How to Use Robocopy for One-Way Folder Synchronization in Windows 11/10/8/7?

Synchronized folders maintain precise replicas of files at multiple locations, and any changes made to the source folder automatically affect the target folder. One effective tool for synchronizing folders is Robocopy. Do you know how to use Robocopy for one-way folder synchronization? This guide will introduce different methods to use Robocopy for syncing folders. We'll first provide an overview of the basics of the Robocopy command and then delve into various scenarios.

【Overview of the Robocopy Command】

Robust File Copy, commonly abbreviated as Robocopy, is a Windows command-line tool used for copying files and directories from one location to another. The significance of the Robocopy command lies in its facilitation of data migration, file synchronization, and backup processes.

This can be accomplished by entering a series of Robocopy commands in an Administrator Command Prompt window. Typically, the syntax of a Robocopy command is as follows:

robocopy [Source] [Destination] [Files [...] ] [Options]

Here's a description of each element in the command:

- Source- Refers to the source directory of the file. - Destination- Refers to the destination directory where the file will be copied. - File- Specifies the name of the file you want to copy using Robocopy. - Options- Describes the actions the Robocopy command will perform, such as copying, logging, retrying, etc.

Some common Robocopy copy options include:

• /s- Copies all subdirectories, but excludes empty ones.
• /e- Copies all subdirectories, including empty ones.
• /mir- This command mirrors the directory tree. It also deletes files or folders at the destination that no longer exist in the source.
• /z- Allows you to copy files in restartable mode. This means large file transfers can resume if interrupted.
• /purge- Deletes all directories and files at the destination that no longer exist in the source.
• /mt[:n]- Allows for multi-threaded copying with up to "n" threads. "n" can be any integer or number between 1 and 128.

In addition to the Robocopy sync command options mentioned above, you can learn more by running Command Prompt as an administrator and typing "robocopy /?"

How to Perform a One-Way Robocopy Synchronization on Windows

Executing Robocopy in one-way sync mode means that you can maintain an exact copy of your files in another location, for example, the source directory. In this section, we will outline three scenarios for performing Robocopy one-way sync, as described below:

1. Scenario 1: Robocopy Only Copies Files
2. Scenario 2: Robocopy Copies Files and Subfolders
3. Scenario 3: Robocopy Mirrors Folders

Before running each Robocopy command, you'll need to open Command Prompt as an administrator. Read on to see how each one works.

Scenario 1: Robocopy copies only files

If you want to copy files from the source to the destination without using any switches, specify only the source and target paths. The system will synchronize and copy only the files, excluding subfolders, owner information, and NTFS permissions. Check out the following command:

robocopy "C:\Users\Bethwel\Pictures" "E:\bethwel"

This command copies only the “Pictures” folder from the source to the destination.

Case 2: Robocopy to Copy Files and Subfolders

To use Robocopy to copy all files and subfolders from the source directory to the destination directory, you need to use the "/e" command option. This parameter, in addition to copying all files and subfolders, also allows the replication of empty folders from the source directory to the destination.

In addition, to copy file attributes (NTFS permissions and owner information), include the copyall parameter in your command. Here's an example:

robocopy "C:\Users\This Is Bethwel\Pictures" "E:\bethwel" /e /copyall This is a Windows command that uses the Robocopy tool to copy all files and subdirectories from the directory "C:\Users\This Is Bethwel\Pictures" to "E:\bethwel". The parameters used are: - `/e` : Includes all subdirectories, including empty ones. - `/copyall` : Copies all file attributes, including data, timestamps, ACLs (Access Control Lists), and file attributes.

This Robocopy command copies files, subfolders, empty folders, and file attributes from drive C: to drive E:.

