4 Ways On How To Sync Files Between Multiple Computers

Imagine that. You’ve finished working on a document in your office and suddenly you remember that you still have to make some changes at home.

So how do you access it? And even if you somehow accessed it, how do you keep the files on both systems (home and work) in sync?

Well, you could literally carry a USB stick with you all the time and use it on multiple computers, but it doesn’t sync both files at the same time. So, without much delay, let’s jump into the article to explore various better alternatives to sync your files.

How do I sync files between multiple computers?

If you are using a Windows system, there is already an option to sync your files on the same network.

On the other hand, you can use the cloud storage services like OneDrive and iCloud that are built into Windows (10 & 11) and Mac respectively.

Also, you can use various third-party applications that sync your data across multiple computers.

To learn more in detail, you can continue reading the following section.

Sharing files over the same network (Windows)

Windows lets you share and sync files between PCs on the same network. You can allow other computers to only view or make changes to your files.

You can follow the steps below to do this.

Make the folder available for syncing

First you need to make the folder available for syncing. You can do this as follows.

1. Right-click the folder you want to sync with other computers on the network and click the Characteristics Possibility.
2. On the Sharing tab, click the Split Button. Also note the network path about it after you share the folder.
   
3. Then click the dropdown menu at the end of the search bar and select All and click the Add to button next to it. If you can’t find it, you can enter it manually.
4. Additionally assign next to the permission level All.
   • Read: other systems can only view the shared file.
   • Read Write: Other systems can view and modify (add, delete, rename) the contents of the file/folder.
     
5. Then click on Split and follow the on-screen instructions.
6. Click Apply and Close to close the opened window.
7. Next, open the Control Panel and navigate to network and internet > Network and sharing center > Advanced Sharing Settings.
8. Expand that Private Drop down and select the Enable network discovery so that your system is visible to others on the network. Also make sure you have activated Turn on file and printer sharing underneath.
9. Also, expand the All Networks drop-down menu and select the Enable password-protected sharing Option to require knowing the password to access your network shared files.
   
10. click save Changes when done.

Access the files from another computer (on the same network).

To access the shared file/folder/drive on another PC,

1. Open File Explorer (Windows + E).
2. click network in the left sidebar and select the computer that shared the folder.
   
3. Press Windows + R key to open Run command.
4. Type \\ and append the network path of the shared content (without spaces) that you noted earlier.
   

Make files available for offline use (optional)

After preparing the folder for syncing, you can make it available offline use when the host PC is not connected to the internet.

1. Open the Control Panel and select it Big icons Option next to the View by field.
2. click synchronization center.
   
3. Then click Manage offline Files in the left sidebar.
   
4. Under the General tab, click Enable offline files.
   
5. Click Apply and OK to save the changes.
6. Now navigate to the shared network file, right click on it and select the Always available offline Possibility. In Windows 11, click Show more options.

Using cloud storage services

Using cloud storage is by far the easiest way to sync files between multiple computers. All you need is a cloud storage account and you can easily access a specific file from another computer.

Using OneDrive

By default, Windows has a built-in cloud storage app called A ride, which allows you to store and sync your files across multiple computers. Likewise, you can use iCloud on Mac. Alternatively, you can use other cloud services like Google Drive, Mega, Dropbox, etc.

For demonstration purposes, we’ll use OneDrive to sync files.

1. Open a browser and sign in to your OneDrive account.
2. click upload and select the Files/Folders option according to your needs.
3. Browse and select the content you want to sync.
4. Then click on the upload Button.
   
5. Wait for the upload to complete.

To access the file from another PC, sign in in a browser with the same OneDrive account.

Alternatively, you can use the desktop application and specify a specific drive/folder on your PC to access the files even when you are not connected to the internet. However, they do take up some space on your PC.

Using iCloud

On the other hand, you can use iCloud to sync between your Mac devices as follows.

1. Click the Apple icon and select system settings.
2. Then click on your Apple ID.
3. Next, click iCloud in the left sidebar and check the box next to the items you want to sync in the right pane.
   

Use of Third Party Applications

Third-party applications allow you to seamlessly sync between multiple computers without having to be on the same network.

They can even be integrated with other cloud services like Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, etc. Also, they support two different types of systems, like Windows and Mac.

In addition, some of them allow you to automate and schedule syncing of specific files/folders automatically at a specific time period.

To use it, you just have to install the application on the computers where you want to sync the files/folders. Some of them even require you to have their accounts created separately.

Using NAS

Network Attached Storage or NAS, unlike an external hard drive, is a huge storage device connected to a network, generally using Ethernet for faster internet speeds. Basically it is one of the centralized storage architectures.

Multiple hard drives are connected to a NAS device and configured to allow multiple computers on a network to access the same files/folders. You can also read our other article on setting up a NAS server.

Generally these are used within an organization or business and allow team members to work together more effectively. All of their data is synced on the NAS server and is accessible to everyone based on their assigned roles and permissions.