Available at the Mac App Store
Mac App Store Link – Get it now
- Sync to External Drives
- Sync to other folders on the same drive
- Sync to a shared folder on another computer
- Sync in 15 minute increments
- Sync in Real Time as changes happen
- Runs in background
- Sync Manually anytime
- Only Syncs Changes
Many file synchronization apps sync whole files. Sync Folder only syncs file changes so you can rest assured that syncs will be performed quickly and painlessly.
Sync Folder runs quietly in the background so you will not be disturbed with annoyances while your folders are keeping staying synchronized.
Sync Folder is the easiest file and folder synchronization app that you can get for your Mac. You can run it on 2 computers to keep 2 remote folders in sync with each other.
I originally developed this app because I bought a second Mac and it makes it very difficult when you are working on 2 machines mostly in 2 locations. So what I did was have Sync Folder running on both computers and as long as they are syncing shared folders they will both remain up-to-date.
97 Responses to “Sync Folder”
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Hi Chris,
Bought Sync Folder before Lion came out and it was wonderful, worked perfectly. Now, since I installed Lion, it just doesn’t do anything anymore in any mode, even with your latest update. I redo the whole process, it says it’s syncing, but it won’t sync any of the new files since the Lion install.
Trying to sync my music library on my MBP with my NAS.
Jacques,
I’m looking into it.
Chris
Hi Chris,
Just bought Sync Folder. Looked great but it just do one copy the first time you send it and it’s finish… Doesn’t do any sync after 15mn or live sync and doesn’t even do anything when I click on now !
Why is this sold at apple store if it doesn’t do what it says ! Does Apple don’t controle what is sold ?
Can I have my money back and how ?
Cannot find your email too so I replied here to this first complaint.
Hope you answer me.
Manu
Manu,
I have verified that Sync Folder does indeed work as designed. I have verified on Snow Leopard and Lion. I have verified that Live Sync as well as incremental sync are both working correctly on both operating systems. If this is not working for you, then there must be something else that is causing an issue. Without doing some sort of screen sharing, maybe via Skype, I wouldn’t know how to help you further. I need to be able to see what’s going on.
Chris
The app will not launch. There is no icon in the status bar.
Mac Mini 1.5GHz Intel Core Solo OSX 10.6.8
Keith,
Can you check if the folder exists?
There should be a folder at ~/Library/Application Support/Sync Folder/
Within that folder should be a database file, can you verify that the file exists as well.
Chris
for one, the update meant i had to set up sync folder again to sync between my 2 folders.
secondly, it appears it is no longer recognising sub folders.
i use it mainly to sync my photography folders, so i have one main folder (photography) on one drive with many sub-folders, and then i just sync that main folder to another main folder (photography 2) on another drive. however, it is no longer recognising the sub-folders, which aren’t appearing on the back-up drive.
simply no longer works…
i add stuff to one folder…which should appear in the back up folder…but doesn’t!
whats the best way to uninstall this crap?
Seth,
I’m looking into the problem.
Chris
Hi!
Just bought Sync Folder in App store. I have OS10.7.1 and tries to sync from an internal hard disk to an external USB.
The thing is that Sync Folder creates its folders one level down in the hiearky so the whole content will go over to the sync disk. I have screen prints to show you. Just now I’m very disappointed and the money I paid is a completely waste.
Sincerely
Anders
Anders,
Please email me the screenshots to support@empoc.com so that I can get a better idea of what the issue is that you are having.
Chris
The app simply hangs when trying to sync with a external shared folder, what the hell?
Raul,
What type of connection do you have between your mac and the external folder and how much data exists in both the source and the external folder?
Chris
Hi Chris,
I’ve bought your app. It works very well but 1: if I remove a file from source folder, it doesn’t disappear from destination folder; 2: if there is an error, there isn’t any notification.
Thanks,
Ale
Ale,
Currently Sync Folder does not support deleting of of destination files. This is something on my list of features to implement in a future release.
Chris
Thank you Chris,
I’m looking forward to it!
Ale
You’re welcome Ale
Chris
Hi,
I’m interested in the app, but I was just wondering what sort of notification there is if there is an error, and is there a detailed log of errors?
