SyncFolder — Desktop User Guide
Actions with Removable Devices
When a task is configured to use a removable storage device — typically a USB drive or SD card — that device may not always be connected when the task runs. The settings in this section control how SyncFolder responds when the originally configured device is not found, and whether the user is notified when this happens.
Settings Overview
| Setting | Type | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Device identification and recovery | Select | Don't look for another device |
| Don't notify when device is missing | Toggle | Off |
Device Identification and Recovery
When the originally configured removable device is not connected, this setting determines whether SyncFolder attempts to find a substitute device and — if found — how the user is involved before the task proceeds.
Three options are available:
| Option | Behaviour |
|---|---|
| Don't look for another device | Default. If the configured device is not present, the task ends immediately with an error. No attempt is made to find an alternative device. |
| Find a device with the same label | SyncFolder searches all connected removable devices for one whose volume label matches the label of the originally configured device. If one or more matches are found, a confirmation popup appears on the Home page listing the matching devices. The user selects the correct device and confirms before the task proceeds. |
| Find a device with the same drive letter | SyncFolder searches for a connected removable device that is mounted at the same drive letter as the originally configured device. If one or more matches are found, the same confirmation popup appears. The user selects and confirms before the task proceeds. |
How the confirmation popup works
When a matching device is found — whether by label or drive letter — SyncFolder does not proceed automatically. Instead, a popup appears on the Home page showing which device or devices matched, and which tasks are affected. This gives the user the opportunity to verify that the correct device is connected before any files are read or written.
- The task is triggered (manually or on schedule) but the configured device is not found.
- SyncFolder scans connected removable devices for a match based on the selected criterion (label or drive letter).
- If one or more matches are found, a popup appears on the Home page listing the matched device(s) and affected task(s).
- If multiple devices match, the user selects which one to use by checking the appropriate entry.
- The user confirms the selection. The task then proceeds using the selected device.
- If no match is found, the task ends with an error, the same as the default option.
Always verify before confirming. When multiple removable devices with the same label or drive letter are connected simultaneously, SyncFolder cannot determine which one is the intended device. Carefully check the device details shown in the popup before confirming, to avoid running a task against the wrong device.
Label vs. drive letter — which to choose
| Criterion | Best suited for | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Same label | Scenarios where you always use the same named device but it may be assigned a different drive letter on different computers or sessions. | Volume labels are not unique — multiple devices can share the same label. A device with a generic label such as USB DISK may match unintended devices. |
| Same drive letter | Scenarios where the drive letter is fixed (e.g. assigned via Windows Disk Management) and is reliably the same across sessions. | Drive letters are assigned dynamically by Windows and can change depending on the order devices are connected. A different device may be mounted at the expected letter. |
For the most reliable device identification, assign a unique and descriptive volume label to the device (e.g. SYNCFOLDER_BKP) and use the Find a device with the same label option. A unique label makes accidental matches with other devices much less likely.
Don't Notify When Device Is Missing
When this setting is off (the default), SyncFolder shows a notification when the task cannot proceed because the configured device is not connected and no substitute was found or confirmed.
When this setting is on, the notification is suppressed. The task still ends without executing, but no popup or alert is shown to the user. The outcome is recorded silently.
This setting is intended for scenarios where a removable device is only occasionally connected and a missing device is a routine, expected situation rather than an error worth interrupting the user for. A typical example is a weekly backup task that targets a USB drive which is not always plugged in — when the drive is absent the task simply does not run, and there is no need to alert the user every time.
Related topics: Advanced Task Settings Overview · General Settings · Error Handling
Last updated: 3 May 2026