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Top 2 Ways to Make Windows 11/10 Sync Folders Fast and Easily
If you want to backup your data and see the backup contents at any time, but would not like to create an image file, you can ask for help from OneDrive and a third-party sync tool. Here is a stepwise guide for you.
By Clytze Updated on March 22, 2024
Need to sync folders on Windows 11
Backing up important data regularly to prevent data loss due to unforeseen circumstances is always the best precaution to protect your data. However, if you do not want to bother too much to manage the image files created due to backups, then you can synchronize files between two folders in two different locations.
When you synchronize, you have the equivalent of an extra copy of your files, effectively protecting your files from data loss. Move files to a new location, for example, move files to another local folder, move files to an external hard drive, or even transfer files from external hard drive to PC. This way, if something happens to one of the file storage locations, you will still be able to view the files in the other location.
This detailed tutorial will show you how to easily synchronize files between two folders in Windows 11 using two free tools, so you can make the most suitable choice for your situation.
👉 Use OneDrive to sync folders in Windows 11
👉 Sync folders in Windows 11/10 with AOMEI Backupper - free & easy
👉 FAQs about Windows 11 folder sync
Use OneDrive to sync folders in Windows 11
You can use OneDrive to sync files or folders between your computer and the cloud, so you can get your files and folders from anywhere--your computer, your mobile device.
◉ If you add, change or delete a file or folder in the OneDrive folder, that file or folder is also added, changed, or deleted on the OneDrive site, and vice versa.
◉ If you have other devices connected to your OneDrive account, you can access files and folders on those devices at any time, even without an Internet connection, which is very convenient.
◉ Any changes you or anyone else makes will automatically sync as long as you're online. What's more, you can use the built-in "Share" feature to easily share folders with others.
Now let's see how to do Windows 11 OneDrive sync.
Step 1. Select the Start button, search for OneDrive, open it, and then sign in with your Microsoft account.
Step 2. On the This is your OneDrive folder screen, select Next to accept the default folder location for your OneDrive files.
Tip: If you want to change the folder location, select Change location--this is the best time to make this change, for you haven't synced any files yet.
Step 3. Click Open my OneDrive folder in the Your OneDrive is ready for you page.
Step 4. When you open this page, it will automatically select the Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folder on your PC for you and sync them to the OneDrive folder. And you can also drag and drop or copy and paste the files/folders you want to sync into the OneDrive folder.
Tip: Any time you want to change the folders you sync on your computer, right-click that cloud icon in the taskbar notification area, and select Settings > Account > Choose folders. Find other information about your account and change other OneDrive settings from here.
After that, your local folders will be automatically synced to OneDrive in Windows 11. However, some users have encountered some issues while using this feature that you need to be aware of.
1. Insufficient space. The free version of OneDrive is only 5GB in size, and this size can only store files and images but cannot support large files.
2. Files or folders synced by OneDrive must be placed in its exclusive folder, which would be very troublesome and time-consuming.
3. OneDrive may keep automatically syncing files you don't want, which will slow down your network and your computer.
4. Sometimes when you sync with OneDrive, due to a limit on file upload size or a bad network connection, OneDrive sync pending will occur and the files may get stuck and never sync.
What should you do if encounter the above situation? Read on to find an easier way.
Sync folders in Windows 11/10 with AOMEI Backupper - free & easy
In addition to Windows built-in synchronization tool, you can also choose a simpler and more reliable method, such as Windows 11 synchronize folders with AOMEI Backupper Standard. One of the sync features--basic sync, is like Window’s "copy" feature and it would not create an image file after the sync process is done so you can view your contents at any time.
AOMEI Backupper- Flexible sync: You can synchronize files from PC to external hard drives, USB flash drives, NAS devices, or cloud drives and vice versa.
- More than OneDrive: Various cloud drives are supported, including OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, and so on.
- Wide compatibility: All Windows PC operating systems are supported, for example, Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP.
100% SecureFollow the graphic tutorial below to sync local folders in Windows 11 via AOMEI Backupper.
Step 1. Please download the free file sync software AOMEI Backupper Standard first and then install it on your computer.
Step 2. Click the Sync tab on the left side and then select Basic Sync.
Note: In addition to basic sync, the software offers three other advanced sync modes as follows. You can upgrade to the advanced version if you need.
◓ Mirror Sync. It will keep the destination folder exactly the same as the source folder. If there are files only existing in the destination folder, they will be deleted.
◓ Real-time sync. As soon as the source folder in your computer changes, it will be instantly synced.
◓ Two-way sync. It will sync changed files from the source directory to the destination directory and vice versa.
Step 3. Click Add Folder to select the folder which you want to synchronize. You can click the plus icon to add more folders to sync.
Step 4. Select a destination to store the folder, then click Start Sync to perform the operation.
✍ Notes:
Options: You can write a note for your task to help you distinguish it from other backup tasks. In unattended operations, a notification can be emailed containing the result of each backup.
Schedule: It allows you to automatically sync your files, and you can set the fixed frequencies such as Daily/Weekly/Monthly/Event trigger/USB plug in. You can also set the computer to shutdown/restart/sleep/hibernate when the sync is completed (available in Professional version).
Step 5. Wait for the sync process to complete and then click the Finish button.
★ How to backup files to AOMEI Cloud
There is a growing trend to backup files to cloud storage. You can backup files to AOMEI Cloud if you have an AOMEI account. It offers you 1TB free storage for 15 days after you sign up for an AOMEI account.
FAQs about Windows 11 folder sync
#1. How do I auto sync folders in Windows 11?
Windows 11 does not have a built-in scheduling option for folder sync. However, you can manually use AOMEI Backupper to trigger sync for scheduled syncs at daily, weekly, monthly, event triggers, or USB plug in as needed.
#2. How do I sync folders between two computers on Windows 11?
To sync folders between two computers running Windows 11, you can sync files on the original computer to OneDrive, then install and use the OneDrive desktop client on the new computer to synchronize files from OneDrive to your local computer. Or, you can use AOMEI Backupper to simply sync folders over network to synchronize data from one computer to another.
#3. Can I sync folders with other cloud services in Windows 11?
As of now, Windows 11 primarily integrates with OneDrive for folder syncing. For other cloud services, consider using the AOMEI Backupper sync software to sync folders to Google Drive, Dropbox, and other clouds easily.
#4. Why is my folder not syncing with OneDrive on Windows 11?
Check your OneDrive settings to ensure the folder is selected for syncing. Additionally, verify that your OneDrive account is signed in and has sufficient storage space.
#5. Does Windows 11 automatically sync to OneDrive?
Yes, Windows 11 has integrated OneDrive syncing capabilities, and it often comes pre-installed with the operating system. By default, certain folders such as Documents, Pictures, and Desktop are set to sync automatically with OneDrive, after setting OneDrive up. This means that files within these folders are automatically uploaded to the cloud and can be accessed from other devices linked to the same OneDrive account.
To sum it up
That’s all for how to sync folders in Windows 11 using OneDrive and AOMEI Backupper Standard. Hope one of the two methods can help you finish the task successfully. The easiest way is to use the free and professional sync software AOMEI Backupper Standard. It not only helps you to sync folders easily, but also to sync subsequent changes. What’s more, you can also set a fixed time interval for automatic synchronization.
By the way, AOMEI Backupper not only can help you sync files or folders but also can help you clone system/disks/partitions, such as clone SSD to SSD in Windows 11, etc. It can be your best assistant in helping you protect your computer data. You can download this freeware to explore more features as you like.
