Scheduling FFS Batch on Windows 11 won't run minimized

[wlb.aes]

I can run a ffs.gui file with no problem. I want to create a batch file in Windows 11 that this runs minimized. I created a batch file from the gui with run minimized and auto-close both checked. Looking at the batch file in notepad, under <Batch> is <ProgressDialog Minimized="true" AutoClose="true"/>.

In the Task Scheduler a task is setup to trigger at task creation and repeat every 5 minutes repeatedly. The action is to run FFS.exe with the argument "D:\users\bill\documents\global\utilities\freefilesync\laptop - Onedrive.ffs_batch"

It is finding that file so no typos. The scheduler runs FFS but instead of running minimized it runs in a window, says "no files to synchronize", and remains open. I want this to run in the background. Why won't it run minimized and why does the window remain open?

[wlb.aes]

Can anyone help with this problem? Running FFS batch files from Windows 11 scheduler should be straight forward but I have tried several times and it still will not run minimized. What am I missing? Please help if you are familiar with scheduling FFS minimized.

[wlb.aes]

Can anyone help with this problem? Running FFS batch files from Windows 11 scheduler should be straight forward but I have tried several times and it still will not run minimized. What am I missing? Please help if you are familiar with scheduling FFS minimized.

[xCSxXenon]

If you run the same command in CMD directly, what happens?
FFS.exe "D:\users\bill\documents\global\utilities\freefilesync\laptop - Onedrive.ffs_batch"

[wlb.aes]

Thank you xCSxXenon. I ran the file from command line (using the full path as in the scheduler) and it opened FFS and left window open just as the batch file does.

However, I have noticed something else. The bottom of the ffs window that stays open normally says "No files to synchronize". But I noticed when some of the files were changed that the ffs window staying open started to show a list of files different, so apparently the batch file is running "compare", not "synchronize". I manually ran synchronize and the files synchronized normally. So it appears the batch file is running compare and not synchronize. What tells it to run synchronize and then close?

[xCSxXenon]

Try opening the config in FFS and saving as a batch config again, overwriting the file when doing so.

[wlb.aes]

I have rewritten that file many times, but results always the same. What makes the batch file execute a "synchronize" instead of the "compare" it seems to be doing? I attached the the batch file FFS generated in case that might give you a clue.

[Gianni1962]

Try setting [x] Ignore errors
on the "Save as a Batch Job" window.

[wlb.aes]

Since the batch file is not running Compare only, and not Synchronize and not listing any errors, I didn't think checking ignore errors would make a difference but I went ahead and tried it with ignore errors. Same issue, in that it opens, runs compare and then stops, leaving window open. Also, the "last sync" shown in the open window is the date of the last manual sync I ran, not the scheduled ones. Therefore this would agree with my thoughts that the batch is only running compare and not synchronize.

Has anyone looked at the batch file I attached and have any ideas why it is not running synchronize?

[Gianni1962]

I have:
- looked at your file
- opened your file in my FFS
- added a folder pair valid in my context
- run it with double-click: it behaves as expected, it compares and synchronize and then quit, also without adding [x] Ignore errors

My setup:
Windows 11 Pro 25H2 Build 26200.8875 Feature pack 1000.26100.334.0
FreeFileSync Version 14.9 64 bit Donation Edition

What is your setup?
Have you already tried uninstalling and reinstalling FFS?

[wlb.aes]

I have not tried uninstall/reinstall as I thought it was a configuration problem. Also since FFS has run without problems other than this batch problem.

My setup:
OS Name Microsoft Windows 11 Home
Version 10.0.26200 Build 26200
Other OS Description Not Available
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name ASUS
System Manufacturer ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.
System Model ASUS Vivobook 15 X1504VAP_F1504VA
System Type x64-based PC
System SKU
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) 5 120U, 1400 Mhz, 10 Core(s), 12 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date American Megatrends International, LLC. X1504VAP.313, 9/23/2025
SMBIOS Version 3.6

With this information do you recommend an uninstall?

