4 Free Tools | Sync Files to External Hard Drive in Windows 11/10

User case: I want to sync files to 1TB external drive

“I have a laptop with about 400GB of files including pictures, photos, videos, music, docs, project files, etc. I wish to copy these files to an external hard drive which is 1TB in size.

However, I want the copy to be such that if I make any changes to my files on the laptop, these changes are synced to the external hard drive. If I add or remove or move files, the external hard drive should be up-to-date. 

What is the best software to sync selected folders and files to my external hard drive? Any idea about this?”

From the above example, we can know that the user wants to sync files with external hard drive regularly, and when the source file changes, the change will be automatically synchronized to the target.

Many tools can help automatically sync computer files to external hard drive or flash drives on Windows 10 or 11. Let’s take a closer look.

4 Easy & Free File Sync Software for Windows 11/10

#1. AOMEI Backupper

AOMEI Backupper Standard is free file sync software that allows you to sync files from computer to external hard drive, cloud drive, or NAS/LAN automatically. It offers schedule sync options to sync files on the basis of daily, weekly, monthly, event-trigger, or USB plug-in mode.

It also provides an “Email Notification” service to let you know the synchronize status and results in real-time. If you’re an advanced computer user, you may write a Pre-command or Post-command to run the specific program or script.

If you upgrade to the Professional edition, you may use the Real-time Sync, Mirror Sync, or Two-way Sync feature to complete more complicated file synchronization tasks.

How to sync files to external hard drive with freeware effortlessly

Preparations: 

1. Download and install AOMEI Backupper on your PC.
2. Plug your external hard drive into your PC and make sure it is recognized by your computer.

Take the Documents folder as an example. Learn how to sync folder to external hard drive as follows:

Step 1. Launch AOMEI Backupper Standard. Navigate to Sync > Basic Sync.

Step 2. Click Add Folder to select the source folder. If you want to add more folders, please click the "+" icon.

Step 3. Then select a folder on your external hard drive as the target location.

Step 4. Configure the sync mode if necessary. Click the Start Sync button to proceed.

Tips: 

• Options: it contains comments, email notifications, etc. You can comment on the sync task to distinguish it from others and set up email configuration information to remind you of sync results.
• Schedule Sync: it can be set to run the sync task with daily, weekly, monthly, event-trigger, or USB plug-in automatically.

#2. Microsoft OneDrive Sync Client

OneDrive is a cloud storage service that allows users to store, access, and share files across multiple devices, including external hard drives. Files are automatically synced between your local device and the cloud, ensuring that your documents, photos, and other content are always up to date.

You can access your files from any device with internet access, and any changes made are reflected in real time across all devices. Download OneDrive app to start syncing OneDrive to external hard drive.

How to automatically sync files to external drive with OneDrive

Preparation: Plug the external drive into your computer and make sure it can be recognized.

Step 1. In File Explorer, go to the OneDrive folder (usually located in C:\Users\YourUsername\OneDrive).

Step 2. Cut the OneDrive folder from its current location on your laptop and paste it into your external hard drive.

Step 3. Open the OneDrive app on your computer. Click on More (three dots) in the OneDrive menu. Select Settings. Go to the Account tab and click on Choose folders. Uncheck the box next to the current OneDrive location on your laptop. Click on Unlink this PC to disconnect the current OneDrive location.

Step 4. Sign in to OneDrive again and choose the new location on your external hard drive to sync your files.

Tips:

• If you encounter a “not enough space” issue while pasting the folder, you may create an empty folder on the external drive and make sure to name it as OneDrive. When you link your OneDrive to that new folder, all the online files will download.
• Some users reported that OneDrive cannot sync occasionally. If you’re facing similar issues, it is suggested to try another solution, like the free AOMEI Backupper.

#3. Windows File History

File History is a built-in feature in Windows that allows you to save copies of your file to an external drive or network location automatically. It regularly saves versions of your documents, pictures, videos, and other files, allowing you to restore previous versions if they’re lost or damaged.

