Sync Files Across All Your Devices With Syncthing

Syncthing is a continuous file synchronization program that works on Windows, Mac, Linux, BSD and Android. It synchronizes files between two or more computers in real time
REFERENCED:
► syncthing.net/
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Your support is very much appreciated. Thanks, guys!

[@Robin_Goodfellow]

It's been a very useful tool for me as a music collector. Download an album, import it into my library, two minutes later its on my phone without me having to do a single thing. Gone are the days of cables and authoritarian music managers, it's Beets and Syncthing all the way.

[@taylor85345]

I've been using sync thing for years, and I love it. I use it for lots of things that I wouldn't necessarily want syncing to an off-site server.

[@adriansrfr]

It's great at mirroring.

[@yosutzuhruoj]

I used it many years ago, but never found a use case so I dropped it...

[@Scottua]

The algorithm decided to serve me your channel and i've been enjoying your content. Thank you for this video! I've been looking for something like this for a while now as a better way to keep my Obsidian vault synced between my main windows workstation and my (new-to-me thinkpad t420) laptop that I use for journaling/browsing. I'd been using github but this is MUCH cleaner and virtually realtime without me having to do anything extra. Just create/edit the file and it's just there! You're continuing to be a great resource for me along my Arch/Linux educational journey. Keep up the great work!

[@NuryPPanaligan]

For a non programmer, Syncthing is a life saver. It's always one of the first softwares I install on my new PC/phone. Sync conflicts do happen though, so it's not perfect.

[@81dnomyar]

I have been looking everywhere for something like this!!!

[@hammerheadcorvette4]

I used to have a sync thing set up, where 1 machine would only receive, while the others would send. It's slightly a pain to configure, but works like a Back up and not a sync. It was convenient to have. Syncthing is really cool, and a big misconception is that people do not understand what Sync and Backups are. Sync thing is great at what it does.

[@Technopath47]

Nice! I've got an old laptop I repurposed to be a Syncthing server for my devices, and then that server gets regularly backed up. The way I've done my setup is I can lose any one device and semi-instantly restore my stuff to its replacement. I've taken this to an extreme of having an expendable laptop I can take with me to clients or in public where if it gets stolen or destroyed I lose no data (or minimal data if I was working on something and it didn't get a chance to sync it). This laptop is also fully-encrypted so if it is stolen they get nothing.

[@helloimatapir]

Syncthing is pretty intuitive. I personally would never use it as a backup solution, but turning on file versioning is a smart thing to do.

[@gg-gn3re]

one of the least painful softwares to configure. You haven't done much if you think it is a pain.

[@gg-gn3re]

@@helloimatapiryea the file versioning maybe but the way he has it sounds pretty bad and not it's purpose.. Probably why it was a "pain" to configure lmao

[@adriansrfr]

It can only do backups and mirroring.

[@YannMetalhead]

I'm being using Syncthing for a few months and I love it!

[@donaldwilliams6821]

Thank you for this. Recently a NixOS project I work with added it to its config but I never tried it out. Was thinking about it and I saw this pop up! It works really well

[@OLinuksiePrzyKawie]

I didn't know abiut Syncthing! This is certainly something I need to test out. Thank you!

[@nichtgestalt]

Super cool! I'd love to see more videos about your Linux Ecosystem! For example what you use for editing the (org-)files on your phone. Keep up the good work! Thank you!

[@jdasnake81]

I know Orgzly is a popular one

[@chaitanyabhole]

I've been using this for quite some time and loving it. You can sync file across devices over web or WLAN using syncthing with lot of options beside traditional "syncing" such as file versioning.

[@Dave-PL]

Looks great! gonna try it! Greetings from Poland 🤟

[@jcugnoni]

Love Syncthing. it works so well, never had an issue, even with nearly 1Tb of sync folders. Syncthing + a NAS is all I need!!

[@nishan.100]

whats a Nas my friend

[@_coeur_noir_]

Use it for years also - maybe a decade ? Allows me - amongst others things - to have exact same session at work, on laptop(s) and at home. Use it also to centralize / synchronise all needed datas from devices ( laptops, desktops on Linux and Win + others on android ) onto one server at work, and do regular incremental backups of this ( part of ) the server, onto elsewhere. SyncThing is THE must have. Rock solid in my experience.

[@netoeli]

Syncthing is simply amazing, when it comes to android it is one of the few programs that I've used that can saturate the wifi when syncing to local LAN. Other programs that I've used are always running in the low 20-25 megabytes such as an ssh server using scp or an sftp/ftp server running on the phone under userspace, non rooted devices.