Case 3: Mirroring Folders with Robocopy

When mirroring a folder, the source and target will have identical attributes. The "/mir" command option in Robocopy lets you mirror an entire directory. Here's an example command to mirror a folder using Robocopy: ``` Robocopy SourceFolder TargetFolder /S /E /MIR ``` In this command: - `SourceFolder` is the folder you want to mirror. - `TargetFolder` is where the mirrored copy will be placed. - `/S` includes subdirectories, excluding empty ones. - `/E` extends the copy to include empty directories. - `/MIR` mirrors the source to the target, deleting any extra files or directories in the target that no longer exist in the source.

This command in English is: robocopy "C:\Users\This Is Bethwel\Pictures" "E:\bethwel" /mir This translates to: Use the Robocopy tool to mirror the contents of the directory "C:\Users\This Is Bethwel\Pictures" to "E:\bethwel". The parameter "/mir" stands for mirroring the source directory to the destination, which includes deleting files and subdirectories in the target directory that do not exist in the source.

Since Robocopy supports one-way mirroring, any changes you make to the destination folder (add/delete) won't affect the source folder. Conversely, if you delete any files from the source directory, the same will happen at the destination location.

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Best Free File Sync Software for Windows 11/10/8/7

Sometimes, it could be troublesome to use the Robocopy command to sync files between folders in Windows. But you don't need to worry about that anymore because you can use alternative software. One of the best free file sync software for Windows 11/10/8/7 is the Todo Backup tool.

This tool enables you to sync files easily and seamlessly between folders in Windows without much effort or time. Upon clicking “Sync,” the backup software lets you specify the source and target paths. You can also synchronize your files and folders to other computers or external hard drives.

This software handles file sync and acts as a powerful backup and restore tool. It lets you automatically back up files, systems, disks, apps, and more to external hard drives (learn more). It stores these backups in different spots. Plus, it lets you clone disks or create disk images (check it out) for data backup and recovery.

To start using Todo Backup as an alternative to Robocopy, make sure to grab the free version right away. The steps to get going with this sync tool are simple and straightforward.

Step 1. Launch Todo Backup and click the New Sync button in the bottom left corner.

Click the “Sync” button

Step 2. Click Select sync path on the left.

Next up, we just need to translate this into American English: "

Step 3. Choose the folder you want to synchronize, then click OK. The source folder can be a folder on your desktop, My Documents, Favorites, Computer, Network, or NAS.

Step 4. Choose the destination location for your synced files. You can opt for either a Two-way Sync or a One-way Sync, depending on your needs.

TIP: Click the Options button to choose a Synchronization Schedule, which can be set to run Daily, Weekly, On Event, or Real Time.

5\. Click Synchronize Now to start the synchronization task immediately.

Step 6: Wait for the sync to complete; you can see the “Files Syncing” bar in the top-left corner.

wrap-up work

If you want to sync one folder directionally, the Robocopy command is invaluable. This command lets you copy files only, use Robocopy to copy files and subfolders, or mirror folders. This article outlines all the commands to achieve these functions.

If you have questions about the Robocopy command, the best free sync software to try is Tools Todo Backup. This tool conveniently synchronizes files between Windows folders. It supports both real-time and scheduled syncing. Be sure to download Tools Todo Backup today and try its syncing capabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions About Robocopy for One-Way File Synchronization

Here are some common questions about the Robocopy one-way sync folder command.

How to Sync Two Folders

On Windows, you can use a command-line tool called Robocopy to synchronize two folders. You just need to open Command Prompt as an administrator and type in a specific command to sync files, subdirectories, and file attributes between folders.

How to use Robocopy to synchronize folders?

You can use the Robocopy command to synchronize folders: robocopy [source path] [destination path]. To copy files, subfolders, and file attributes, add "/e /copyall" to the command.

Is there a better tool than Robocopy?

Though Robocopy is an efficient tool, it has a few downsides, such as: 1) It can be difficult to use for those unfamiliar with command-line interfaces, 2) Incorrect parameter settings might lead to file loss, and 3) It is only compatible with Windows operating systems. For a more user-friendly and efficient solution for synchronizing files between folders, you might consider using a tool like Todo Backup as a better alternative.