Sync Folders Pro
Sync Folders Pro synchronizes any number of local folders on-the-fly whenever there are changes, or on external drives either...
Description
Sync Folders Pro synchronizes any number of local folders on-the-fly whenever there are changes, or on external drives either manually or at a set time (when connected).
The app synchronizes folders with or without filter for folder names and / or file names.
Sync Folders Pro is perfect for backup to USB, memory cards, disks on remote computers on your network, or folders on Cloud services (Dropbox, etc.). It’s compatible with OS X 10.9 and Retina displays.
Try it for free with the free version, which is available on the website, and compare the sync speed and stability versus similar apps (for more than 50,000 files). The comparison of two folders (6.24 GB and 92 470 files in each folder) is one minute.
Features
• Sync any number of folders same time.
• 6 modes of synchronizing.
• Tracking deletions in synchronized folders, real 2-way sync.
• Automatic synchronization on the fly, when there are changes.
• Schedule your synchronization for any time.
• Synchronize Macs across a network.
• Synchronize external drives (USB, memory cards, etc.) with your Mac, and vice versa.
• Synchronize between local folders Mac and folders on Cloud services (Dropbox, etc.)
• Powerful filter for files and/or folders on the entry and/or exclusion.
• View the latest changes in synchronized folders. Quick view last changes and Finder integration.
• Saving the synchronized files in a specific location («Del folders»). Using this mode you are insured against accidental deletion of files, and can always return all the files even if you are re-sync a few times. Structure of folders and subfolders stored in the «Del Folder».
• Each sync task has the status showing when it was done last time.
• Run as menu-bar app.
• Work in the background.
• Save / Load the settings to the file.
• Logging of the synchronization process.
• Localization of the application in multiple languages (Český, Dansk, Deutsch, English, Español, Français, Italiano, Nederlands, Norsk, Polski, Português, Slovenski, S
Editor-checked details
Recommended for users who understand source/destination, inspect Preview and retain independent backups—for incremental work-file copies to USB/NAS or controlled two-way sync. Use 3-2-1 backup; record volumes/baseline manifest; dry-run fixtures; begin one-way without deletion; compare manifest/SHA-256; test conflict/disconnect/restore; enable Del Folder; expand scope; only then schedule/Real Time. Review logs weekly, restore samples monthly and Preview again after OS, disk or rule changes. Compare FreeFileSync for open-source GUI, rsync for scripted one-way copies, Syncthing for continuous devices, and prefer Time Machine/dedicated backup for versioned Mac recovery.
Pros
- It supports one-way, two-way, mirror, real-time, scheduled and manual workflows across local folders, USB/cards, network Mac/PC/NAS and mounted cloud folders. Preview exposes operations before execution, while filters and multiple tasks segment datasets. Del Folder retains directory structure for deleted items; logs, recent changes and status aid tracing. Incremental copying of new/newer files reduces time and writes for repeated large backups.
Cons
- Automated two-way or Mirror can rapidly propagate accidental deletion, ransomware encryption, corruption and bad renames; Del Folder/logs are not offline, immutable or off-site backup. Timestamp/size comparison can misjudge across filesystems, timezones and cloud placeholders. Network/cloud/NAS locks and disconnects complicate consistency; live databases, mail/photo libraries, VMs and actively written packages should not be synced as ordinary files. Filters can yield apparently successful but incomplete copies, and parallel tasks contend for disk/network/space. Version 4.7.7 filter/cache behaviour differs from later major versions, so migration needs a fresh Preview. “Last success” is not a restore test.
Installation steps
- The site build is Sync Folders Pro 4.7.7. Before installation create independent offline or versioned backups of both endpoints and record volume UUID, filesystem/case sensitivity, timezone, file/byte counts, permissions, extended attributes, symlinks, cloud placeholders and NAS protocol. Sync propagates changes/deletions and is not a 3-2-1 backup. Verify installer provenance/SHA-256, place it in Applications and grant only required folders/removable/network volumes. Build the first task with two test copies: define left/right roles, start with one-way Update/Backup rather than two-way or Mirror, enable Preview and disable automation, then inspect every Copy/Replace/Delete/Skip. Test same-name/different-content, simultaneous edits, folder rename, case-only changes, zero-byte/large/hidden/package files, symlinks, permissions and disconnect. Put Del Folder on a third independent path/volume and test restore; it is not immutable versioning. Validate filters with included and excluded fixtures so excluded source items do not cause unexpected destination deletion. Identify external disks by stable volume details; ensure network/cloud folders are fully hydrated and stable. After a small dry run, manifest and sampled SHA-256 match, enable schedule/Real Time gradually and supervise the first production run/log/space.
Uninstallation steps
- Before removal disable Real Time, schedules, login launch and run-on-mount, then wait for tasks and save logs. Export every task and record endpoint paths/UUIDs, mode, deletion/filter/conflict policy, Del Folder, last success, failures, file/byte totals and app version. Create independent snapshots/backups of both endpoints and Del Folder; while sync is stopped compare manifests, sample SHA-256 and restore one replaced and one deleted fixture. Revoke file/network access and never perform an unpreviewed final Mirror. Quit and remove the app; clear preferences/support only after tasks, logs, licence and recovery material are archived. Removing it does not stop other cloud/NAS/script sync or undo propagated deletions. Retain the 4.7.7 installer, task configuration and read-only logs until a replacement passes preview, sync, conflict, disconnect and restore tests on the same dataset.
Common errors and fixes
- For mass unexpected Delete, stop immediately and remove destination write access; do not rerun. Preserve log/config/snapshots and restore from independent backup or Del Folder. Recheck direction, Mirror/two-way, deletion tracking and filters. Repeated copies often mean timezone/timestamp precision, FAT/exFAT/SMB, case, Unicode normalization, xattrs or cloud placeholders; consider content comparison and measure cost. Permission denied requires scoped privacy access, NAS ACL, share mode, locked file and parent checks. Prevent wrong external disks by verifying UUID, capacity and a sentinel file, not name alone. Pause automation during network loss or unhydrated cloud files, wait for durable writes and Preview again. If both sides edit one file, retain both and merge—do not trust “newest wins.” Define symlink/package treatment to avoid escaping roots or partial bundles. Monitor Del Folder space and keep an independent backup. A successful log is not integrity proof; compare file/byte manifests and sampled SHA-256.
What changed in this version
- The official Sync Folders Pro 4.7.7 notes contain only two items: improved compatibility with the latest macOS and minor user-interface improvements. The later 5.x architecture rewrite, new filter syntax and task grouping are not attributed to 4.7.7.
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