Thanks,
Tim
Tim,
Sync Folder currently does not have any notifications or logs… I will add this to my list of feature requests.
Chris
hello,
pre-sales query for SynFolder, since i can’t find your eMail.
1. wow. Live sync? is that accessing “Fseventsd” in OSX?
live: you’re only the 2nd app i know, after Synk (http://decimus.net/synk) that uses OSX live capability.
2. when i ask other backup software developers they say live is not for every purpose and they don’t want their app to be “heavyweight” or not like TimeMachine. TM?! they miss the point. add live feature to backup flex is more than TM! what is the potential problem or weakness in live?
3. does SF handle Sets?
let’s say i want to simplify my backup plan.
instead of having many scripts listed, i want to use multiple folders from different drives & back them up in same drive. is that possible?
4. how fast is SF.
the simplest, fastest backup app i found is SmartBackup (http://freeridecoding.com/smartbackup/index.html).
how is SF optimized?
thx,
rolf
Rolf,
Sorry you were having trouble locating my e-mail address. I guess I should make it a little easier to find. To answer your questions about Sync Folder:
1. Without getting to specific, yes Sync Folder is using FSEvents, I was unaware that the usage of FSEvents is so rare.
2. The potential problem / weakness with live doesn’t come into play until you start monitoring a very excessive amount of files. For instance if you wanted to monitor you entire hard drive which is possible but will tax your CPU from my own experience.
3. There is currently an update I am working on that will allow you to select multiple source locations with 1 destination. So the sync would look something like this
Select the source folders:
/Users/User/Desktop/Source1
/Users/User/Desktop/Source2
/Volumes/External/Source3
Select the destination folder:
/Volumes/MountedNetworkShare/Destination/
Would produce the following folders in the destination folder:
Source1
Source2
Source3
4. From my own experience, sync folder is as fast as copying a file directly, even faster when you are modifying files that already exist in the destination since it only sync’s the changes and not the entire file again.
From the feedback I’ve received so far, the only place Sync Folder falls short on is the ability to do a bi-directional sync (syncing from source to destination and destination back to source.) Sync Folder was never meant to sync both directions, it was not designed that way and would certainly cost more then $4.99 if it was designed to operate that way.
Hope this information helps.
Chris
Hi,
I’m looking into buying Sync Folder, but there is one deal breaker for me:
Does Sync Folder do both ways synching?
example: I have 2 computers and wish to sync my itunes folder between them.
So if I add some songs to my itunes on Computer A, they will show up in itunes on computer B.
However, I would like to change the metadata for those songs on compuer B!
Are those new changes going to sync to computer A? or is it only one way synching? (source -> destination)
Kyrill,
It currently does not have that option. This is something I am looking at adding in a future release.
Chris
I’ve just bought your software to sync my Macbook AIr with a shared folder on the internet and when adding a file to the sync folder nothing happens. When syncing manually, the changes aren’t made. I’m running Mac OS X Lion, could it be a compatibility issue?
Thanks
Louis,
I have tested Sync Folder with Lion and did not have any issues. I will double check a few things, but the next release should take care of any issues.
Chris
Thanks
Hi,
I’m having a few glitches since installing Lion. I’ve got my preferences set to Live Sync, but nothing happens when I add files to the Sync from folder. Also when I try Sync Now, it doesn’t work, nothing happens and no files are added to the Sync to folder. I have to reprogram the folders in preferences to get the sync process going.
Hope this will be resolved with your upcoming update.
Jacques
Just tried a manual sync by re-adding the folders and with new files in the Sync from folders, none were synced do the Sync to folder.
Jacques,
I’ve already submitted the update to Apple which should most likely take care of this issue.
Chris
Thanks.
Hi Chris,
I have installed your update, but my issues remain the same. Live sync doesn’t work anymore as any other method. It used to work fin before Lion.
I’m considering buying your Sync Folder
.
BUT .. the ONLY reason I want it is to
Sync between my Mac Book Pro OS x, Lion
And Windows 7 Desktop
and also an external HD.
.
Will Sync Folder do this without problems ?
