We stand with Ukraine to help keep people safe. Join us
All Apps
Best AppsReviewsComparisonsHow-To
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission
HomeSystem UtilitiesBackupFile Synchronization

File Synchronization for Mac

Synchronize multiple pairs of folders or files.

$7.99
In English
Version 1.6.5
3.9
Based on 29 user rates

File Synchronization overview

File Synchronization is a utility that has the ability to synchronize multiple pairs of folders or files. It has been designed to be easy to use and quick to do the job.

It was based originally on the File Synchronization tool provided by Apple with the old Mac OS, but has a few improvements and features to help get the job done quickly and efficiently.

File Synchronization synchronizes multiple pairs of folders or files. It has been designed to be easy to use: choose 2 folders to synchronize then click the Synchronize button and you're done! However, there are multiple options when your needs get a little more complicated. The interface is easy to use and the application is quick to do any synchronization that you might need.

3 different synchronization modes to use depending on what you want to achieve:

  • Automatic mode: whenever the content of one of the folder you synchronize changes, the synchronization is performed so you can be sure that the 2 folders are always synchronized. You set it once and then forget about it.
  • Repeat mode: the synchronization is performed at a regular interval that you set in the preferences. Good when you're constantly making changes and don't want the folders to be continuously synchronized.
  • Manual mode: whenever you want to perform the synchronization, you select the pair in the list and click Synchronize. Ideal if you synchronize a folder that is on a remote volume that might not always be available.

2 different synchronization directions:

  • Bidirectional: changes in both folders that are synchronized are duplicated in both folders. Best when changes can occur in each folder that you synchronize.
  • Unidirectional: changes that occur in one of the folder you synchronize are duplicated in the other folder. If you want to have an exact backup of a folder, that's the synchronization mode to use. You can choose to backup the folder on the left or on the right.

Preview window:

  • See how many items are going to be copied and deleted and what the sizes of those items to copy and delete are.
  • Check what is going to happen if the synchronization is performed.
  • Decide which item is going to replace the other
  • Remove some items from the list from being synchronized.
  • Delete items you don't want to be synchronized.

Synchronization options for each pair:

  • Select the synchronization mode.
  • Choose the synchronization direction of that pair.
  • Set filters to ignore certain items.
  • Decide what happens with orphaned files and recently modified files.
  • Ignore warnings when both copies of the same file have been modified since the last synchronization.
  • Include or not invisible items.
  • See the status of the last synchronization session and when it was last synchronized.

Multiple sources for the synchronization:

  • Local disks.
  • Remote volumes shared by another Mac on your network or by a Windows computer.
  • iDisk.
  • USB flash drive.
  • Store login information for remote volumes so that they can be automatically mounted the next time they are needed.
  • Any volume you can access in the Finder can be used.

Additional information:

  • Can generate a log each time a synchronization is performed.
  • Error reporting gives you a description of an error so you can fix it.
  • Hierarchical views show you exactly where an item is in any list. Double-click an item and it will be selected in the Finder.

What’s new in version 1.6.5

  • Fixes an issue that would cause some files to be synchronized over and over again.
  • Supports Dark Mode in Catalina.

File Synchronization for Mac

$7.99
In English
Version 1.6.5
Write a detailed review about File Synchronization

Write your thoughts in our old-fashioned comment

MacUpdate Comment Policy. We strongly recommend leaving comments, however comments with abusive words, bullying, personal attacks of any type will be moderated.
3.9

(97 Reviews of File Synchronization)

  • Comments

  • User Ratings

corvoflip
corvoflip
Oct 18 2023
1.6.5
5.0
Oct 18 2023
5.0
Version: 1.6.5
small and focussed tool - it just does what I expected :-)
Neil-M
Neil-M
Jul 3 2016
1.6.4
0.0
Jul 3 2016
0.0
Version: 1.6.4
"File Synchronisation has been tested and is fully compatible with Mac OS X 10.11 (El Capitan)." as per http://www.nemesys-soft.com/MacOS/FileSynchronization/FileSynchronization_EN.html
Big Johnson
Big Johnson
Sep 22 2015
1.6.4
1.0
Sep 22 2015
1.0
Version: 1.6.4
Developer has not "dropped off the face of the earth," the website still works and they still respond to emails, so let's lose the drama.
However, they don't give a damn about keeping it updated and have a history of failing to fix bugs - see my previous post below and also the post from polocanada on Feb 21, 2014 in which the dev. says "Unfortunately, the issue hasn’t been fixed. We’re working on it. Stay tuned."
That was 19 months ago!

I've been using v1.6.4 for quite some time and didn't realize it hadn't been updated in nearly THREE YEARS. I was surprised when I saw that on MU and thought maybe they'd just forgotten to add a newer version.
But I checked the dev's website and they too show 1.6.4 as the current version.

I ran into a bug a few days ago in which FS fails to check if enough free space is available before beginning to copy files. I returned to find FS hung and I had to force-quit.
I figured out what was causing the problem and notified the developer, even though I really didn't think they'd care since the app appeared to be abandoned.

I received this ludicrous reply from them just an hour and a half after I sent my message:
"I’m not sure why you think it’s abandonware. It’s not. The problem you reporting is a known issue that we are tracking and hope to fix in an update. The big problem is that the App Store rules are constantly changing and getting stricter, so it’s harder to maintain older software. And, as you might be able to imagine, rewriting an application like this from scratch takes time. We’re not the size of Apple or Adobe.
So, the only workaround I can suggest for now is that you check in advance that there is enough space on your destination for the entire content of the source."

