SyncFolder — Desktop User Guide
Configuring a Task
A task tells SyncFolder what to copy, where to copy it from and to, which copy method to use, and when to run automatically in the background. This page walks through every setting on the task edit page, in the order you'll typically configure them.
What You Configure
Every task consists of the following settings:
- Name — a descriptive name to identify the task.
- Source location — the drive, folder, or service the files are copied from (called Location A for 2-way sync).
- Destination location — the drive, folder, or service the files are copied to (called Location B for 2-way sync).
- Copy method — 1-way sync, 2-way sync, blind copy, or cut/paste.
- Schedule — when the task should run automatically in the background.
- Advanced settings — optional, fine-grained control over task behavior.
Name
Every task needs a name. SyncFolder suggests a default name (e.g. Task12), but you
can change it to anything that helps you recognize the task in the task list — for example
Backup Photos to NAS or Mirror Documents to OneDrive.
Below the name field, SyncFolder also shows the task's unique ID, with a button to copy it to the clipboard. This ID is mainly useful when referencing a task in logs or when contacting support.
Source and Destination Location
Every task needs a source location to copy from and a destination location to copy to. For 2-way sync tasks, these are referred to as Location A and Location B instead, since files can move in either direction.
Each location is set up the same way: choose a location type from the dropdown, then click Select drive/folder to point SyncFolder to the exact folder to use. The available location types differ slightly between source and destination:
| Role | Available location types |
|---|---|
| Source / Location A | Internal, external or network drive · Phone, tablet or other mobile device · FTP/FTPS server · SFTP/SSH server · SyncFolder Mobile Sync |
| Destination / Location B | Internal, external or network drive · Phone, tablet or other mobile device · OneDrive · FTP/FTPS server · SFTP/SSH server · SyncFolder Mobile Sync |
For full details on each location type — including how the folder picker works for that type and how to enter credentials — see the dedicated Select Storage Location guide page.
OneDrive is only available as a destination, and only OneDrive and SyncFolder Mobile Sync are not available at all for one of the two roles in a 2-way sync task — see the Storage Location guide for the complete availability table.
Subfolders
After you select a folder, a Subfolders popup opens automatically. Here you choose whether SyncFolder should include all subfolders of the root — including any created later — or only the subfolders you select yourself. Either way, you can also indicate whether files in the root folder itself should be excluded.
You can revisit this choice at any time by clicking the Subfolders… button.
Filters
The source section also has a Filters button, which opens the Filters popup. Here you can specify which folders and files within the location's folder tree should be filtered out of the task. Filters are covered in detail in their own guide page — see Filters.
For 2-way sync tasks, the Subfolders… and Filters… buttons are grouped together under a single Subfolders and Filters section, since both settings apply to the sync relationship as a whole rather than to one side only.
Copy Method
The copy method determines how SyncFolder reconciles files between the source and destination. Choose a variant from the dropdown:
| Variant | Behavior |
|---|---|
| 1-way sync | Keeps the destination in sync with the source. New and changed files are copied from source to destination; files removed from the source are also removed from the destination. |
| 2-way sync | Keeps Location A and Location B in sync with each other. Changes made on either side are reflected on the other. |
| Blind copy | Copies new and changed files from source to destination, but never removes files from the destination — even if they were removed from the source. |
| Cut/paste | Moves files from source to destination. Files are removed from the source once the copy to the destination completes successfully. |
When Should the Task Be Performed?
SyncFolder can run a task automatically in the background using one or more triggers. Each trigger has its own on/off switch, so you can combine several at once — for example, run on file change and also at a certain time as a fallback.
When I log on
Runs the task in the background immediately after you log on to Windows.
At a certain time
Runs the task automatically on a schedule, either periodically or at fixed times:
- Periodically — run the task every so many hours and minutes. The minimum interval is 15 minutes.
- Schedule — run the task daily, weekly, or monthly at a time you specify.
On file change
Monitors the source or Location A/B for file changes and runs the task in real time when a change is detected. You can configure a delay before the task actually starts (20 seconds by default), so that a burst of file changes doesn't trigger the task repeatedly in quick succession.
When the configured removable drive is being plugged in
Runs the task automatically — or after confirmation — when SyncFolder detects that a matching removable storage device (e.g. a USB drive) has been plugged in. You can choose whether the task starts immediately, or whether SyncFolder sends a notification first so you can confirm the start.
This trigger is only available, and only makes sense, when the source or destination is set to an internal, external, or network drive that resolves to a removable device.
Advanced Task Settings
The Advanced task settings link, near the top of the task edit page, opens a set of additional options for fine-tuning how the task behaves. These settings are optional and covered in their own guide page — see Advanced Settings.
Related topics: Storage Location · Filters · Advanced Settings
Last updated: June 19, 2026