Windows Bidirectional Folder Syncing with Best Software

What is Bidirectional Sync

File synchronization (or syncing) in computing is the process of ensuring that computer files in two or more locations are updated via certain rules. It is often used for home backups on external hard drives or to transfer updates on external hard drives to the cloud. Before knowing about bidirectional synchronization, it’s necessary to know the one-way synchronization.

In One-way Sync mode, the updated files are copied from a source location to one or more target locations, any changes in your source location, like creation, deletion, or modification, will be synced to the destination, but no files are copied back to the source location.

In Bidirectional Sync mode, also called two-way sync, the updated files are copied in both directions, usually with the purpose of keeping the two locations identical to each other. Any changes in the source path will be synchronized to the destination; any changes in the destination path will be synchronized to the source as well.

Benefits of Bidirectional Folder Syncing

Nowadays, as people need to store more and more data and files in life or work, the storage where they store data are also changing. For instance, many users back up files to different cloud storage in order to make files easily accessible no matter where they are or what device they are using. Other storage devices such as external hard drives, NAS, and USB flash drives are also commonly used.

At the same time, two-way folder synchronization has become one of the most popular sync modes with outstanding advantages.

✪ Bidirectional Folder Syncing Saves You Time. If you use this mode to synchronize two folders, you do not need to manually go back and change the copy when there is any change in the source or destination location. By ensuring that all copies of the file are updated at the same time, you can save a lot of time.
✪ Bidirectional Folder Syncing avoids using outdated files. In this mode, any changes in the document can be synchronized to both locations in time, which can ensure the timeliness and accuracy of the document. Therefore, you will not miss important changes in the document, and small oversights like this may have a negative impact on your work.

How to Sync Folders Both Ways in Windows 10

If you want to perform bidirectional folder syncing, it is highly recommended to use the best folder sync software for Windows 10—AOMEI Backupper Professional. It also runs smoothly on Windows 111 and other previous systems, including Windows 8.1/8/7/Vista/XP, both32-bit and 64-bit.

Take a look at its synchronization function:

✮ Versatile sync modes: it offers Basic Sync, Mirror Sync, Real-Time Sync, and Two-Way Sync. Here we select the last one. The previous 3 options are one-way file sync, you can choose them based on sync frequencies (schedule or real-time) or data security. 
✮ Abundant sync destinations: It allows you to perform Windows sync files between two folders, drives, or computers. You are also allowed to sync folders with NAS or Cloud, such as sync two Synology NAS servers, or sync local folder to OneDrive.
✮ Automatic File Sync: it allows you to schedule sync, which can help you get changes regularly by syncing files daily/weekly/monthly or based on specific events or USB drive.

Next, I will give you a graphic tutorial to teach you how to sync two folders in windows 10 or Windows 11/8/7 via AOMEI Backupper Professional. First of all, download and install it. For server users, try AOMEI Backupper Server!

Step 1. Launch AOMEI Backupper. On the left panel of this program, click “Sync” and then select “Two-Way Sync”.

Step 2. You can edit the task name to distinguish this task from other tasks. Then click “Add Folder” to select the folder you want to sync.

Tips✍:
✮ You are only allowed to choose one source folder in one task when performing Two-Way Sync. If you choose the other three synchronization modes, you can sync multiple folders at once.
✮ Optionally, you can click the Filter settings, displayed as a funnel shape, to exclude or include file extensions, just do as backup files with certain file extensions.

Step 3. Click the bar under the arrow to select another folder as the destination folder. It can be a local folder, or on an external disk and network.

Step 4. (Optional) CIick “Schedule Sync” at the bottom to set up automatic two-way synchronization. You have 5 options, the previous 3 are recommended to sync folders between two drives, system shutdown in Event triggers helps avoid work efficiency, and the last one is to copy files automatically when USB connected.

Tip✍:
Options: You can write comments for your current operations and set up email notifications so that you can receive notifications about task results in time.

 Step 5. Confirm all the settings and click “Start Sync”. Any changed files will be synced from the source to the destination as well as the other way around.

Conclusion

To sum up, AOMEI Backupper Professional will be your best choice to perform Windows bidirectional folder sync. With its user-friendly interface, you can use it to perform file synchronization with just a few clicks and make it run automatically. If you just want to create an exact copy of your files, you still can try file backup or cloud backup. 

It’s worth mentioning that it also provides many other powerful functions, so you can use it to replace hard drive with SSD to improve computer performance, migrate data to Kingston SSD, WD Blue SSD, etc as well as solve Windows 10 startup problems and Windows 10 backup problems.