.
thx
Joe
Joe,
Here is what Sync Folder could do:
Sync Folder Installed on Mac Book Pro:
Choose Sync From folder – Can be any folder on your mac ( Mounted Volume, Hard Drive, External Hard Drive, Etc… )
Choose Sync To Folder – Can be any folder on your mac ( Mounted Volume, Hard Drive, External Hard Drive, Etc… )
I’ve just submitted an update that will allow syncing from multiple source folder into a single destination folder.
Chris
Hi Chris,
could you please add a little feedback control that shows which SOURCE folder and which TARGET folder are currently synced? I just want to sync manually (as an example) my “documents” folder to an external hard drive. Whenever I clicked on “Sync From…” or “Sync To…” I always get the same (last selected) folder name. Syncing in the background is a nice feature but please don’t make it too invisible .
Regards, ->O
Ivo,
I will add that to the next release.
Chris
hello!
I just Bought you app from appstore..
but when to set up “from” and “destination” it fails…
if i choose for example a folder named “folder 1″ as a “sync from” folder
and then a folder named “folder 2″ as a “sync to” folder
then automatically the “sync from” folder changes to “folder 1″ in the APP (the same as the destination folder) so then it just sync itself! i hope you understand…. =) what to do??
I’m running OSX LION
regards / Martin
Martin,
I just tested Sync Folder on Lion and I am not seeing any issues. I created two folders named, folder 1 and folder 2 and then set my from folder to be folder 1 and my to folder to be folder 2 and the sync operations complete without any issues syncing from folder 1 to folder 2. Perhaps you could try choosing your from and to folders again and then dropping something into folder 1 and checking if it appears in folder 2
Chris
ok weird… another thing that i noticed is that my button “sync from” and ” sync to” is DARK dark grey not that grey color that you can see on the screenshots on your page.. looks like the are unavailable ? i will try to rental the software later today! i let you no asp.
regards / Martin
i just tried to rein tall it but i have the same problems! is it possible to many to a sharedsceen session so that you can se what I’m talking about?
Martin,
I will be releasing an update very soon, I should be submitting the update to Apple today and hopefully next week the update will be approved. Hopefully that will fix the issue that you are having.
Chris
Martin,
This has to do with Lion, they’ve replaced the type of button that I’ve been using with a different button, but that shouldn’t have any affect on how the app works.
Chris
ok chris! thanks for your replies! when i reinstalled the app the third time i manage to set up to folders to sync and it works! but if i try to change one o folder it stop syncing so i have to reinstall it again! i´ll hope the update will sold the problems.. thanks for you time!
/m
Hi,
when talking about syncing the first question I want to ask: which modes are supported?
- one direction or both?
- one way:
– keeps the target exact in sync to the source? (above I read: no deletions on the target)
- in case of two way
– does the software keep track of the status of source and target after it has been run or does a sync decision rely only on the current situation?
– what about conflicts (a file (or block??) on both sides changed since last run)
– does the software try to recognize moves/renames?
…and maybe a couple more.
In essence I would like to know more about the strategy and options implemented. I already tried so many sync tools and it is really interesting how many different behaviours can be found
Thanks
Thomas
Thomas,
Here are answers to your questions
- currently only one direction, ( Source to Destination )
- correct no deletions on the target, otherwise keeps everything in sync with the source
- sync folder monitors file changes in the source, when it detects a file change it will compare the source with destination and then sync the changes
- if there is a file conflict it will overwrite the oldest with the newest
- if you move or rename a file, because there is currently no deletion you will have multiple copies of that file
I am working on a few updates that should address most of your questions.
Hope that helps
Chris
Thanks, Chris! The interface looks nice and simple – so at least I will put it on my “watch & acquisition list”
Thomas
Hi Chris,
Just bought Sync Folder from the App Store and tried to synchronize a folder containing approx 10Gb of data, the fan of my MacBook Pro quickly started to make some noise after i launched the app.
It appears that Sync Folder is stressing the 4 cores of the cpu at their max.
I can’t let the laptop to burn like this for hours so i had to manually kill the 4 rsync process in order to make it stop…
Is it the way it is supposed to run?
