Overall Guide to SyncToy for Windows 10/11 [With Alternative Options] - Tools

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What Is Microsoft SyncToy for Windows 10/11?
How to Utilize SyncToy?
Warning! SyncToy Not Functioning Issues
Is There an Alternative to SyncToy? Discover SyncToy Replacement
Frequently Asked Questions: SyncToy for Windows 10/11

What Is Microsoft SyncToy for Windows 10/11?

SyncToy was a free software utility in Microsoft's PowerToys collection that offered an intuitive graphical user interface for synchronizing files and folders in Windows XP, Vista, 7, and 10. - Wikipedia.com

Microsoft SyncToy is a utility tool that enables users to synchronize files and folders between two different locations. It can be utilized for synchronizing files on a local computer, a network share, or a remote server.

SyncToy can be utilized for creating backups, synchronizing files across multiple computers, or maintaining two folders in harmony. It offers both one-way and two-way synchronization capabilities and can be employed with various storage devices, such as external hard drives, USB flash drives, and cloud storage services.

SyncToy is included with all versions of Windows starting with Windows Vista and is available for download from the Microsoft website.

SyncToy Download

Important: SyncToy download availability ended in January 2021.

If you go to the official page and try to download SyncToy, you'll get a 404 error! Microsoft no longer provides SyncToy downloads, and SyncToy 2.1 is the most recent version available.

Synctoy is no longer available

Fortunately, you can download it from CNET.

Click the green button to install SyncToy.

Please confirm the following prompts:

Read the Microsoft Sync Framework 2.0 Core Components agreement and select the "Accept" button.
Check "I have read and understand the warning above" and click "I agree."
Browse to select the installation location, then start the download and installation process.

Then open it and check how to use SyncToy in the following section.

How to Use SyncToy? Using SyncToy involves the following steps: 1. Download and Install: First, download SyncToy from Microsoft's official website. It's a free utility for Windows users. Once downloaded, run the installer to install it on your computer. 2. Launch SyncToy: After installation, locate the SyncToy icon in your Start menu or on your desktop and double-click it to launch the application. 3. Create a New Folder Pair: A "Folder Pair" is a pair of folders that you want to keep synchronized. Click on "New" under "FolderPairs" in the left pane. You'll be prompted to select the "Contribute" folder (the source folder) and the "Receive" folder (the destination folder). 4. Choose Synchronization Action: SyncToy offers three synchronization actions: - Sync: Updates both folders to have the same content. - Echo: Copies all changes made in the "Contribute" folder to the "Receive" folder, deleting any extra files in the "Receive" folder. - Contribute: Only adds new files or updates existing ones in the "Receive" folder from the "Contribute" folder, never deleting anything. 5. Run the Sync: After setting up the Folder Pair, click on the "Run" button to initiate the synchronization process. SyncToy will show you a preview of the changes before executing them. 6. Save and Schedule: If you want to save the settings for future use, click "Save". You can also schedule SyncToy to run automatically at specific times by clicking "Schedule". 7. Monitor Progress: While SyncToy is running, you can monitor its progress in the main window. Once completed, you'll receive a notification. Remember, SyncToy only synchronizes files and folders, not system settings or program data. Always back up important data before using synchronization tools.

Quick check: Firstly, choose the source and destination directories for SyncToy to utilize. Next, select your preferred synchronization option from the available menu. Lastly, click the "Synchronize" button to initiate the process.

Detailed Guide:

#1. Check the SyncToy Panel
#2. How to Create a Folder Pair

#1. Check the SyncToy Panel

When you launch the SyncToy application, it presents a straightforward interface containing three main concepts:

Left Folder - The folder you wish to backup.
Right Folder - The backup destination where you want to save the files, such as a USB flash drive or external hard drive.
Create New Folder Pair - Establish a backup process between the left and right folders. This is also referred to as a "What-Where" backup rule.

Synctoy interface

#2. How to Create a Folder Pair

Step 1. Click the "Create New Folder Pair" button.

create new folder pair - 1

Step 2. Click "Browse..." to select the folder you want to back up.

