Whether you use a laptop, smartphone, desktop or tablet, you should have access to your important information. This is true mobility in a technologically accelerated world. You access files and data no matter what device you’re using or where you are. But having a reliable Internet connection isn’t all you need.
To access your files and data from multiple devices, you’ll need a simple IT synchronization strategy or solution. This will help you synchronize an unlimited number of files, and no one will be able to access them from specific servers.
The following section explains how to access files on another computer on the same network.
Why should I synchronize files between multiple computers?
Users with several computers, such as a laptop and a desktop, regularly transfer files from one to the other. Synchronizing files between PCs is ideal. But why should users synchronize files between multiple computers?
To keep files in different locations up to date
Sometimes, you’re carrying on office work at home, and you need to do the same thing when you get back to the office. Forgetting an updated copy of a crucial presentation or file at home is frustrating. With the synchronization operation, you don’t have to worry about putting data and files on a flash drive.
Once the computers are synchronized, if files are updated on a laptop, they will also be updated on the desktop computer.
It’s comfortable and saves time
Gone are the days when you had to save files to a flash drive or e-mail them to transfer them to a computer. This not only created multiple versions of the files, but also took up a lot of time. It comes in handy when files are synchronized between computers.
Other
Traveling for business opens up opportunities that help your company grow. You need to attend face-to-face meetings, conferences and visit various workplaces. You can work comfortably while traveling, and it helps a lot when you synchronize files across multiple PCs, as this improves productivity.
1. Synchronize files using P2P
One of the easiest ways to get the files synchronized is to use P2P. Well, after all, it’s meant to share files two ways around, so anyone can either download or act as a peer, making it perfect for synchronization. If you need a simple and effective Peer to Peer software to do the work, you can always download and install Crux, we make sure that all of the features that you need are included, always up to date and easy to use for everyone, despite their level of technical knowledge.
2. Use AOMEI Backupper
Although there are various file synchronization programs on the market, it’s wise to use one that’s reliable and offers the best performance. AOMEI Backupper does just that with its file synchronization function. It supports all Windows computers and synchronizes files between computers on the same network.
As well as being easy to use, this feature offers simple synchronization between computers. Just take a few steps to synchronize and update folders or files in different locations. Whether you want to synchronize photos, e-mails, movies or music, the program makes it easy.
If folders and files are modified in the local location, they are also modified in synchronized locations.
Step 1: Download and install the program
The first thing to do is install AOMEI Backupper, then start it up. Select “Backup Copy”, look at the screen and click on “File Synchronization”.
Step 2: Add the required folder
Go to the interface. Before configuring the synchronization options in this step, select the folder or file. Schedule file synchronization. To choose the folder to be synchronized, select “Add a folder”.
Tip: The advanced version offers “Filter settings” which you can use if you need specific requirement parameters.
For example, you may need to automatically save files with a certain file extension. You can type in the bar or choose from the drop-down menu, then select “OK”.
Once you’ve done this, you’ll be taken back to the window in step 2. To choose where to store folders and files, select Step 2. Synchronization options give you the chance to add more information, while “Schedule” lets you configure automatic synchronization on certain occasions (daily, weekly or monthly).
Step 3: Start synchronization
To start the program, select “Start synchronization”.
Step 4: Complete the task
Once the program is complete, you can exit by clicking on “Finish”.
3. Connect a Hard Disk to the Net
What is network-attached storage or NAS? It’s a file-level data storage device that’s usually connected to a TCP/IP network. The network is usually Ethernet. With NAS, you can easily access data from a centralized disk capacity.
A NAS device has no keyboard, mouse or screen on simple, compact computers. Configuration and management of this device is done with a browser-based utility. Because of the convenience they offer in synchronizing files on different computers, these devices have become popular.
Step 1: The devices have one or more hard disks in a special box that connects to the path of the device.
Step 2: When folders to be synchronized are placed on the NAS, all computers on the network access them. The NAS gives you options on who you want to have access to the folders.
The NAS must be activated during the process. This may sound like an easy and affordable synchronization solution, but it’s not. The individual hard disk and cash outlay are quite high. In fact, during backup, bandwidth consumption is high.
4. Synchronize files over the network
In Windows, you can synchronize files over the network using a specific function according to your needs. There’s also an option for customizing permissions. The following explains how to synchronize files on the same network.
Step 1: Find the file you wish to share, right-click and select “Properties”.
Step 2: Select the “Share” tab.
Step 3: Select the “Advanced Shared Use” option.
Step 3: Choose the “Share this folder” option and to set sharing permissions, select “Permissions”.
Step 4: To enter the names of the computers with which you wish to synchronize the folders, select “Add”. At this point, choose the authorization options. These include refusal or authorization of “Total Control”, “Read” and “Change”. To confirm, click on “OK”.
This option is time-consuming when synchronizing large files.
5. Use Cloud Storage
Using cloud storage is an easier way to synchronize files across multiple computers. These options include Google Drive, OneDrive and Dropbox. With a Microsoft account, you can easily sync Windows 10 and Windows 11 folders between computers using OneDrive. To synchronize, you need to log in to your account on both computers at the same time. If synchronization is performed locally, one PC will download the files and the other will upload them.
Since OneDrive offers 5GB of free storage space, make sure you have enough space on Windows. Another limitation is that Windows applications and settings will not be synchronized, as OneDrive only synchronizes folders and files.
6. Use SyncToy
SyncToy is used to synchronize files between computers. It is designed by Microsoft for this purpose and is free of charge. You can choose an internal hard drive, USB stick or network share as source or destination file.
Step 1: To open the tool, double-click on “SyncToy”, choose the “Create new folder pair” button and synchronize the folders.
Step 2: Select the two folders you wish to synchronize. Click on “Browse” in the pop-up window to select the folder on the left (the source folder) and the folder on the right (the destination folder). To continue, click “Next” to synchronize the files.
Step 3: Select a method for synchronizing Windows 10 folders between computers. You can choose between Echo, Synchronize or Contribute.
- Synchronize: Both folders will have similar files.
- Echo: The folder on the left will not change if the folder on the right has changed.
- Contribute: If a file is deleted in the left folder, it will not be deleted on the right.
Step 4: At this point, insert the name of the folder pair and select “Finish”.
A synchronization success message will appear if everything is correct.
7. Windows Sync Center
The Synchronization Center, introduced by Windows Vista, is a feature supported by all versions of Windows. It helps you synchronize files from multiple devices. Before using it for synchronization, offline files must be activated. Here are the steps to activate offline files
Step 1: Find “Synchronization Center” in the “Control Panel”. In the left-hand column, select the “Manage offline files” link.
Step 2: To check the status, click on “Offline files” in the “General” tab. To enable it, select “Enable offline files” and “Ok”. Restart the PC.
Create a shared folder to synchronize and manage offline files.
Conclusion:
These 7 solutions are easy options for synchronizing with the computer, and each has its advantages and disadvantages. The first requires capital, the second is time-consuming, while the third offers just 5 GB of free storage space. On the other hand, SyncToy may not create a few folders, while the fifth solution can be complex.
Therefore, the best way to synchronize files between computers is with P2P. This is even when you want to share the hard disk on the Windows 10 or 11 network. Helps backup disks, systems and partitions. Using the program, it will be easy to protect your data.