[@cevmantius]

I am using syncthing to sync my notes between devices and its amazing.

[@themroc8231]

Syncthing is fabulous, and ond of the great open source solutions we have that needs more visibility: free, eficient, privacy respectful... I am all for tolerating comercial apps on Linux, but software like syncthing is what linux is about.

[@Hobgoblin88]

I've been doing the same thing for years with Resilio Sync. It's a great alternative to cloud syncing.

[@3osufdh4rfg]

It's pretty nice. Been using it for years. Remember to read up on file versioning in the Syncthing docs if you are editing files on multiple devices and want to make sure you don't loose any data in case of update conflicts, it's got some pretty nice options for how to handle it.

[@terrydaktyllus1320]

I tried it, I didn't rate it and I de-installled it. Now I understand git a lot better, using git repositories became my preferred solution, with cron jobs if I need automatic synchronisation. Now Syncthing just feels like "re-inventing the wheel" over what git and cron can already do anyway.

[@primernetpl]

@@terrydaktyllus1320Can you use git to synchronize 100gb of data between 4-5 devices and none of them being a main server? That's my use case

[@helloimatapir]

@@terrydaktyllus1320 Uhhh Syncthing and Git are not comparable in any way. Git is a version control system, primarily used for code. Syncthing is a FOSS p2p synchronization software that is comparable to something like Dropbox. Syncthing can also be used for backups by adjusting some settings and enabling file versioning, though I would not use it for this myself.

[@terrydaktyllus1320]

@@helloimatapir "Uhhh Syncthing and Git are not comparable in any way." You clearly don't understand how Git works then. "Git is a version control system, primarily used for code." Version control = tracking changes to content. "Syncthing is a FOSS p2p synchronization software that is comparable to something like Dropbox." Yes, I am fully aware of what they do. You forgot to mention rsync also. "Syncthing can also be used for backups by adjusting some settings and enabling file versioning, though I would not use it for this myself." So now you're contradicting yourself because you said "Syncthing and Git are not comparable in any way" and then you said "Git is a version control system" but finally you said "Syncthing can also be used for... ...enabling file versioning" - which suggests they are comparable. So which is it?

[@gg-gn3re]

@@terrydaktyllus1320"de-installed" lmfao

[@jjuarez83]

Have it running on my Synology NAS and it just works. What is cool is how it just works even when you are not on your network.

[@MerkDolf]

Thank you, Jow time for more research

[@islam-karam]

Hey DT, as always such an awesome video!, can u pls mention the Conky that u been use :)

[@sascha1461]

I used syncthing for about a year, it's really great. I had some issues where sync states would get corrupted and I had to manually tell it how to resolve the issues. Which I didn't realize for quite some time because I had it running for so long in the background without checking the web ui

[@terrydaktyllus1320]

The issue you describe I also had, but it gets a *LOT* worse when you add a larger number of machines to the synchronisation, especially where those machines are not always online. In the end, resolving synch issues manually just became too time consuming, so I switched to git repositories (and cron jobs) which works absolutely fine for me.

[@djyotta]

@@terrydaktyllus1320 yeah, syncthing does not work so good with a mostly-offline device. All my devices are mostly offline, but my pi is always on so that prevents most conflicts.

[@oalfodr]

If you are talking about apps on the Android phone, you can show them by using scrcpy app to display phone screen on the PC

[@sterben4958]

Love syncthing

[@benemerald]

Hey DT, what are your thoughts on the Linux desktop marketshare passing 4% only half a year after it passed 3%?

[@send2gl]

DT, any tips for sharing browser bookmarks? Appreciate all the major browsers have some kind of sharing facility but guessing that is via a third party web link. Be nice to keep it to local network.

[@demanuDJ]

I'm using syncthing for a long time but as my main home server as middleman between between devices, for keep all my files synced without to need to all devices powered on at the same time, and its good for backup, I dont have to think about it, it works on background and backuping all my work to home server and syncing with all my devices which I've configured to sync. Also my game saves are synced between laptop and desktop PC, also through homeserver

[@joshurlay]

Hey, can I ask you some questions about this? I wanted to create a program that syncs game saves to allow players of games like palworld or valheim to host the same servers from anyone's machines, rather than just the original server host. Someone then mentioned syncthing and I've been researching ever since.

[@demanuDJ]

@@joshurlay I'm using syncthing to sync saved games between my linux desktops in background, it works with witcher 3, Horizon Zero Dawn and Space Engineers. So its possible for sure.

[@mintgreen5614]

so is it a 2 way synce? meaning i change something on machine A and machine B updates, i later change something on machine B and A updates?

