Synkron - Easily Synchronize Folders on Windows

The Search for the Ideal Folder Synchronization Tool

A new portable hard drive received as a Christmas gift sparked a desire to create a robust backup system. The intention was to safeguard valuable family photos, videos, and important research documents against potential laptop hard drive failure.

Existing folder synchronization applications often presented a dilemma. Many were either overly simplistic, lacking necessary features, or excessively complex, proving difficult to manage effectively.

Evaluating Synchronization Software Options

Synctoy, previously reviewed by Shankar, offered excellent usability but had limitations in its functional scope. It was straightforward to operate, yet didn't provide the advanced capabilities needed for specific scenarios.

Pure Sync, covered by Stefan, proved to be a strong solution for complete drive or large folder backups. However, when it came to synchronizing selected files or consolidating multiple sources into a single destination, its usability diminished.

Discovering Synkron

The ideal solution was ultimately found in Synkron, available through SourceForge. This application addressed the specific requirements that other tools hadn't fully met.

Synkron provides a balance between simplicity and functionality, making it well-suited for a variety of synchronization tasks. It allows for precise control over which files are synchronized and supports merging data from multiple locations.

This makes Synkron a particularly effective tool for users who need a flexible and powerful synchronization solution without an overwhelming learning curve.

Individual Folder Synchronization with Synkron

Utilizing Synkron for the individual synchronization of folders from your computer to an external hard drive is remarkably straightforward. The application’s primary interface consolidates all necessary functions into a single, easily navigable area.

This centralized design allows for the synchronization of individual folders, multiple source folders, and the scheduling of backups for your crucial files, all managed from one central location.

In my specific scenario, I identified three key file categories requiring backup to my new external drive: personal family photos, cherished home videos, and essential research documentation.

To organize this, I established three dedicated "synced" folders within my "My Documents" directory and transferred all pertinent files into these designated locations. This ensures all future important files are consistently stored within these folders.

The setup process is exceptionally simple. It involves renaming the tab to reflect the folder being synchronized, aligning the source and destination folders, and then initiating the synchronization process by clicking the "Sync" button.

To preview the synchronization process, click the "Analyse" button. The software will then display the folders slated for synchronization, the number of files involved, and whether any subfolders are missing on the target drive.

Should any subfolders be absent on the destination drive, the software will automatically create them, mirroring the original directory structure.

An "advanced" dropdown menu at the bottom left provides additional features. These include the option to exclude empty folders from synchronization or to bypass all subdirectories entirely.

Synkron also offers a "MultiSync" function, a particularly useful feature. This allows you to select multiple source folders or individual files and synchronize them all to a single destination folder.

This is ideal for consolidating directories from various locations on your computer into a central location on the external hard drive.

During the synchronization process, all files are displayed in the pane below as they are being transferred. For smaller file sets, this process is completed rapidly.

Larger files will show each transfer as it occurs, providing a real-time update of the synchronization progress.

Following the initial synchronization, the date of the last sync is displayed on the corresponding tab. Subsequent synchronizations will be significantly faster, as only new or modified files will be copied.

You can create multiple tabs for different synchronization setups, ensuring each is clearly labeled for easy identification.

Synkron provides comprehensive scheduling options for synchronizations. You can configure syncs to run at specific dates and times, or establish recurring schedules, such as weekly backups of designated folders.

Different syncs and multisyncs can be assigned unique schedules, offering complete customization.

A blacklist feature allows you to exclude specific items from synchronization. This is useful for avoiding unnecessary backups of large files, such as videos, that you may not need to preserve or for which you lack sufficient backup storage space.

Beyond individual file blacklisting, Synkron supports the use of "filters" to exclude entire file types from synchronization.

After an extensive search for a suitable synchronization tool for my new external hard drive, I found Synkron to be an excellent solution. Its combination of being free, open-source, and feature-rich surpasses many commercial backup tools.

Have you had the opportunity to use Synkron? What are your thoughts on this tool? Are you aware of any other comparable open-source solutions that offer similar or superior performance? Please share your insights in the comments below.