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To keep two folders on the same Windows PC synchronized automatically, use FreeFileSync to choose how files should flow, then RealTimeSync to watch for changes and run the saved sync job. It works after Windows reports a change and a configurable quiet period passes, so it is near-real-time—not instant. Choose the sync mode carefully: a mirror can also copy deletions to its target.
Choose the right kind of sync
First decide whether the folders are both local, cloud-backed, managed by your workplace, or on separate computers. These are different jobs:
| Situation | Approach | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Two folders on one PC | FreeFileSync with RealTimeSync | Choose Two way, Mirror, or Update deliberately. Change notifications and an idle delay mean the copy is not instantaneous. |
| Files available through File Explorer and other devices via cloud storage | OneDrive | Sync files in the OneDrive folder, or use a supported folder backup feature; Microsoft’s guide does not describe arbitrary local folder pairs. Files On-Demand can leave some files online-only. See Microsoft’s OneDrive sync guide. |
| A work directory synchronized with an employer’s server | Work Folders | Your organization provisions it; it is not a general-purpose personal folder-pair tool. See the Work Folders FAQ. |
| A shared folder synchronized between different computers | Syncthing | Set up the devices and share the folder between them; this is not the same as monitoring two paths on one PC. See Syncthing’s getting-started guide. |
Pick a synchronization mode before automating
In FreeFileSync, the selected mode determines which changes flow and what happens when files are removed. Set up the pair and compare it before applying anything. The FreeFileSync synchronization settings manual describes these modes:
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- Two way: Changes made in either folder can be propagated to the other. FreeFileSync uses a database from the first synchronization to infer the direction of later changes. Move detection depends on stable file IDs and is not available on the first sync.
- Mirror: The right-hand folder becomes an exact copy of the left-hand folder. Deleting a file on the left can therefore delete its counterpart on the right.
- Update: New and changed files are copied to the target, but deleting a source file does not by itself delete the target copy.
If the consequences of a mode are uncertain, try it with noncritical sample folders first. Synchronization propagates changes; it is not an independent versioned backup. In particular, a mirror can replicate an accidental deletion.
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Set up automatic local synchronization
- Choose the folder paths and direction. Decide which folder is the source and which is the target, unless edits should travel both ways. In FreeFileSync, select the two folders and choose Two way, Mirror, or Update.
- Compare before applying. Review the proposed actions, especially deletions in Mirror mode. Make sure the left and right paths are the intended ones before running the first sync.
- Save a batch job. Save the FreeFileSync configuration as a batch job so RealTimeSync can run that configured synchronization.
- Configure RealTimeSync monitoring. Open or import the batch job in RealTimeSync, select the folder or folders to watch, and choose an idle time long enough for applications to finish writing files. Start monitoring. The RealTimeSync manual explains the monitoring and batch-job workflow.
- Check the destination. Make a test change, wait for the configured quiet period, and confirm that the expected result appears in the target folder. Check the application’s status if it does not.
What “real time” means—and what can interrupt it
RealTimeSync responds to operating-system change notifications rather than continuously polling the folders. After it detects a creation, update, or deletion, it waits until the configured idle interval passes without another detected change, then runs the command. A large file that is still being written is one reason to allow an adequate quiet period.
This is event-triggered automatic synchronization, not a guarantee of zero-delay copying. Some network paths or drivers have incomplete or faulty change-notification support, so RealTimeSync may not be notified of changes there. The manual also says monitoring is temporarily inactive while the command runs. If several changes occur together, its environment variable may contain only the first changed path; do not treat that variable as a complete event log.
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Check common problems
- A deletion appeared in the target: Review whether the job uses Mirror mode. Mirror makes the right side match the left, including deletions.
- Changes in either folder are not being reconciled as expected: Confirm that Two way is selected if both sides should send changes, and allow the initial synchronization to establish its database.
- A watched network folder does not trigger the job: The path or its driver may not provide usable change notifications. The documented watcher depends on those operating-system notifications.
- The target has not changed immediately: RealTimeSync waits for its idle interval before running the command, and monitoring pauses while that command runs. Check the configured interval and the job’s status.
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