[4 Ways] to Make Windows Sync Folders Between Computers

The need to sync folders between two computers

Nowadays, more and more people own two or more computers at the same time. And moving files from one computer to another one is a regular thing to do. In the past, you may have tried the USB flash drive to make it. First copy the folders to the USB on one computer and then paste the folders on another computer, which is quite inconvenient and also time-consuming.

Fortunately, things will become easy with the help of file sync. The synchronization operation can help you keep files in multiple locations up-to-date. When you change the files on one computer, the other computers will update too. It’s a great way to keep folders stay the same on all the computers. Here in this guide, we collect 3 methods that can make Windows sync folders between computers. You can first read and then choose one as per your need. Let’s get it on.

How to sync folders between two computers efficiently

In the following, you will learn 4 methods to sync folders between computers, namely using reliable sync software AOMEI Backupper, shared folder, SyncToy or cloud service like OneDrive. Please keep reading below to learn the detailed steps.

Method 1. Sync folders with AOMEI Backupper

AOMEI Backupper Standard is powerful & free file sync software that works well on all Windows PCs.

• It can help you sync folders between computers in Windows 7/8/10/11 without effort.
• You can sync folders to the network drive from various storage devices, for example, the hard drive, the external hard drive or the USB flash drive.
• It lets you set schedule sync task, and then it will sync the folders daily/weekly/monthly. Thus, you won’t worry about forgetting to sync the folders someday.

Here are the steps to make Windows sync files between computers on home network with AOMEI Backupper.

Step 1. Download, install and launch AOMEI Backupper > Click Sync and then choose Basic Sync.

Step 2. Name the task > Click Add Folder to browse the computer and select the folder you need.

Step 3. Expand the drop-down menu of the second bar and choose Add Share or NAS Devices.

Step 4. In the pop-up window, enter network path and fill in the blanks with accurate information > Click OK.

Select the destination path and then click OK to continue.

Step 5. Click Schedule Sync to set the scheduled task > Click Start Sync to confirm.

Notes:

1. Remember not to rename the source folder after doing the sync. Otherwise, the sync task will fail.

2. To access the shared folders on other computers: click This PC > click Network > find the source computer’s name and click it to check the shared folders.

3. To enjoy more advanced sync modes like Mirror Sync, Two-Way Sync and Real-Time Sync, please upgrade to AOMEI Backupper Professional or other higher editions.

Method 2. Sync folders over the network

There’s a feature in Windows that allows users to create a shared folder and anyone in the same network can access it. You can also set custom permissions according to your need. Let’s start to see how to sync folders between two computers in Windows 10 with this feature.

Step 1. Find the folder you want to share > Right-click the folder and choose Properties.

Step 2. Click the Sharing tab and then choose the Advanced Sharing... option.

Step 3. Check the Share this folder > Click Permissions to set the share permissions.

Step 4. You can click Add to type the user name that you want to share the files with > Select Full Control, Change and Read permission for the user > Click OK to confirm.

To access the shared folder on other computers: press the Windows key and R key to open Run box > type \\computername (replace the computername with the name of the computer where you have created the shared folder or the internal IP address of the computer).

Method 3. Sync folders with SyncToy

SyncToy is one free sync tool from Microsoft that helps users to sync files between two folders. You can choose any folder to be your source or destination folder, like the internal hard drive, USB flash drive or a network share. Check the following steps to see how to sync files between computers with SyncToy.

Step 1. Go to Microsoft Download Center to get SyncToy > Download and install the tool as instructed.

Step 2. Open SyncToy and click Create New Folder Pair.

Step 3. Click Browse to select the folders. The Left Folder is the source folder and the Right Folder is the destination folder.

Step 4. Choose the method of synchronization you want to use: Synchronize, Echo and Contribute. You can click each one to learn the explanation and choose the one you prefer. Click Next to continue.

Step 5. Name the folder pair and click Finish. Now the sync job has been successfully created.

Step 6. You can always change the sync settings anytime you want after creating the folder pair. You can click Preview to check the details. And if everything looks correct, you can click Run button. If the sync goes right, you will see a screen that tells you the sync is successful.

Method 4: Sync folders using OneDrive

Cloud storage like OneDrive has made it simple to sync files between PCs. More pleasing, you can get 5 GB of online storage for free. Learn how to sync folders between computers using OneDrive below.

Step 1. Install OneDrive desktop app on two computers. If your computers are running Windows 10 or higher, then the app may have already been installed.

Step 2. On the computer you want to transfer files from, enter “OneDrive” in the search box on the taskbar and select it from the list of results.

Step 3. Sign in with your Microsoft account and follow the wizard to complete OneDrive setup.

Step 4. Open File Explorer and click OneDrive from the left panel. You’ll get to your OneDrive folder. Then, drag the files you want to transfer from this computer into the folder.

Step 5. On the other computer, open OneDrive app and log into the same account.

Step 6. The app will sync files to the OneDrive folder on your second device automatically. Copy the files to a new location on your computer as you wish.

Conclusion

That’s all for how to make Windows sync folders between computers. Hope one of the three methods can help you finish the job successfully. By the way, AOMEI Backupper not only can help you sync folders between computers but also can help you backup system/disks/partitions. It can be your best assistant in helping you protect your computer data.

FAQs about Windows file sync

Q: What is the best way to sync folders between computers in Windows?

A: The best way to sync folders between computers in Windows depends on your specific needs and preferences. OneDrive offers seamless integration with Windows and provides cloud-based synchronization. For more control and customization, third-party applications like AOMEI Backupper and SyncToy might be suitable choices.

Q: Can I sync folders between Windows 7 and Windows 10 computers?

A: Yes, you can sync folders between Windows 7 and Windows 10 computers using the methods offered in this article.

Q: How do I sync folders between computers without the internet?

A: Syncing folders between computers without the internet can be achieved using local network synchronization methods. One option is to use a local network file sharing feature like Windows HomeGroup (available in Windows 7 and earlier versions) or Windows Network Sharing (in Windows 10/11). Alternatively, you can utilize third-party syncing applications that support local network syncing, such as AOMEI Backupper and SyncToy.