Thanks to the numerous "cloud" services, it has become easy and convenient to transfer important files, so that you can access them from any computer that is connected to the Internet (even when we are away from home). However, not everyone is so inclined to move important data on the Internet, both for security scruples and for the difficulty of finding real free services. Programs such as those of DropBox, Google Drive and Onedrive (already integrated in Windows 10) work well to synchronize folders and files between computers using the cloud space, but have limited availability without a subscription plan and, in any case, they hardly allow you to save online entire hard drives from various TeraByte or more.
The best solution to use the same files and have the same folders using different computers is, therefore, to share them so that they are accessible and editable from any PC, using synchronization programs for this purpose.
Let's see together the best programs that can synchronize folders and files between two PCs, even distant from each other, connected via the Internet. The file transfer will take place exclusively to the destination folder and can also be configured bi-directionally: any change to the folder will bring a change to the original folder.
READ ALSO: Share files and folders on the network
Resilio Sync
The best free service that we can use to synchronize files and folders between different PCs, even remote, is definitely Resilio Sync, evolution of the old BitTorrent Sync service (also described in another article on how to synchronize folders between PC and mobile phone in P2P)
The program must be installed on all the PCs we intend to synchronize, taking care to choose a unique name that can identify it immediately. After installing the program, open it, accept the license and, once we are in the initial screen, click on the + button at the top left and select Standard Folder, so we can add a folder or file to the synchronization.
After selecting the folder, we will be asked to provide permissions for access ( Read only or Read and write ), remove any checkmarks from functions that we are not interested in confirming the creation of the synchronization by clicking on the Copy button. A very long link will be copied to the clipboard, containing the instructions for synchronizing the chosen folder. Now all we have to do is open Resilio installed on another PC, click on the top left corner on + and select Enter a key or link . In the new window that will open we insert the link created previously, we click Next and we choose the folder of this PC (empty) on which to receive start the synchronization. We are done: now all the files contained in the first folder of the computer will be synchronized in the second folder of the PC, even remotely. The synchronization speed depends on the Internet speed of the two PCs (also in upload), but on modern lines it should be fast enough.
No cloud space is required and no files are saved : the connection between the two folders is direct P2P and is carried out with high encryption, to avoid any type of intrusion during the journey. In addition to the connection via the Internet, Resilio also works well for synchronizing devices in the same local network, where the speed will be enormously higher and the files can be exchanged without any risk.
If we deem it necessary, we can also share the folder with friends and relatives, providing the link and the authorization to access: in this way we will be able to exchange files in a much faster and more practical way, even with very large files . If we don't trust the cloud we can use this program to synchronize the files and folders of two PCs.
The program is free for personal use, but many functions are disabled in favor of the paid version, which also allows you to choose individual files to synchronize and to have greater control over your shares.
Free File Sync
FreeFileSync is a free program that allows you to easily synchronize two folders on two separate computers, present on the same LAN or available online via FTP.
Although the interface may seem chaotic at first glance, with this program we will be able to synchronize two folders wherever they are, using a single program to do all the synchronizations (although it is advisable to replicate the program settings on all the computers we want to synchronize ).
To start, add the starting folder, by clicking on the Browse button on the left side of the mirror view (located in the center).
We will be able to select both local folders and folders on the network; to add a remote path (SFTP server, FTP or Google Drive), we use the small cloud-shaped button and Gdrive present next to the Browse button.
Now that the primary folder is settled, let's click on the second Browse button, this time on the right side of the mirror structure.
Also in this case we can add a local network path or another remote computer, using the button next to it (in the shape of a Drive and cloud icon).
Once the two folders have been arranged, click on Compare at the top to immediately see the differences, then click on the Synchronize button at the top right to start the two-way synchronization (i.e. each change on one side will also be copied to the other) .
If we want to change the type of synchronization, click on the green gear at the top (next to the Synchronize button) and choose the most suitable method for our needs.
Free File Sync allows the synchronization of files and folders between computers securely on the local network and, in the case of remote connection, uses the encryption of the SFTP and FTP protocols to guarantee a secure synchronization process when we operate on two remote computers.
Other programs to synchronize files and folders
Other programs that we can use to synchronize files and folders are:- Syncthing : open source project very similar to Resilio, with which we can synchronize two folders between numerous different devices, with advanced security systems to protect file exchanges through the Internet.
- Synchronicity is an easy and fast program to use to make scheduled automatic copies of important files, described in another article.
- SyncBackFree is a good simple program with also the possibility of support for transfers from ftp servers with encryption and data compression.
- SyncFolders is the easiest to configure thanks to its intuitive interface.
- Syncredible is a powerful synchronization tool that looks very similar to Microsoft's SyncToy, at least as far as primary functionality is concerned. It supports bidirectional synchronization and can be used easily thanks to a clear and intuitive interface. You can schedule automatic file synchronization every x days and you can exclude subfolders and filter some file formats by excluding them too.
- Pure Sync, on the other hand, is a program used to perform local file synchronization and which also works within home or corporate networks (not for sharing files on the internet). Pure Sync allows some customization by including the possibility of excluding subfolders and some types of files. Pure Sync also includes a backup function.
- Allway Sync is a rather complex software (also in Italian) that allows you to synchronize two folders, even from different computers, so that they always contain the same files. Allway Sync also provides detailed information on what changes were made between folders during synchronization. The peculiarity of Allway Sync, which at first seems to be a little confusing, is the ability to work by copying it to a USB stick. If you use two PCs, one at home and one at work, you can synchronize from the USB stick . Synchronization is possible with several options including removable drives, network folders, FTP servers, Amazon S3 online space and more. The only limitation is that the free version allows you to transfer only 40, 000 files in a month; if you want more, you have to buy the commercial version.
- Microsoft Synctoy to synchronize folders and files can also be used to automatically synchronize folders between computers and on the internet as written in another guide. This program has not been updated since 2009, it works well in Windows 7 even if it lacks many advanced options present in other similar software instead.
When using these programs you just have to pay attention to the direction of synchronization, that is to say to the program which is the updated folder and which one should receive the changes. Otherwise the risk would be to have the files deleted even if all the software of this type have, as an option, that of making copies without deleting the original files. My advice is to experiment before using them on important files.
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