They were surprised that someone would think that their app, which hadn't been updated in over 2.5 years, was abandoned? LMAO!
The last time it was updated, Mountain Lion was the current OS.
If it looks like abandonware and smells like abandonware, it's probably abandonware.

And they said they were aware of the bug and are "hoping" to fix it in an update, but it's been difficult because they're a small company.
In my many years of experience, "hoping" has never accomplished a single thing. Looks like they've been hoping for years that this app would update itself.
Even individual developers manage to provide regular updates for their apps on the MAS, yet in almost three years this company hasn't managed to fix a critical bug that they admit to knowing about.

Don't give this developer any money because they'll just squander it on who-knows-what. It sure won't go toward updating their software!
It would be EXTREMELY foolish to buy this app knowing it contains at least two bugs and hasn't been updated in years.

Backups are vital, and you want up-to-date, bug-free software from a diligent, reputable company.
That is definitely NOT what you get with File Synchronization!
Digitalretouch
Digitalretouch
Jun 25 2015
1.6.4
2.0
Jun 25 2015
2.0
Version: 1.6.4
Developer dropped off the face of the earth and the registration process has to keep happening - some weirder serial validation unlike anything else I've seen. Code won't work anymore and can't get response.
polocanada
polocanada
Feb 21 2014
1.6.4
5.0
Feb 21 2014
5.0
Version: 1.6.4
Response from the developer regarding the issue I outlined below.. Since it's not fixed, if you are doing sync, be very very careful everybody because if you use USB drives and if that drive becomes not available, disconnected or whatever, you could potentially risk loss of files because they become deleted both on source and destination and go to trash bin without you knowing it (unless you have LOGING option turned on) Here is response from Laurent. I think the issue is critical, it's unfortunate it's still not resolved after about 1 year being known. That was about the time when the problem happened and still not resolved. RESPONSE: --------- Hello. Unfortunately, the issue hasn’t been fixed. We’re working on it. Stay tuned. -Laurent. ------------
corvoflip
corvoflip
Oct 18 2023
1.6.5
5.0
Oct 18 2023
5.0
Version: 1.6.5
Big Johnson
Big Johnson
Sep 22 2015
1.0
Sep 22 2015
1.0
Version: null
Digitalretouch
Digitalretouch
Jun 25 2015
2.0
Jun 25 2015
2.0
Version: null
The-Fantastic-Laura-B
The-Fantastic-Laura-B
Sep 15 2012
5.0
Sep 15 2012
5.0
Version: null
headlines
headlines
Jul 4 2012
5.0
Jul 4 2012
5.0
Version: null
polocanada
polocanada
May 27 2012
5.0
May 27 2012
5.0
Version: null
Roger-Traill
Roger-Traill
May 24 2012
1.0
May 24 2012
1.0
Version: null
insp
insp
May 19 2012
2.0
May 19 2012
2.0
Version: null
THerring
THerring
Jan 27 2012
4.0
Jan 27 2012
4.0
Version: null
bryandavis
bryandavis
Jan 6 2012
5.0
Jan 6 2012
5.0
Version: null
Thinkingman-com
Thinkingman-com
Dec 16 2011
4.5
Dec 16 2011
4.5
Version: null
bra-ket
bra-ket
Nov 19 2011
0.5
Nov 19 2011
0.5
Version: null
Riccardo-Luigi-Varisco
Sep 20 2011
5.0
Version: null
Fred-Szabo
Fred-Szabo
Jul 14 2011
5.0
Jul 14 2011
5.0
Version: null
Brecht-Debaene
Brecht-Debaene
Jul 8 2011
4.5
Jul 8 2011
4.5
Version: null
Virtualp
Virtualp
Jun 24 2011
4.5
Jun 24 2011
4.5
Version: null
Ipdaley
Ipdaley
Apr 22 2011
3.5
Apr 22 2011
3.5
Version: null
Graham-Timmins
Graham-Timmins
Mar 19 2011
0.5
Mar 19 2011
0.5
Version: null
Vascouno
Vascouno
Feb 22 2011
5.0
Feb 22 2011
5.0
Version: null
larrymcj
larrymcj
Oct 8 2009
5.0
Oct 8 2009
5.0
Version: null
Jayce
Jayce
Mar 28 2009
5.0
Mar 28 2009
5.0
Version: null
Pat320
Pat320
Mar 9 2008
5.0
Mar 9 2008
5.0
Version: null
gcoghill
gcoghill
Jul 18 2006
4.8
Jul 18 2006
4.8
Version: null
MadMac
MadMac
May 23 2006
5.0
May 23 2006
5.0
Version: null
Guest
Guest
Feb 10 2004
4.0
Feb 10 2004
4.0
Version: null
Guest
Guest
Jun 4 2003
2.5
Jun 4 2003
2.5
Version: null
Guest
Guest
May 21 2003
4.5
May 21 2003
4.5
Version: null
Mikebartlett
Mikebartlett
Feb 26 2003
4.5
Feb 26 2003
4.5
Version: null
Guest
Guest
Dec 28 2002
5.0
Dec 28 2002
5.0
Version: null