Easiest | Sync Files to External Hard Drive in Windows 11/10/8/7

Case: I want to copy files to 1TB external drive

Do you have any idea about this? Though, this might sound extremely difficult, you can use the File Sync feature of free AOMEI Backupper to easily achieve.

What are the advantages of AOMEI File Sync?

Compared with other sync software, AOMEI Backupper has the following advantages:

• Various locations: It supports to synchronize all files from one folder to the other folder. The other folder can be located in different places. You can sync files to local disk, external hard drive, other computers within LAN, NAS, and cloud storage drives including Sugar, OneDrive, Google Drive, Box, Dropbox, CloudMe and HubiC.

• Auto sync: Scheduled sync can help you sync files automatically at a fixed time in a day/week/month.

• Real-time sync: This service is supported by the Professional edition. It will monitor relevant folders and synchronize files when it detects all kinds of changes made on the source folder. If you wish to do real-time sync, you should always connect your external hard drive with computer. 

If you just want to perform basic sync between your computer and external hard drive, the free edition AOMEI Backupper Standard is good enough. It supports all Windows editions including Windows 7/8/8.1/10/11, both 32bit and 64bit. Next, I’ll show you how to sync files to external hard drive via free AOMEI Backupper.

How to sync files from computer to external hard drive effortlessly

Before you sync files with external hard drive, please download AOMEI Backupper and install it on your PC.

Take the Documents folder as an example. Learn how to sync my Documents to my external hard drive as follows:

1. Launch AOMEI Backupper Standard. Select “Basic Sync” under “Sync” tab.

2. In the next window, click “Select Source” to select the Documents folder to be synced. If you want to move other user folders at the same time, like Downloads, Pictures, Videos, etc, click “Add Source” to add them.

3. Then select a folder on your external hard drive as the target location.

4. Click the “Start Sync” button to proceed.

✍ Tips: There are two options at the lower left, which will reach your other requirements on file sync.

• Options: It contains comments, email notification, etc. You can comment on the sync task to distinguish it from others, and set up email configuration information to remind you of sync results.

• Schedule Sync: As mentioned before, it can be set to run the sync task automatically. If you set it up at a specified time in a day/week/month, you should plug in your external hard drive before the job starts. You can even do event-triggered sync, like USB plug-in sync.

★ How to backup files to AOMEI Cloud

There is a growing trend to backup files to cloud storage. Compared to an external hard drive, cloud is a safer place to keep your important files because it is less subject to getting lost or damaged. If you create an AOMEI account, you can backup files to AOMEI Cloud. You'll get 1TB free storage for 15 days after you sign up for an AOMEI account.

Further reading

What is file sync?

File sync is a kind of backup in a certain way, but is different from backup for the copied files can be used directly. Sync is short for synchronization, which can keep files in multiple locations up-to-date.

That is to say, when you sync files to external hard drive in Windows 11/10/8/7, you can keep files on the external hard drive the same as files in your desktop/laptop no matter if they are newly created or else. In this way, you don’t need to update on both sides every time to keep an up-to-date copy on external hard drive.

Best practices for file syncing

✅ Organize Your Folders Before Syncing

A cluttered file structure can make syncing messy. Clean up unnecessary files, rename folders clearly, and group related documents together. This makes it easier to track what’s being synced and reduces the chance of syncing outdated or duplicate files.

✅ Schedule Regular Sync Tasks

Manually syncing files works in a pinch, but it’s easy to forget. Professional sync tools like AOMEI Backupper allow you to set up daily, weekly, or real-time sync schedules. Automating the process ensures your external hard drive always has the latest version of your files—without relying on memory or routine.

✅ Verify the Sync Results

Don’t assume everything copied over perfectly. After syncing, open your external hard drive and double-check a few key files to confirm they’re updated. Some software tools even include reports or logs so you can review exactly what was synced.

✅ Safely Eject Your External Hard Drive

Pulling the drive out without ejecting it can corrupt data or interrupt the sync process. Always use the “Safely Remove Hardware” option to make sure all transfers are completed and your files remain intact.

Summary

AOMEI Backupper is a great option to sync files to external hard drive in Windows 11/10/8/7. It is so convenient for you to operate due to the easy-to-use interface. In addition, it offers you the backup, restore, and clone features. You can use it to create a system image backup and clone a hard drive with multiple partitions. Don’t hesitate to give it a try!