# Mac OSX--is there a way to sync certain folders between desktop/laptop?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-osx-is-there-a-way-to-sync-certain-folders-between-desktop-laptop/336342>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 19, 2005, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-osx-is-there-a-way-to-sync-certain-folders-between-desktop-laptop/336342 "2005-12-19T20:12:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\
**Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-osx-is-there-a-way-to-sync-certain-folders-between-desktop-laptop/336342/1 "2005-12-19T20:12:52Z")

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I had (quite wrongly) assumed I could use iSync to synchronize the main folders I use on my laptop and desktop–my e-mail folder, and my main project folders–but it turns out iSync only handles your calendar/contact info.

Is there another utility/app I can use to accomplish the above? (i.e., make sure that specific folders on my laptop and desktop have the same contents)

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**Author:** ![Avumede](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/avumede/32/7235_2.png) [@Avumede](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avumede)\
**Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-osx-is-there-a-way-to-sync-certain-folders-between-desktop-laptop/336342/2 "2005-12-19T22:19:40Z")

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If you don’t mind using the Terminal, then “rsync” does just what you want. You could probably use Automator to write the shell commands that rsyncs the directories you are interested in, and run that Automator workflow from the desktop.

Open the Terminal.app and type “man rsync” to get an overview of what the command is, and how to use it.

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**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\
**Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-osx-is-there-a-way-to-sync-certain-folders-between-desktop-laptop/336342/3 "2005-12-19T22:54:44Z")

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Apple’s own [Backup 3.0](http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/apple/backup.html) might be what you’re looking for. If you have a .mac account… it’s free.

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**Author:** ![Bytegeist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@Bytegeist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bytegeist)\
**Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-osx-is-there-a-way-to-sync-certain-folders-between-desktop-laptop/336342/4 "2005-12-19T23:20:30Z")

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To amplify what **Avumede** said, run this command from the Terminal:

```auto

rsync -a --delete SOURCE DESTINATION

```

where you plug in directory paths for SOURCE and DESTINATION. For example:

```auto

rsync -a --delete /Volumes/ExternalDrive/MyStuff /Users/toadspittle

```

… will synchronize the contents of ‘/Users/toadspittle/MyStuff’ with the one on your external drive, creating the folder if it doesn’t exist yet.

Remove the ‘–delete’ option if you want to avoid deleting files that the destination has and the source doesn’t.