[@HarshKumar-kv3xs]

Using it for more than an year. Make sure to set max conflict ( Navbar > Actions > Advanced > Folder ) of folder to 0 to avoid conflict. It will only keep latest version of file

[@reiveris8320]

Could you share some information or tips on how to protect an Android phone from various hacks? What specific programs would you recommend installing on the phone?

[@djyotta]

You can configure an "introducer" to make sharing every shared folder on every device easier. Works well if you have a node that can act as a center of a hub and spoke topology. Basically, if C is an Introducer to both A and B, and A shares folder f with C, and B shares f with C, then C will hook A up with B for free. A-B still need to accept though. I configure my raspberry pi as an Introducer, and also auto accept shares. Then a new device only has to hand shake with my pi, and mark my pi as an introducer. I tell my pi to share all the folders I want with the new device and then all devices with those shares are known to the new device and offer to share the folders they have in common. I have about 6 devices set up with my pi as introducer - not all devices share all folders with each other for example, my 3 yo sons' apps are only shared with his tablet, the pi, my PC and my admin account on his tablet. If l want to provision a new app or otherwise on his tablet, I just drop it in syncthing!

[@ElTelBaby]

Hi... I'm have trouble getting Syncthing to work with a Windows 7... Without looking through 100+ comments has anyone else had;... having this same issue... I have Syncthing running fine on two Ubuntu PC's & I kind of got it loaded on Window 7 PC somehow using WiFi but it refuses to sync... This I put down to the Ubuntu PC's being connect direct via cable to my Router... Hence I now have the Window 7 PC connected the same way... I uninstalled Syncthing on the Windows 7 PC to have a NEW Start... I have a zip file on Window 7 zip syncthing-windows-386-v1.27.4... Every time I try to run that as Administrator a window opens up in the blink of eye;... then closes after which nothing happens... Any copy & paste solution would be most helpful... Regards El Tel

[@LoganKaval]

Why do you use Arco? Arch Linux has a install script if you don't want to do the manual install.

[@justkidding4178]

Hey @DistroTube /or others please respond, I am looking for laptop for programming specially ml n stuff gonna with linux but what laptops would you suggest so graphics card and all stuff will run properly around8-16 gb ram

[@trouble6032]

Maybe a thinkpad? Even the cheapier versions are pretty good

[@SlipperySalamanders]

What's the file explorer that you're using?

[@JhonnyXpress]

What diestro and graphic environment is he using?

[@octakalue3738]

How can I make it work with an sd card it keeps giving me out of sync error

[@djyotta]

It looks like the QR code rolls into view but the censor square stays stationary. I bet someone who cares can figure out that ID...

[@Batwam0]

I used Resilio for this in the past and it worked in a similar fashion. I used it to sync and backup my photos but the main problem was that I actually had to open the app for the sync to happen. I’m using immich for that now and it allows background backup. Does Synthing allow to sync the phone’s pictures and does it do that jn the background?

[@AswinC2]

Yes.

[@Batwam0]

@@AswinC2 thanks, I’m using Immich now and it’s working pretty nicely. It’s actively developed and has a nice web interface and mobile app. I might look into to syncthing for files. Would you recommend it over NextCloud as a replacement for Dropbox?

[@terrydaktyllus1320]

I am removing Syncthing from my Gentoo Linux machines as I type this because it's complete rubbish when you start to try to scale it across a large number (30+) of devices. All I was doing was sharing two folders - Documents and Wallpapers - from my central server to client machines and it kept losing synchronisation and just stopping working. The problem with it seems to be the way it does synchronisation - if I brought up machine A with Syncthing running as a daemon, it then sync-ed both the folders from the server as one would expect. If I then took down machine A and brought up machine B, it would then sync from the server (again as you'd expect). However, if I then brought up machine A with machine B still on line, then machine B would lose sync due to what appeared to be machine A trying to sync its files with machine B, even though machine B had already sync-ed them from the server. I assume it's some kind of "local optimisation" that works like Dropbox used to (when I used it) - namely that it will sync files locally if it can before going out to the main server. In the end I got sick and tired of having to manually resolve sync issue so just went to using git repositories instead.

[@_coeur_noir_]

If you have a C central / server spot in sync, you don't need to sync A ↔B. You only sync A ↔C and B ↔ C.

[@terrydaktyllus1320]

@@_coeur_noir_ I think you need to read my comment again, you're clearly not understanding my point. When a sync fails, syncthing tells you the file that failed and which machine tried to send the file. I am only repeating what syncthing reported to me.

