Instructions on specific FreeFileSync usage
- Posts: 2
- Joined: 13 Sep 2026
I have a specific requirement and would like to use FreeFileSync. I need to synchronize a folder across four computers (two laptops and two desktops) and a USB drive. The folder needs to be identical on all the computers; the USB drive will serve to keep the folder up to date, as I intend to use it specifically to update the various PCs. I tried following instructions found online, but so far, I haven't achieved the desired result. During configuration, should I choose the "File time and size" option or "File content"? Could you provide step-by-step instructions on how to configure FreeFileSync so that it works correctly across all the PCs and the USB drive?
- Posts: 190
- Joined: 5 Jan 2024
Hi,
Is it your goal to Update the Usb drive as needed And then trigger Synchronize from that drive to each of the computers?
Yes. FreeFileSync can do that very well.
On the computer with the external USB drive, you can create four separate FreeFileSync batch jobs, one for each remote computer. For example:
Computer1.ffs_batch
Computer2.ffs_batch
Computer3.ffs_batch
Computer4.ffs_batch
Each batch job could synchronize a folder on the USB drive with a Windows network share on the corresponding computer, such as \\Computer1\Documents.
Then you can run each job independently from the command line:
"C:\Program Files\FreeFileSync\FreeFileSync.exe" "C:\SyncJobs\Computer1.ffs_batch"
"C:\Program Files\FreeFileSync\FreeFileSync.exe" "C:\SyncJobs\Computer2.ffs_batch"
"C:\Program Files\FreeFileSync\FreeFileSync.exe" "C:\SyncJobs\Computer3.ffs_batch"
"C:\Program Files\FreeFileSync\FreeFileSync.exe" "C:\SyncJobs\Computer4.ffs_batch"
You could also put those four commands into one .BAT file and have it synchronize all four computers sequentially.
The important question is what you mean by synchronize. If the USB drive contains a master copy and you want to push that copy to four computers, I would configure Mirror synchronization. If changes can be made independently on any of the four computers and you want those changes propagated among all the machines through the USB drive, that is a two-way synchronization arrangement and needs to be designed more carefully to avoid one computer's changes overwriting another's.
Is it your goal to Update the Usb drive as needed And then trigger Synchronize from that drive to each of the computers?
Yes. FreeFileSync can do that very well.
On the computer with the external USB drive, you can create four separate FreeFileSync batch jobs, one for each remote computer. For example:
Computer1.ffs_batch
Computer2.ffs_batch
Computer3.ffs_batch
Computer4.ffs_batch
Each batch job could synchronize a folder on the USB drive with a Windows network share on the corresponding computer, such as \\Computer1\Documents.
Then you can run each job independently from the command line:
"C:\Program Files\FreeFileSync\FreeFileSync.exe" "C:\SyncJobs\Computer1.ffs_batch"
"C:\Program Files\FreeFileSync\FreeFileSync.exe" "C:\SyncJobs\Computer2.ffs_batch"
"C:\Program Files\FreeFileSync\FreeFileSync.exe" "C:\SyncJobs\Computer3.ffs_batch"
"C:\Program Files\FreeFileSync\FreeFileSync.exe" "C:\SyncJobs\Computer4.ffs_batch"
You could also put those four commands into one .BAT file and have it synchronize all four computers sequentially.
The important question is what you mean by synchronize. If the USB drive contains a master copy and you want to push that copy to four computers, I would configure Mirror synchronization. If changes can be made independently on any of the four computers and you want those changes propagated among all the machines through the USB drive, that is a two-way synchronization arrangement and needs to be designed more carefully to avoid one computer's changes overwriting another's.
- Posts: 2
- Joined: 13 Sep 2026
Hi, thank you for your prompt response to my request. I usually work on one of the four PCs, where I use the folder I need to be the same on all four PCs. However, if I later work on another of the four PCs and the folder isn't updated (identical) to the one on the PC I last worked on, that's a problem because I'm definitely missing some data, so I need the USB drive to keep the folder up to date on all four PCs.
Thanks
Thanks
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- Site Admin
- Posts: 7566
- Joined: 9 Dec 2007
- Posts: 190
- Joined: 5 Jan 2024
What about using real-time synchronization on each of the computers so if you're sitting at computer a and you edit a document the real time sync will recognize that you changed a document and copy it to each of the other computers.