FreeFileSync Open Source File Synchronization
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FreeFileSync User Manual:
#Quick Start
Command Line
Comparison Settings
Daylight Saving Time
Exclude Files
Expert Settings
External Applications
Macros
Performance
RealTimeSync
RTS: Run as Service
Schedule Batch Jobs
Synchronization Settings
(S)FTP Setup
Tips and Tricks
Variable Drive Letters
Versioning
Volume Shadow Copy
Macros
All directory paths may contain macros that are expanded during synchronization. The beginnings and ends of each macro are marked by a % character. In addition to special macros handling time and date, the operating system's environment variables may also be used.Internal Macros
| Macro | Example | Format |
|---|---|---|
| %Date% | 2025-10-29 | [YYYY-MM-DD] |
| %Time% | 055742 | [hhmmss] |
| %TimeStamp% | 2025-10-29 055742 | [YYYY-MM-DD hhmmss] |
| %Year% | 2025 | |
| %Month% | 10 | [01–12] |
| %MonthName% | Oct | [Jan–Dec] |
| %Day% | 29 | [01–31] |
| %Hour% | 05 | [00–23] |
| %Min% | 57 | [00–59] |
| %Sec% | 42 | [00–59] |
| %WeekDay% | 3 | [1–7] week begin may vary locally |
| %WeekDayName% | Wed | [Mon–Sun] |
| %Week% | 44 | [01–52] calendar week |
Environment Variables (Windows)
| Macro | Example |
|---|---|
| %AllUsersProfile% | C:\ProgramData |
| %AppData% | C:\Users\Zenju\AppData\Roaming |
| %ComputerName% | Zenju-PC |
| %LocalAppData% | C:\Users\Zenju\AppData\Local |
| %ProgramData% | C:\ProgramData |
| %ProgramFiles% | C:\Program Files |
| %ProgramFiles(x86)% | C:\Program Files (x86) |
| %Public% | C:\Users\Public |
| %Temp% | C:\Windows\Temp |
| %UserName% | Zenju |
| %UserProfile% | C:\Users\Zenju |
| %WinDir% | C:\Windows |
Special Folder Locations (Windows)
| Macro | Example |
|---|---|
| %csidl_Desktop% | C:\Users\Zenju\Desktop |
| %csidl_Documents% | C:\Users\Zenju\Documents |
| %csidl_Pictures% | C:\Users\Zenju\Pictures |
| %csidl_Music% | C:\Users\Zenju\Music |
| %csidl_Videos% | C:\Users\Zenju\Videos |
| %csidl_Downloads% | C:\Users\Zenju\Downloads |
| %csidl_Favorites% | C:\Users\Zenju\Favorites |
| %csidl_Resources% | C:\Windows\Resources |
| %csidl_QuickLaunch% | C:\Users\Zenju\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch |
| %csidl_StartMenu% | C:\Users\Zenju\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu |
| %csidl_Programs% | C:\Users\Zenju\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs |
| %csidl_Startup% | C:\Users\Zenju\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp |
| %csidl_Nethood% | C:\Users\Zenju\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Network Shortcuts |
| %csidl_Templates% | C:\Users\Zenju\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Templates |
Note: Most of the macros above have a variant for public folders, e.g. %csidl_Documents% has %csidl_PublicDocuments%.
Hint: You can add flexibility to an ffs_batch configuration file by creating new temporary environment variables in a bat or cmd file that are evaluated by FreeFileSync at runtime:
Example:
The FreeFileSync batch file C:\SyncJob.ffs_batch contains macro %MyVar% instead of an absolute target folder and is invoked by a cmd file:set MyVar=C:\Target
"C:\Program files\FreeFileSync\FreeFileSync.exe" C:\SyncJob.ffs_batch
"C:\Program files\FreeFileSync\FreeFileSync.exe" C:\SyncJob.ffs_batch
::%MyVar% is resolved as C:\Target during synchronization
Note
Temporary environment variables created with the set command are only valid if the synchronization is started by calling the FreeFileSync executable directly. Using start /wait would create a new program context without these temporary variables.
Temporary environment variables created with the set command are only valid if the synchronization is started by calling the FreeFileSync executable directly. Using start /wait would create a new program context without these temporary variables.