[@djyotta]

@@terrydaktyllus1320 sounds like a filename issue or permissions issue to me...have you tried the syncthing forum? they're super helpful and respond quickly (within a day or two)

[@JonathonFailsAtLife]

Man, I'm early.

[@RobertAbe]

I admit I'm a little curious about this but I was wondering about how specifically it works when you're not on the same network. If I'm out and about with my phone, how EXACTLY does it connect to my home PC to do that syncing? Sounds like a very dangerous security risk personally. Anyone know about this aspect?

[@terrydaktyllus1320]

You could use a VPN connection to put all devices on the same virtual network.

[@RobertAbe]

@@terrydaktyllus1320 problem is my VPN is Google VPN and they don't have a Linux version yet. I could use it with my Windows PC though at least.

[@RahulKumar-mh4bk]

How to increase the syncing speed?

[@clausilkjaer]

Just so you know, if you pause the video at the correct spot, you can see the whole key string. Not sure if you are actually using this anymore.

[@HelloHelloXD]

7:40 there is an option to autoaccept folders so it can be easy

[@balmar3]

SSHelper on Android lets me rsync over ssh into my phone. Do I need anything more? Don't think so. 🙂

[@testcom7187]

Why is this version of syncthongs work via browser? O_O

[@fabianoslack4269]

3:30 “even if you login to my computer, good luck trying to …” Is there a video on how to organize things in my computer in a way that i can say that too? 😅 I found it interesting that aspect. Someone can share some lights on what he said there?

[@ThePressurizer]

Hmmmm, doesn't this launch some kind of server and open a port to the outside? You'd think this might potentially be quite a security nightmare.

[@teesh3rt]

dont you like it when a video is published on a topic that became relevant for me just before that video was published?

[@j03y__]

Its a great tool if you enjoy cleaning up *sync-conflict* files in your spare time

[@praetorxyn]

Nextcloud is way easier than Sync thing IMO. I'm using Syncthing to sync emulator saves and states between computer and Steam Deck with my NAS as a middleman, and that took some doing. I use Nextcloud to sync documents and pictures, and the Nextcloud sharing system to link people to pictures is handy.

[@gg-gn3re]

naw, NC takes 10x longer to setup. syncthing is ready out of the box there is no setup. scan qr codes and done

[@praetorxyn]

@@gg-gn3re Not with a 3 way setup like the one I described. I was expecting saves to be synced to my NAS immediately, but it didn’t do it til I setup the other endpoint to using the NAS as a go between. You’re also just wrong in my case. I used the LSIO container for both Nextcloud and Shncthing, and Nextcloud was up in a couple minutes or so and required no further tinkering because all the config stuff was done in Docker Compose, whereas Syncthing required manual intervention on my part to setup the endpoints.

[@gg-gn3re]

​@@praetorxynyea I think your setup is extremely simple and the more I read the more it seems like a you issue

[@praetorxyn]

@@gg-gn3re Even mentioning QR codes for setting up an application hosted on servers tells me I shouldn't really care about any of your opinions on the subject, so let's just agree to disagree.

[@gg-gn3re]

​@@praetorxynit isn't hosted on servers, it isn't hosted anywhere. These are peer to peer ran on clients. Good try, tiny brain.

[@MichaelBruceTaos]

I cannot for the life of me figure out how to make Syncthing send a copy to something, rather than a full sync with deletions going both ways.

[@mcpr5971]

I love that we have syncthing but yeah the UI is very confusing.

[@moussaadem7933]

That doesn't sound like syncing

[@MichaelBruceTaos]

@@moussaadem7933 Maybe so, but I need the feature!

[@moony_lol]

It is stated on forums that this is NOT something that Syncthing tries to achieve. They recommend you to try dedicated Sharing software instead of Syncing software.

[@RenderingUser]

But typically, deletion sends the file over to an invisible recycle bin type folder

[@Movies4118]

Syncthing is amazing. Just sucks for people with IOS devices.

[@torspedia]

While Syncthing is a great tool, the thing that great lets it down is that there is no native iOS client for it. This means I have to use a third party app, if I wan to sync to/from my iPad. Not ideal.

[@helloimatapir]

Blame Apple and their locked down filesystem on iOS.

[@balsalmalberto8086]

Blame apple and their walled garden.

[@opkbvnrtgmb4151]

1

[@Moonwired]

Login to your computer without a pw? Starts sweating profusely… “Retinal scan, biometric fingerprint reader, vocal passcode, a pin and an paskeyphraise”. That should do it no?