[Gianni1962]

FreeFileSync Version?

Anyway: uninstalling, rebooting and reinstalling is a test worth trying.

[wlb.aes]

I went ahead and did an uninstall/reinstall (ver 14.11). I have tried ignore errors, run minimized, auto-close, and all three together. Every time it runs the batch it does the compare, finds no errors, lists the file that had changed, does not synchronize, then remains open. Even if I run the batch by double clicking on it from FFS it does the same (does not sync). Perhaps this is an issue that occurred with this latest update? Do I need to uninstall and reinstall an older version? If this is the problem has it been reported and what is the last working version?

Bill

[Gianni1962]

Try the FFS version I'm using, 14.9 64 bit (free edition instead of Donation Edition should not make any difference).

https://freefilesync.org/download/FreeFileSync_14.9_Windows_Setup.exe

Remember to restart your computer between uninstall and install, even if it is not explicitly requested.

[wlb.aes]

Thank you for the continued help.

I uninstalled 14.11 then restarted the computer. I then installed version 14.9. Same results, the batch file runs on schedule, but does a compare, finds one file that needs to be synced, no errors listed, but does not do a sync and stays open. So this is an issue with 14.9 and 14.11. Is this a known issue that is being worked on? I sent my computer specs or the latest batch file again. What in the batch file tells it to do a compare (which works)? And what line tells it to do the sync (which doesn't work)?

[Gianni1962]

There's no option to tell FFS to do a Compare and then a Sync, it's the standard behavior for batch files.

In my Windows 11 with FFS 14.9 your batch file works as expected:
I don't understand where your conclusion comes from that this is an issue with FFS 14.9 and 14.11.

I'm more inclined to think there's a problem with your Windows installation.
Anyway, your computer specs show nothing strange.

In which folder is FreeFileSync installed?
- in C:\Program Files
- in C:\Program Files (x86)
- in both?

Uninstall FreeFileSync.
Check if there are multiple versions of FreeFileSync installed and, if so, uninstall them all.
Restart your PC.

After the restart and before the new install:
delete the following folders, if present, but make sure they go to the Recycle Bin and not permanently deleted, just to be safe:
C:\Program Files\FreeFileSync
C:\Program Files (x86)\FreeFileSync
C:\ProgramData\FreeFileSync

Install the FFS version 14.9.
Check if the issue is resolved.

[wlb.aes]

Has always been installed in C:\Program Files\Utilities\FreeFileSync. Same folder for many, many versions in the past, all that used to work.

No other versions on computer, including ...x86.

Uninstallation removed the folder from ProgramData.

Restarted and installed ver 14.9 back in same directory. Opened ffs file and created new batch file with run minimized and auto-close both checked. Also deleted task scheduler task and recreated.

This time it worked properly. I upgraded to 14.11 and still worked. I tried both with run minimized checked and unchecked, but with auto-close checked. I modified a file and verified it ran minimized and performed a sync.

So it works but unfortunately did not determine what was wrong. Thank you for your help.

[Gianni1962]

🥳🥳🥳

Did you delete the "C:\Program Files\Utilities\FreeFileSync" folder before reinstalling FFS ?
Did it ask you for administrator permissions to delete it?
Maybe the problem was in that folder...

Anyway, if that didn't work, I would have tried having you to delete the FFS preferences/settings folders as well:
C:\Users\Bill\AppData\Roaming\FreeFileSync
or
D:\Users\Bill\AppData\Roaming\FreeFileSync

... assuming the problem might be in that folder.

[wlb.aes]

The program files folder utilities folder was deleted when uninstalled so I didn't have to delete, but reinstalled to same location so that wasn't the problem. As for the AppData folder I did not delete it but assume uninstall did since all the dates in that folder are after re-installation. So not sure the cause, but it is working fine now.