How to sync files to external hard drive on Windows 11 via File History

Preparation: Plug your external hard drive into your computer and make sure it can be recognized.

Step 1. Open Search and type in File History to start it. Click Select Drive.

Step 2. The external drive should be on the list. Select it and click OK.

Step 3. Click Advanced Settings to configure file sync frequency and version retention.

Step 4. Click Run now to start the syncing process.

Tips:

• File History does not sync your system settings, applications, or programs.
• If the target location is unavailable or disconnected, the sync job will stop without notification.

#4. SyncToy (Windows 10 or previous versions)

SyncToy is a free, lightweight file sync tool developed by Microsoft. It allows you to sync files from computer to external drive as well. This free sync software offers 3 sync modes, Synchronize, Echo, and Contribute to help sync files.

• Synchronize: makes both folders identical (changes in one folder are mirrored in the other). Mostly used in daily life and work file syncing.
• Echo: syncs files from the source to the destination, but does not delete files on the source (only adds or updates). Mostly used for regular backups, or avoid accidental deletion of files.
• Contribute: copies new and updated files from source to destination, but does not delete or overwrite existing files on the destination. Mostly used for incremental backup, avoiding overwriting important files.

Windows 10 sync files to external drive via SyncToy

Preparations: 

• Download from the CNET, and install SyncToy on your PC.
• Plug your external hard drive into your PC and make sure it is recognized by your computer.

Step 1. Open SyncToy, and click Create New Folder Pair to start.

Step 2. Click Browse... to select the left folder with all files you want to sync.

Step 3. Click Browse... to select the right folder from your external hard drive. You may need to create one if there isn’t one. Click Next.

Step 4. Choose the right sync mode based on your condition. Follow the wizard to complete the following comments, and then start to sync.

Tips:

• You can click the Change options... and type *.dat in the Files to exclude the textbox, and click Preview to see the pending sync task.
• To automatically sync files, you can also turn to Windows Task Scheduler for help.

★Extended Reading: how to sync files to AOMEI Cloud

There is a growing trend to backup files to cloud storage. Compared to an external hard drive, cloud is a safer place to keep your important files because it is less subject to getting lost or damaged.

If you create an AOMEI account, you can backup files to AOMEI Cloud. You'll get 1TB of free storage for 15 days after you sign up for an AOMEI account.

FAQs on syncing files to external hard drive in Windows

1. Why should I sync files to an external drive?

Syncing files to an external drive provides a backup of important files in case of data loss, allows access to files from different devices, and helps free up space on your local disk.

2. What happens if I delete files on my external drive after syncing?

If syncing is set to two-way (bidirectional) sync, the deleted files on the external drive may be deleted on your computer as well. If syncing is one-way (from computer to external drive), the files will remain deleted on the external drive, but not on your computer.

3. Can I sync large files or folders to an external drive?

Yes, you can sync large files and folders to an external drive, but make sure the external drive has enough free space. If syncing large files, it's a good idea to use a fast connection like USB 3.0 or Thunderbolt to avoid long sync times. SyncToy, File History, and AOMEI Backupper are good choices for syncing large files.

4. What type of external drive is best for syncing?

An SSD is typically faster and more reliable than a traditional HDD, making it ideal for syncing. However, HDDs offer more storage at a lower price, so they're a good choice for larger backup needs. Just select one based on your condition.

5. How can I check if my files are properly synced to an external drive?

You can manually check by comparing the contents of your external drive with your computer’s files. Alternatively, general sync software often provides logs or status reports to confirm that the process was completed successfully. For instance, AOMEI Backupper also provides an email notification service.

Summary

There are 4 easy ways to sync files to external hard drive on Windows 11/10. Just choose the most suitable solution according to your demands. By the way, if you’re looking for a more complete and solid file syncing solution for regular and long-term data protection, AOMEI Backupper is highly recommended.

Its free edition - Standard - is totally sufficient for personal daily life and work usage. The Professional edition is very helpful for advanced users. It also has a Server edition for Windows Server users. More features like file backup, and disk cloning are waiting for you to explore.