[@zomakaja]

Love syncing, but it destroyed my phone battery

[@hammerheadcorvette4]

What?!

[@galactustales]

I run only on AC power

[@MichaelBruceTaos]

Choose the option to only sync when on a charger.

[@gg-gn3re]

as you can expect.. from syncing and keeping radios on constantly..

[@djyotta]

syncthing-fork has a setting to syne for 5 mins every hour. Don't know if the mainline app supports it yet, but I've been using synching-fork for years now no issues.

[@pagundu]

For some reason, Syncthing was never reliable for me.

[@gg-gn3re]

user error

[@terrydaktyllus1320]

@@gg-gn3re Incorrect. Syncthing does not scale very well. It may be fine for a handful of devices but it doesn't scale well and you see more and more sync errors that require manual intervention as you add more devices. I believe I explained this to you already above, but clearly you're not a person that acknowledges technical expertise from those who know what they are talking about.

[@gg-gn3re]

​@@terrydaktyllus1320Yes it is. We've used it in production for about 5 years now. We had to move from other solutions due to lost files after you reach the 600k or more threshold. Dropbox etc only guarantee like 200k files (pretty bad) Your scale is extremely tiny. I saw it in your other comment, 30 devices is nothing. No you didn't explain it to me, I happened to see your comment though. It is unsurprising you're confused about that, you do not seem to be able to handle small amounts of information well. You clearly have very little technical expertise and do not know what you're talking about, so I recommend you don't talk.

[@terrydaktyllus1320]

@@gg-gn3re "Yes it is. We've used it in production for about 5 years now." Bully for you, I still had major issues with it. "We had to move from other solutions due to lost files after you reach the 600k or more threshold. Dropbox etc only guarantee like 200k files (pretty bad) Your scale is extremely tiny. I saw it in your other comment, 30 devices is nothing." Bully for you, I still had major issues with it. "No you didn't explain it to me, I happened to see your comment though. It is unsurprising you're confused about that, you do not seem to be able to handle small amounts of information well." We were talking about computers, not me. The topic of "me" is one you know nothing about, therefore you are unqualified to discuss that topic. Now do try to keep up and stay on the topic of computers, there's a good chap. "You clearly have very little technical expertise and do not know what you're talking about, so I recommend you don't talk." I've been building and administering computers for more than 40 years, sonny. I was working on UNIX servers as far back as 1988 and started with Linux in 1996. I've written and presented training courses at my workplace on TCP/IP and Linux, I'm also very highly qualified in the cyber-security field. Again, a demonstration of how you're trying to discuss a topic you know nothing about - and I believe that's the case whether or not the topic is me or computers in general. In my experience, those with little or no technical expertise resort to personal attacks once they are exhausted of any real knowledge they do have - typical "KZbin amateurs". Now run along, sonny, and mind how you go. Stay away from sharp scissors. Discussion closed.

[@majikman5140]

Not trying to be mean, but your content has gone downhill. I get it, you’ve made a lot of videos and it’s hard to come up with more content.

[@GoustiFruit]

Don't worry, you don't need to try.

[@terrydaktyllus1320]

It's his channel, he can do what he likes on it. He doesn't have to consult you (or anyone else) to check his stuff meets your "editorial standards" first. Perhaps someone with more self-awareness would realise how self-entitled they sound even writing such a comment here?

[@ditchcomfort]

Android, Linux just so STUPID! We all want to be different, but, come on…

[@balsalmalberto8086]

Apple continues to get bitch slapped by the EU. lol.

[@ditchcomfort]

iCloud and everything is solved 😂 Don’t have to think about anything… And who on earth use Android these days…

[@WarmProp]

You're comparing a toy (iCloud) to a professional tool.

[@ditchcomfort]

@@WarmProp absolutely not.

[@RenderingUser]

A better question is, who on earth gaslit you to think that apple isn't trash?

[@terrydaktyllus1320]

...and you have zero privacy as a result. That, for me, is too high a price for me to pay Apple to use their overpriced, privacy-hating crap anyway.

[@_coeur_noir_]

« And who on earth use Android these days » …mmm, billions of people ? Apple toys are not so appreciated outside of its native country ( of conception. ) + SyncThing gives you total control on WHERE your data are. Your devices only. No need to store anything elsewhere.

[@AYT04]

The good old hard drive is always gold, - @mentaloutlaw 😂

[@MetalFortress14]

"Good luck finding the keybinding to launch dmenu" HAHA DT best man 3:35

[@taylor85345]

I've been using sync thing for years, and I love it. I use it for lots of things that I wouldn't necessarily want syncing to an off-site server.