Create New Folder Pair - 2

Step 3. Click "Browse..." to choose the location. Here, I select my external USB drive. Click "Next".

create new folder pair - 3

Step 4. You'll see three SyncToy actions in the next panel. Choose one and click "Next".

synctoy actions

Synchronize - In synchronize mode, files are copied in both directions. If a file is added or modified in either location, it will be updated in the other location.
Echo - In echo mode, files are copied only from the left folder to the right folder. If a file is added or changed in the left folder, it will be updated in the right folder. However, any changes made in the right folder will not be copied back to the left folder.
Contribute - In contribute mode, files are copied from the left folder to the right folder only. No deletions are performed.

Which mode should I check?

Create a one-time, full backup from the local computer to an external device - Echo.
Synchronize data files between two computers - Synchronize.
Backup data file excluding deleted files - Contribute.

Step 5. Name your folder pair and click "Finish".

Create new folder pair - 4

Step 6. The next panel will display the backup details, including the folder name, target source and destination, and the SyncToy action to be performed.

Create New Folder Pair - 5

Click "Change options" to specify which files to include or exclude.

Create New Folder Pair - 6

Step 7. Final Step, click the "Preview" and then "Run" button.

Create New Folder Pair - 7

Video Tutorial - How Does SyncToy Function

In this video, the YouTuber demonstrates the primary use of SyncToy and how to synchronize folders using this free Microsoft software.

02:24 - Basic information.

04:12 - Begin to create a new pair.

Translation: Using SyncToy to Automatically Sync or Copy Files

Attention! Issues with SyncToy Not Working

#1. SyncToy Not Copying All Files

One issue that SyncToy users might encounter is that SyncToy appears to be failing to copy all files from one location to another.

Reason 1 - The folders you are trying to synchronize are not set up correctly.

SyncToy can only synchronize two folders located on the same drive; it does not support synchronization across different drives. Furthermore, both folders must be accessible when SyncToy is running. If one of the folders is situated on a network drive that is currently unavailable, SyncToy will not be able to copy the files.

Reason 2 - Some of the files in the folder are being excluded by SyncToy.

SyncToy, by default, excludes certain files like system and temporary files. However, you can also add custom exclusions if you choose. If you suspect this might be the issue, you can check SyncToy's log file to see which files are being skipped.

#2. SyncToy Failing to Sync When Run as a Scheduled Task

SyncToy can be used in conjunction with Task Scheduler to set up a scheduled backup.

synctoy schedule

However, occasionally you might encounter the issue where SyncToy's Task Scheduler is not functioning properly. We suggest you review your setup options once again.

Well, these two issues may let you down. Why not look at a SyncToy alternative and start an essential and automatic backup?

Best Free SyncToy Alternative Software for Windows 10/8/7

If SyncToy is not functioning or fails to sync files on your Windows 10, 8, or 7 PC/laptops, don't worry. The best free SyncToy alternative software – EverySync – is available to assist you.

Is There a SyncToy Alternative? Check Out the Replacement for SyncToy

Todo Backup, a free backup software, is a dependable and user-friendly backup software that ensures the safety of your systems, files, disks, and partitions across all Windows versions. With its password-protected backup feature, you can rest assured that your data is secure from loss.

Moreover, Todo Backup equips you with flexible backup options, allowing you to copy your data on a schedule to address the "SyncToy Not Syncing with Scheduled Task" issue.

Free Download Backup Software Tools:

Step 1. To start a backup, click the Select backup contents option.

Step 2. There are four data backup categories: File, Disk, OS, and Mail. Click on File.

Step 3. On the left, both local and network files will be displayed. You can expand the directory to select the backup files.

Step 4. Follow the on-screen prompts and select a location to save the backup.

Click Options to set a password for encrypting the backup in Backup Options, then click Backup Scheme to define the backup schedule and initiate the backup at a specific event. You can also select additional options to customize the backup process according to your needs.

Step 5. The backup can be stored on a local disk, the tool's online service, or a NAS.

Step 6. Todo Backup allows users to back up data to both a third-party cloud drive and its own cloud drive.

If you want to back up data to a cloud drive provided by a third party, select Local Drive, scroll down to add Cloud Device, and then add and log in to your account.

Backup to cloud
You can also opt for the Tools cloud drive. Sign up for a Tools Account and then click on Tools Cloud to log in.

Step 7. Click Backup Now to initiate the backup process. Once completed, the backup job will appear as a card on the left side of the panel. Right-click the backup job to perform additional actions on it.

SyncToy for Windows 10/11: How to Utilize SyncToy for Backup Purposes