Tolin,
Are you trying to sync 10 GB of data from a source to an empty destination or to a destination that contains files and folders? It’s not the copying of files that stresses the cpu, its the comparing of files.
Chris
Hi Chris,
Thanks for the reply.
It is normal for Sync Folder to use that much cpu when comparing files and folders?
Then i’m afraid the app is only appropriate for very light folders to sync.
Anyway, i just gave it another go and the same thing happens, 4 crazy rsync processes…
The destination folder is empty, there is nothing to compare, i don’t get it.
Tolin,
I will look into this and let you know what I find out.
Chris
Hi Chris,
I’ve been using this for a few days now, but although I have ‘Lauch at Startup’ and Sync every 15 minutes selected, it doesn’t seem to work.
The app does indeed launch at start up but it doesn’t start syncing. I have to manually go to the app and selected the source folder again to get it to do its thing. Once I’ve done that it works fine but surely it should start syncing automatically following a restart?
Al.
Alan,
I am looking into this, I will let you know what I find.
Chris
Thanks Chris… Let me know if you find anything as at the moment Sync Folder isn’t working for me.
Alan.
The folder I’m trying to sync from is on a networked drive if that makes any difference?
Alan,
How fast is the network connection between your computer and the network folder? The network speed could have a significant impact on performance.
Chris
It’s an ethernet connection so should be OK. I think the issue is that Sync Folder starts up before the external volume has mounted so it can’t see the source folder and therefore doesn’t set up the sync.
If I set the ‘sync from’ folder manually after start up then it is fine, but the whole point is that the syncing should happen in the background so that I don’t have to remember to set it up every day.
Alan.
Alan,
I think you are right. I will fix this in an update to have sync folder look for both source and destination folders at regular intervals.
Chris
Hello,
i plan to sync many folders from my mac to my nas.
the folders on the nas are on different share’s, would this work with your app in the next coming release?
thanks
Steffen
Steffen,
I will look into multiple destination syncing and try to add that feature in with the next release.
Chris
Thx for the fast answer… That’s fine, i can’t wait till this release
Hi Chris,
the app sounds nice. Your plans for updates sound also very nice. I am useing dropbox atm, but as soon as your app supports multiple folders to sync i will give it a try.
I have an idea: i used puresync on windows. this tool allows me to tell my computer to sync selected folders on shutdown or before logging in. maybe you couldt think about auto sync on shutting down a mac. this would be aaaawwwweeesome!
also syncing on multiple destinations.
question: do you support syncing to a ftp server?
thanks in advance.
Timo
Timo,
I should have that update out really soon, hopefully before the end of the month. I will look into your idea and will look into syncing to an FTP server as well.
Chris
Hi Chris,
thanks for your reply.
And what about the sync on shutdown or startup idear? Do you think this will be makeable?
Not within the next release but possibly in future.
I havent found an app supporting sceduled syncs on startup or shutdown.
Maybe this would make your app quite unique.
Thanks for reading.
Timo
Timo,
I will be checking into the startup / shutdown feature you’ve requested, I think its a great idea.
Chris
Hi, 2 questions:
1) If the program does not copy multiple folders does this mean subfolders won’t be sync’d?
2) When syncing, is it an option to delete files that are in the destination but not in the source and hence, truly cloning the source.
Brenda,
It will sync the source folder and any subfolders that it contains. There currently is not an option to delete files in the destination folder, I will add this option in the next release.
Chris
When do you anticipate the next release and if I purchase the software now, does it include free upgrades?
Brenda,
It usually takes about 1 to 2 weeks for Apple to approve updates, I will have the update ready hopefully by the end of next week, so hopefully no longer then 3 weeks from now. All future updates to the software are free.
Chris
Assuming I have an NTFS driver installed — will your software sync to an NTFS formatted external hard drive?
Brenda,
If you can save files to it from your Mac, then Sync Folder can sync to it.
Chris
Oops, I accidentally clicked the thumbs down icon in error. Can you please undo that?
Brenda,
I’ve deleted your thumbs down rating, you will have to go back in and give it a thumbs up
Chris
So if I understand correctly, using this App I can have a folder i.e. on my MacPro, working in that folder go home and continue working in it on my MacBook Pro?
