What is Rsync for Windows and How to Use It? [Quick Tip]

Rsync is one of the most popular backup and synchronization programs for Linux users. You can also use it on Windows to back up your data to an external drive or NAS for syncing.

But, in case you didn't know, Rsync isn't a native Windows application and doesn't work on Windows out of the box. However, there is a way to get it working on Windows.

In this article, you will learn what Rsync is, how to use Rsync on Windows, and more. Keep reading because you don't want to miss out on this!

(Image: Rysnc user interface)

What is Rsync for Windows?

Rsync stands for “remote sync,” and is a Linux/Unix-based utility for backing up and synchronizing data both locally and remotely. With Rsync, you can synchronize all your files and folders across different disks, networks, and more.

Here are a few advantages of Rsync:

• Efficiently transfers and synchronizes data between local and remote systems.
• It compresses files for efficient transfer and decompresses them back to their original quality on the target system after synchronization.
• Permits copying of devices, ownership, links, permissions, and more.
• Rsync is faster than SCP due to its use of the remote update protocol.

How to Use Rsync on Windows?

If you're unsure how to use Rsync on a Windows computer, don't worry – we'll teach you how to install and use the program.

Here are the steps to install Rsync:

Since Rsync is a Linux/Unix-based program, you'll need to install the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) on your computer. WSL lets you run a Linux distribution from the command line on your Windows machine.

After installing WSL, enter the appropriate command for your Linux distribution. Since there are multiple distributions of Linux, here are the commands you'll need to install Rsync based on the Linux distribution you're using:

- `
• $ sudo apt-get install rsync: ` For Debian, Ubuntu, and Mint systems - `
• $ emerge sys-apps/rsync: ` For Gentoo systems - `
• $ sudo dnf install rsync: ` For Fedora, CentOS, RHEL, and Rocky Linux/AlmaLinux systems - `
• $ sudo zypper install rsync: ` For openSUSE systems - `
• $ pacman -S rsync: ` For Arch Linux systems

With Rsync installed, here's how to use it:

Step 1: If you want to back up an external hard drive with Rsync, connect it to your computer now. The drive should appear in File Explorer. After the drive mounts, you'll find it in the /mnt directory in a Linux terminal.

Step 2. Type ls /mnt and press Enter to list your drive partitions.

Step 3. If your external drive's partition does not show up in the list, type in the command sudo mkdir /mnt/(type in your partition letter here). For example, "sudo mkdir /mnt/L"

Step 4. Type in sudo mount -t drvfs (input the same partition number) /mnt/(input the same random partition letter). For example, "sudo mount -t drvfs L: /mnt/L"

Step 5. To view the contents of the partition, type the command "ls /mnt/(type the same random partition number)". For example, "ls /mnt/L"

Step 6: If you want to back up C:\system32\ to L:\, type the following command: "sudo rsync -avn /mnt/c/system32/ /mnt/L/"

Final Award

That's it for installing and using Rsync on Windows. Make sure you know which type of Linux distribution you have and use the correct command. If you enter the wrong one, you won't install Rsync on Windows.

Hopefully this guide has helped you set up Rsync on Windows!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about Rsync, along with their answers. 1. **What is Rsync?** Rsync is a utility for efficient file synchronization and backup between local and remote systems. It can be used to copy, move, or update files while preserving permissions, timestamps, and symbolic links. 2. **How does Rsync work?** Rsync uses a delta-transfer algorithm, which means it only transfers the differences between the source and destination files, making it very efficient for incremental backups. 3. **What are the main options in Rsync?** - `-r` or `--recursive`: Recursively process directories. - `-a` or `--archive`: Archive mode, equivalent to `-rlptgoD`, preserves all file attributes. - `-v` or `--verbose`: Provides detailed output. - `-z` or `--compress`: Compress data during transfer. - `-u` or `--update`: Updates existing files without overwriting newer ones. - `-n` or `--dry-run`: Simulate running without making any actual changes. 4. **How do I use Rsync for backups?** A simple example is: ``` rsync -avz /source/directory user@remotehost:/destination/directory ``` This will recursively, archive-style, and compressively sync the local `/source/directory` to the remote host's `/destination/directory`. 5. **How do I exclude files or directories in Rsync?** Use the `--exclude` option to exclude specific files or patterns, like: ``` rsync -avz --exclude='*.log' /source/directory user@remotehost:/destination/directory ``` This will exclude all files ending in `.log`. 6. **How does Rsync handle symbolic links?** By default, Rsync copies the symbolic links themselves. With the `-L` option, it follows the symlinks and copies the target files. 7. **How can I perform incremental backups with Rsync?** Rsync itself is an incremental backup tool, as it only transfers files that have changed since the last sync. 8. **Does Rsync support resuming interrupted transfers?** Yes, Rsync can remember partially transferred files and resume from where it left off during the next run, but this requires the `--partial` and `--inplace` options. 9. **Is Rsync secure?** Rsync can securely transmit data using encrypted protocols like SSH, ensuring the safety of your data during transfer. 10. **How do I delete files from the destination directory that no longer exist in the source with Rsync?** Using the `--delete` option, Rsync will remove from the destination directory files that no longer exist in the source. For instance: ``` rsync -avz --delete /source/directory user@remotehost:/destination/directory ```

1. Can I use Rsync in PowerShell?

No, unfortunately, you cannot use Rsync directly in PowerShell.

2. Can I use Rsync between Windows and Linux?

You can use Rsync between Windows and Linux by downloading the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL).

Why isn't Rsync a good backup solution?

For most users, rsync is too complex, and they lack the technical knowledge to use it properly. What they need is a simpler, less time-consuming tool.

is an easy-to-use backup software for both amateurs and professionals. You can back up your files and even store them in the cloud for future or remote access from other computers. Try it now and see for yourself!