FreeFileSync



FreeFileSync
Initial releaseAugust 2008; 12 years ago
Stable release
11.9[1] / 3 April 2021; 16 days ago
Repository
Operating systemWindows, Linux, macOS
PlatformIA-32, x86-64
TypeFile synchronization utility
LicenseGNU GPLv3
Websitewww.freefilesync.org

FreeFileSync is a free and open-source program used for file synchronization.It is available on Windows, Linux and OS X.The project is backed by donations. Donors get a few additional features such as an auto-updater, parallel sync, portable version, and silent installation. “C: Program Files FreeFileSync FreeFileSync.exe” as the program and “C: Users ValuedUser Batch Files SyncSettings.ffsgui” as the optional added argument. Is it critical that both of the above options be inside double quotes. Finally, automation is the key to any good backup plan. FreeFileSync is a simple software program that allows you to synchronize or compare two folders. It can be mainly handled by users with some experience in this area. This tool can also be.

FreeFileSync is a free and open-source program used for file synchronization. It is available on Windows, Linux and OS X. The project is backed by donations. Donors get a few additional features such as an auto-updater, parallel sync, portable version, and silent installation.[2] It has received positive reviews.[3][4]

FreeFileSync works by comparing one or multiple folders on their content, date or file size and subsequently synchronizing the content according to user-defined settings. In addition to supporting local file systems and network shares, FreeFileSync is able to sync to FTP, FTPS, SFTP and MTP devices.

Adware/Malware[edit]

FreeFileSync is a System Utilities software developed by FreeFileSync.org.After our trial and test, the software was found to be official, secure and free. Here is the official description for FreeFileSync: FreeFileSync is a free backup software that helps you to compare and synchronize files and folders on Windows, Linux and macOS.

Earlier versions were packaged with OpenCandy,[5][6] an adware module which many antivirus software vendors classify as malware.[7][8][9][10]

FreeFileSync

Since the release of version 10.0 in April 2018, the software is ad-free.[11] In November 2018 Norton wrongly considered FreeFileSync installer as a malware and blocked its installation.[12]

Freefilesync Schedule

Supported OS[edit]

FreeFileSync is available for 32bit and 64bit operating systems.As of May 2020 the then current version 10.23 of FreeFileSync supported the following operating systems and versions:[13]

  • Windows 10 down to Windows 7.
  • MacOS 10.15 'Catalina' down to Mac OS X 10.8 'Mountain Lion'
  • On Linux many well-known distributions are supported. The web site cites CentOS, Debian, Fedora, Mint, SUSE and Ubuntu.

Older operating systems[edit]

Support for Windows Vista and XP ended with FreeFileSync_v10.11.The latest release compatible with Mac OS X 10.7.5 is FreeFileSync_8.4_Mac_OS_X.Older versions are still available on the project website.[14]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^'Release 11.9'. 3 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  2. ^'FAQ: Donation Edition'. freefilesync.org.
  3. ^https://www.pcworld.com/article/261465/compare_and_synchronize_pc_files_easily_with_freefilesync.html
  4. ^https://alternativeto.net/software/freefilesync/reviews/
  5. ^Akerlund, Geoff (10 March 2014), FreeFileSync comes bundled with the OpenCandy malware, and there's no option to not install it., Backup Review, retrieved 2 February 2018
  6. ^Richards, Gizmo (16 April 2017), Controversial Advertising Program Now Being Embedded in More Software, Tech Support Alert, retrieved 2 February 2018
  7. ^PUP.Optional.OpenCandy, Malwarebytes, retrieved 3 February 2018
  8. ^OpenCandy, Sophos, retrieved 3 February 2018
  9. ^ADW_OPENCANDY, Trend Micro, retrieved 3 February 2018
  10. ^Virustotal analyses of OpenCandy, Virus Total, retrieved 3 February 2018
  11. ^Brinkmann, Martin (3 May 2018). 'FreeFileSync 10.0 updates removes ads from installer'. ghacks.net. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  12. ^'My virus scanner/firewall shows a scary warning. Is there a virus, malware, or trojan?'. freefilesync.org.
  13. ^List of supported operating systems https://freefilesync.org/faq.php#operating-systems
  14. ^Archive of old versions of the software https://freefilesync.org/archive.php

Freefilesync Exclude

External links[edit]

Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=FreeFileSync&oldid=1005334117'

Several years ago I wrote this post about my daily backup process. I used SyncToy for many years, but after I accumulated several terabytes of data, it was getting too slow. With SyncToy it was taking twelve hours to finish my nightly backup. I did not know if SyncToy was slow, or if I just had too much data.

I did a little research and found some free alternatives. I wanted a solution that worked in a way similar to SyncToy. I did not want a backup utility that created a “backup file” that had all my files in it. It is more difficult to extract files out of a backup, especially when you want just one file. I needed a tool that copies each of my files to an external hard drive, one file at a time. I can take a backup drive on the road with me and have everything from my main computer on a portable USB drive.

I tried several programs and was most satisfied with FreeFileSync. The initial backup took eight hours, but it takes a while to copy several terabytes of data no matter what utility is used. After the initial backup, FreeFileSync does the nightly backup in less than an hour. That is about ten times faster than SyncToy was operating.

FreeFileSync also does versioning. This prevents the accidental loss of a file that is edited or updated. Let me explain why this is important. Last Monday I took a picture with my 5D digital camera. The original was 21 megapixels and was a 2×3 rectangle. On Monday night the original file was backed up during my routine nightly backup. On Tuesday I edited the picture for a project in which I needed a square 400×400 pixel picture for a web page. On Tuesday night FreeFileSync noticed that my original picture had changed from a 21 megapixel rectangle to a 0.16 megapixel square. Since the original was backed up on Monday, FreeFileSync took the original and saved it as an old version and then made a backup of the new smaller file. I have the original and the new edited version. If you have ever lost a resume, paper for a project or anything else because of editing, versioning can save you from re-doing the whole project.

Here is how FreeFileSync works.

Using a “left” and “right” model, the original files are on the left. The original and backup folders can be dragged into the interface. After selecting the folders, the Synchronize button will sync the two sides. Clicking the green gear icon opens the synchronization settings window.

I use the Update option. This copies the new files on the left side to the right side. I also use Versioning in the Deletion Handling section. Before a file on the right side is over-written, the old version is placed in the Versioning folder. Each day a new version folder is created with a date stamp. If you edit a file every day, you will get a new version every day. Since hard drive space is cheap, I usually keep my old versions forever, but they could be deleted at any time.

When everything is setup, save your settings.

This creates a batch file that can be setup as an automatic process using the Windows Task Scheduler.

In Task Scheduler, create a Basic Task with

“C:Program FilesFreeFileSyncFreeFileSync.exe”

as the program and

“C:UsersValuedUserBatch FilesSyncSettings.ffs_gui”

Freefilesync Tutorial

as the optional added argument. Is it critical that both of the above options be inside double quotes.

Freefilesync Reddit

Finally, automation is the key to any good backup plan. If you are required to manually initiate your backup utility, you will forget and ultimately you will lose your files. My backup happens automatically every night after I go to bed. My computer does more while I sleep than many people do all day long.