer. Do you know if there is a way I can install SyncToy, or if it needs something else? I'm on a desktop running latest version of Windows 10 Pro
One other person has commented on this a couple months ago, I am very confused by what your computer is telling you. I’ve downloaded SuncToy to three different devices, and I’ve never been asked for that specific .net framework. Have you tried to see if anyone has asked that question in a forum online?
@@TutorTerrific Thanks for replying. I did ask somebody who pointed me to a download for V.2, but obviously I'm very reluctant to do so. I do not know of any forum online where I could ask. Guess I'll have to look for another program
@@TutorTerrific I have the same issue, when I try to run sync toy I get "requires the .NET Framesork v. 2.0.50727" I searched microsoft for it, there's a framework already installed,,,this is on an updated windows 10 computer
I’ve heard that there’s a new version of Synctoy called Synctoy2. I’m guessing if you have two new version of that framework that you have to use Synctoy2 instead of the original.
@@TutorTerrific Fixed it, My framework was turned off,,,turned it on (took awhile to download everything) and now synctoy is loaded and set...here's the link if anyone needs it: answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/how-to-install-net-framework-20-in-windows-10/61616e06-5785-4cac-a030-b59d1fe6ec2c
Thanks a lot. That’s a great tutorial. I used SyncToy2 on an updated Windows 10 system to sync a downloaded OneDrive folder (~500 GB) to an external Extreme Portable SSD 1TB using “contribute” option. Everything was fine over 8 hrs of synchronization, except unfortunately it took a double space on the SSD (only 10 GB are remaining in the latter). That’s very disappointing indeed. How can I fix that? Any ideas?
Double check that your portable SSD does not have a bunch of bloatware on it, every external drive I’ve had has a ton of that stuff installed to try and get you to use their software to sync your folders and files, or do back ups automatically.
Tutor Terrific Thank you very much for prompt response. It has ScanDesk Security Access. Should I format it and start over the sync? After redoing manual sync, I have only 1 MB remaining?
Yes, reformat and erase all the Security Access bloatware. It must’ve activated and created it’s own back up while you were doing a manual back up.
@@TutorTerrific Thanks a lot. It works well although it took 35% space larger than the backup. Another question, how to identify and sort out the problem of failed files/folders to sync? Thanks in advance.
Can we still use this software on Windows 11?
On Windows 11, I am not sure. I have never used Windows 11.
Exactly what i was looking for.
I’m glad, I love Synctoy!
@@TutorTerrific Hey I am having trouble when I install. Asking me to install .NET which I already have installed. but not going to next step.
That is weird, I’ve never seen that before. If you’re still trying to install this, restart the computer, delete the download, and download it again and re-install.
@@TutorTerrific Hey I tried restarting and same problem. I even tried 32 bit even i have 64 bit. no luck. same error and interesting thing is .NET version it is looking for me to download is older version.
@@TutorTerrific I wish I can show you pic.
Hi, i've one concern here. I am planning files & folders are need to syn between two systems.I need to install Microsoft toy on both sides of the computer?? So kindly clarify..
If you’re going to be editing the set of files on both systems, then you would set sync toy up on both systems, make sure they’re connected to each other over a local Internet network, and you would select “synchronize” as the setting for both. However, it will only synchronize if both systems are on at the same time and connected to the network. This is how I first used sync toy.
Hello, i would like to ask you something about moving files, because of corrupted profiles:
When i copy all files of the corrupted user profile to a new created profile;
Microsoft say, do NOT tough : show protected system files and show hidden files
What i understand as:
DON'T uncheck the setting: "hide protected system files"
DON'T check the setting: "show hidden files"
I have an idea, why this is important.
BUT: what is with the settings in SyncToy ? - which i like to use for this?
SyncToy main settings are:
Exclude read only files
Exclude hiden files
Exclude system files
I guess, that SyncToy copy these files - even, when i did NOT change the settings on drive C
So, i think, that i explicit have to CHECK these settings in SyncToy.
But ! what is about: "Exclude read only files" ????
My problem is: I have not enough free space on the HDD.
When i copy the files from the corrupted profile, i have to copy 55 GB to the new created profile. But, when i copy it, i need the double space - to do that.
I don't have tat much space - so; i have to move the files to an external USB drive;
which is / has no OS.
Microsft just write, that you don't tough the settings for system and hidden files.
OK - but, they think, that i just copy from one to annother user profiel,
which is NOT the procedure in my case.....
So, are you saying that you’re trying to copy all files, including system files, from a corrupted hard drive to a different non-corrupted hard drive? If the hard drive is corrupted, I’m not sure you will be able to access all the system files for the sync-toy copy. Read only files are those files that cannot be edited by default, but only opened and viewed.
Superb !! Thankyou.
You’re welcome!
What's the best way to backup from external hard drive to another external hard drive?
Oh, that’s an interesting idea. If they are both connected by USB to a single computer, then you can just select all the folders you want from one hard drive on the left side and all the folders you want to sync to on the other hard drive on the right side. Nothings gonna happen unless they’re both connected.
@@TutorTerrific thank you 👍
Just wanna try this software to make my own cloud gaming system using PPSSPP so I could play and share the save data between My Phone and PC. Thanks anyway, let me try
it says *We're sorry, this download is no longer available.*
Oh no! Just search sync toy in a search engine and see if you can find it another website. I’ll have to look and see if they switched over to sync toy 2.
Really helpful thanks!
Glad I could be of help!
Really nice. Thank you
I am glad that you liked it!
Thank you very much.
You are very welcome.
Thank you!!! Great!
Glad I could help you!
nice tutorial thanks.
No problem, glad you liked it!
legend
So sync toy works with windows server ?
Which version of Windows Server do you have?
Could I sync file everytime??
Yes you can. I have every folder pair run at start up of my computer.
Tutor Terrific
Auto sync file everytime ???can or not
Yes, auto. That is definitely the point I was trying to make. I would not have bothered if I had to do it manually every time.
Tutor Terrific thank brother 🇰🇭❤️
SyncToy was discontinued in January 2021. SOURCE: answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-files/where-is-synctoy/ce25629a-7489-4489-8480-cdf36e67bb7c
Unfortunately your video is blurry.
Hmm, it might be your connection. RUclips reduces video playback resolution when there is a weak connection so that the video will not have to buffer.
So it's like the old briefcase function?
I don't remember briefcase, but if the name implies anything, I would say so.
Thanks a lot! Great!
You are welcome!