File Sync

File Sync is a new feature of MiniTool ShadowMaker that allows you to synchronize files or folders to two or more locations, such as an external hard drive, internal hard drive, removable USB flash drive, network, and NAS.

Different from file backup, file sync won't create an image file but keep the same copy of the file to another location. In this case, you can view the contents at any time when the sync process completes. It is worth noting that MiniTool ShadowMaker can sync files or folders when they are in use.

How to Sync Files

Step 1: Run MiniTool ShadowMaker to enter the main interface.

Step 2: Under Sync page, click Source section.

Then, choose the files you want to sync in the pop-up window and click OK to go back to the Sync window.

By default, MiniTool ShadowMaker has selected a destination folder to save the synchronized files. Actually, you can also choose the target location by yourself.

Simply speaking, you are allowed to sync files to multiple places:

1. Administrator account folder

Click Administrator (sometimes your account name), and then choose one folder as the destination location.

2. Libraries

Click Libraries and choose one folder to store the synchronized files or folders.

3. Computer

Under this tab, all drives that Windows can detect will be listed. And you can choose a partition on your internal hard drive, external hard drive, or removable USB flash drive as the target place to store synchronized files or folders.

4. Shared

Besides, you are allowed to sync files or folder to NAS. Just go to the Shared tab, click Add new button, type the path, user name and password.

Step 3: After selecting the sync source and target, you can click the Sync Now button to immediately execute the synchronization operation. Or click Sync Later and then start the delayed sync task in Manage page.

Schedule

MiniTool ShadowMaker offers you a feature called Schedule , allowing you to sync files or folders automatically. When clicking Schedule button, you see this feature is disabled by default.

Just switch to , then you see MiniTool ShadowMaker offers four ways to customize file sync, and they are:

Daily - Set some particular time points to execute the scheduled file sync task each day.

1. Start sync at a specified time point once a day.

2. Start sync every 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 or 8 hours after clicking Sync up Now .

Weekly – Choose a day/days in a week to sync files or folders at a specific time.

Monthly – Run file sync task at the specified time point on the chosen day(s) in a month.

Please note if you choose to sync files or folders on 31st every month, then MiniTool ShadowMaker won't start this backup in February, April, June, September, and November. All should be carried out according to the real situation.

On Event - Run the file sync task based on specified events.

1. Log on: Set to start sync task automatically when logging on to the operating system.

2. Log off: Perform the sync operation when logging off of the operating system.

File Sync Options

During the process of synchronization, you can set some advanced parameters for every new file sync task by clicking the Options button at the lower right corner. Look at the following information:

Comparison

Here, MiniTool ShadowMaker offers you three choices to compare the destination files and sync source. By default, this software will compare the file time (usually modified time) and file size. Besides, you can also check File content at the same time.

Filter

This option can help you set exclude conditions to filter synchronized files. By default, MiniTool ShadowMaker has checked all the items in Exclude section. If you want to update a certain file in the sync process, you can also uncheck it and click OK button.