Syncs through internet and local network?
Paul,
It will sync from folder to folder. As long as you have the source and destination folders mounted as volumes or folders on your mac, then you can sync.
Chris
Hi This app looks good, but just want to ask a quick question before I buy.
I have an external mac server located at a different office, and this is mounted onto my MAC via a VPN ( once logged in ).
I would like to then use sync-folder to ensure that the contents of the server mirror the Mac that I’m using, and any changes on the MAC get automatically updated onto the server. – in essence a bit like Time Machine I suppose, but to an external drive via the web.
All my work on the mac is located in one top folder in the mac, with lots of sub folders and files underneath.
Will Sync-Folder do this for me ?
Rob,
Sync Folder should work for this, although, keep in mind that you will be going over the internet and file transfers will depend upon your internet speed, so it could take a while for the sync to finish.
Chris
I’ve been looking into an alternative to Dropbox and while I have set up a working WebDAV server, having a offline synced version is the missing component. Sync Folder looks like the solution. Can I point it to a WebDAV share or must it be mounted first?
Michael,
I will look into implementing WebDAV in the next release, but for now it can only sync to folders on the hard drive and mounted volumes.
Chris
I look forward to the update. I just picked up a copy!
I would like to know if this program syncs multiple folders.
Kirk,
At this time Sync Folder only supports syncing a single folder, I am planning to add multi folder support in the next release.
Chris
Sounds great. Just bought the app and am looking forward to the next upadte. This was a very fast reply, I like that.
I should have an update out in about 2 weeks
Quick question. I have an iMac connected to a PC so that I can see various folders from the PC as shared folders on ther Mac. I want to syncrhonise folders on the PC so that they are copied to the Mac, will Sync Folder allow me to do this?
Thanks,
Al.
Alan,
Yes, Sync Folder will do this, provided that the shared folder is mounted on your mac.
Chris
Thanks, I’ve bought it and it does indeed work fine. However, I have more than one set of folders that I want to sync. This doesn’t seem to be possible as Sync Folder seems to only work for one folder is this right or am I missing something?
Al.
Alan,
Currently it only supports one set of folders, I wanted to keep the app as simple to use as possible. I am looking into adding multiple sets of folders for the next release.
Chris
Excellent, I’ll look forward to the next release.
Another Feature request if I may would be able to set different sync frequencies for each set of folders and add a ‘sync every hour’ option to the frequencies.
Keep up the good work.
Al.
Hi, I have two NAS boxes, A and B, in my network. Currently, I use rsync to synchronize one folder of music files on box A to a folder on box B. This is executed as a cron job on box A. Would it be possible to utilize Sync Folder to do the same thing, that is, synchronize two folders that are both mounted on my Mac as Samba shares? Thx.
Jo Yoshida,
As long as the folders are mounted, Sync Folder will work…
Chris
Thanks. This apps is really fast. Love it!
Would be nice if the folders path are displayed clearly to avoid confusion. One could wonder the actual folder path since it is now only displayed as the last folder name.
arif,
Thanks, glad you like it, I will look into adding entire folder name for source as well as destination in the next release.
Thanks, Chris
Chris this app will not launch. The install from the App store seemed smooth and it launched at that time. I closed the program and moved the icon on the dock after which no launch even if I find it and double click. After restarting the computer and trying a double click it flashed up for less than 1 second and disappeared.
Mac OS X 10.6.8
2.8 GHz Intel Core i7
More on this another restart and it seems to fine now.
Ken,
Check in your status bar, the app runs in the background and will place a sync icon on your status bar. From there you can click and show the Sync Folder preferences.
Hope that helps.
Chris
Hi this app is great! Very quick and simple to use.
It would be good to have it sync both ways though, and the ability to have more than one pair sync at a time.
Thanks
Maria,
Happy to hear that you find the app useful.. I am already working on some additional features and will release an update soon. I didn’t want to flood it with too many features and try to keep it as simple as possible. Bi-directional sync will definitely be in the next update.
Thanks,
Chris