Learn how to use XCopy command to copy folders and subfolders, not just files. Also, an easier way is presented.
Xcopy, stands for extended copy, is a command that can copy multiple files or entire directory trees from one location to another. As an advanced version of the copy command, it has additional switches to specify both the source and the destination in detail. It is especially useful when copying files from CDROM to a hard drive because it will remove the read-only attribute automatically.
Xcopy command is available on most operating systems such as IBM PC DOS, MS-DOS, Windows and freeDOS. While being functionally replaced by a more powerful copy tool Robocopy, Xcopy is still included in Windows 10, and you can continue using it to copy folders and subfolders.
I have a folder with a lot of subfolders and files in them. Now, I want to copy the folder to another location, but I don’t want to recreate directory structures. Can I use Xcopy command to copy the directory structure of the folder and subfolders to another location?
The answer is YES. You can use Xcopy command to copy folders and subfolders directly. Recreating directory structures is surely a tedious and error-prone thing, especially when you use the right-click method to create multiple structures and folders. In the following article, I will introduce how to achieve it via Xcopy, keep reading to learn the detailed steps.
However, Xcopy provides a basic folder duplication, but for advanced operations like auto-copying changed files, versioning, and compression, AOMEI Backupper Standard is a reliable free option for Windows PCs. Click the jump link below to get a more flexible and simple free file copy solution!
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To move folders and subfolders in cmd, the most used command syntax would be:
xcopy [source] [destination] [options]
And there are plenty of options and switches for different demands. You can copy folders and subfolders including or excluding files from one location to another by following steps.
1. Click Start and type cmd in the search box. Right-click Command Prompt from the result list and select Run as administrator. Or you can press Win + R to call up Run window, and type "cmd" in the textbox.
2. Now, when you're in the Command Prompt, you can type Xcopy command as below to copy folders and subfolders including all the contents. For example, you want to copy “test” folder and its subfolders on C drive to D drive, type Xcopy command as:
Xcopy C:\test D:\test /E /H /C /I
/E – Copy subdirectories, including any empty ones.
/H - Copy files with hidden and system file attributes.
/C - Continue copying even if an error occurs.
/I - If in doubt, always assume the destination is a folder. e.g. when the destination does not exist.
✎Notes:
Xcopy will not copy open files.
Xcopy doesn’t display any progress or completed operations information when executed.
Remember that for folders with spaces in the name or folders larger than 8 characters in length, it is a good idea to put quotation marks around the path or you may get an error.
You can open the Command Prompt according to the steps shown above. Then, type the Xcopy command as below to copy folders and subfolders without files:
Xcopy Source Destination /T /E
/T - Copy the subdirectory structure, but not the files.
/E - Copy subdirectories, including any empty ones.
Sometimes, you may need to transfer the NTFS and Share permission together with your folders.
Once the Command Prompt is open, you can then type the following Xcopy command to copy all files and folders and retain its NTFS and Share permissions.
Xcopy Source Destination /O /X /E /H /K
/E - Copy folders and subfolders, including empty ones.
/H - Copy hidden and system files also.
/K - Copy attributes. Typically, Xcopy resets read-only attributes.
/O - Copy file ownership and ACL information.
/X - Copy file audit settings (implies /O).
Actually, there are many parameters of Xcopy command, and you can combine different parameters for different situations. But if there is a slight error in the command, the copy operation may fail, and even lead to data loss. Therefore, you must be very careful when using Xcopy command.
For users who are not familiar with the use of the command line, and want to copy files and folders easily, you can also use a handy backup software.
Xcopy provides a basic folder duplication, but for advanced operations like auto-copying changed files, versioning, and compression, AOMEI Backupper Standard is a reliable free option for Windows PCs.
Step 1. Launch AOMEI Backupper and select Sync > Basic Sync to copy folders and subfolders.
If you want to backup folders into restorable image files and keep different versions, you can consider Backup options, which are better suited for backing up large data (like partitions, disks, system backup).
Step 2. Click Add Folder to specify the folder and click OK. You can add more folders by clicking + button.
✎Note: After clicking Add Folder, you can open Filter Settings to set file inclusion/exclusion mask (available in Pro and above editions).
Step 3. Select the destination path you want to copy files to. Internal hard drive, connected external hard drive, cloud drive, shared folder, and NAS are all available.
Step 4. (Optional) Click Schedule Sync to enable it, and set a Daily/Weekly/Monthly task as you like.
Step 5. Confirm all your settings and click Start Sync.
The command in Robocopy to copy folders and subfolders is: robocopy source destination /E. In this command: "source" refers to the source folder you want to copy from. "destination" is the destination folder where you want to copy the files. "/E" is the option that tells Robocopy to copy subdirectories, including empty ones. So, when you use this command, Robocopy will copy all files, folders, and subfolders from the source directory to the destination directory.
The command used to copy an entire directory with subdirectories in Linux is: cp -r source_directory destination_directory. In this command: "source_directory" is the directory you want to copy. "destination_directory" is the location where you want to copy the source directory and its contents. The "-r" option stands for "recursive," which tells the "cp" command to copy directories and their contents recursively, including all subdirectories and files within them.
Yes, Robocopy has options to preserve file attributes, timestamps, and other properties during the copying process. The "/COPYALL" option is commonly used to copy all file information, including timestamps, security settings, and attributes.
You can use the "/LOG" and "/TEE" options together to monitor the progress of a Robocopy operation in real-time. The "/LOG" option allows you to specify a log file to record the details of the operation, and the "/TEE" option displays the progress on the console while also saving it to the log file.
You can copy folders and subfolders using Xcopy command by the steps shown above. However, many users say that copying failed due to Xcopy not working sometimes, or Xcopy does not copy all files. And in some cases, Xcopy halts because of “Insufficient Memory” error or invalid number of parameters.
Therefore, using AOMEI Backupper to copy folders or files is a more reliable and convenient method. With only a few clicks, you can copy folders or files to your destination, and its useful features like incremental backup, USB plug in, etc. bring you much convenience.
If you want to backup files on any other computers without installation, use AOMEI Backupper Technician or Technician Plus to create a portable AOMEI Backupper. Just give it a shot!