Keep selected files aligned between devices
Laplink Sync synchronizes selected files and folders between compatible computers and mobile devices. Use it to exchange working documents or copy photos and videos as part of a repeatable file-management routine.
Choose a small set of folders with a clear purpose before expanding the setup. Keep the originals available while you confirm where the files arrive and how later changes are handled.
Choose folder pairs and the transfer direction
The documented workflow pairs a folder on one device with a folder on another. One-way and two-way synchronization determine how files travel between those locations, and multiple folder pairs can be selected.
Give each pair a recognizable purpose, such as work documents or camera pictures. Check both paths and the direction before starting, especially when the devices use different folder names for similar content.
Review conflicts before replacing a file
UltraSync tracks file changes, renames and deletions. When versions conflict, the workflow lets you choose which copy to keep or exclude a file pair rather than silently assuming every change has the same priority.
If a document was edited on both devices, compare the contents before choosing a direction. Preserve both versions separately when they contain different useful changes; synchronization should not be treated as automatic document merging.
Decide how deletions should propagate
The guide describes controls for allowing file deletions during synchronization. Their scope differs by client, so inspect the setting in the device that initiates the sync rather than assuming one choice applies everywhere.
This matters when copying photos off a phone and then removing the phone copy. Test that exact sequence with expendable sample files before using it for a large collection, and keep another copy outside the synchronized folder pair.
Account for differences between device clients
Laplink documents clients for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS, with wireless and wired-network connection workflows. The iOS workflow in the guide is limited to pictures and videos rather than arbitrary documents or folders.
Check that the client you intend to use is available and usable on your actual device before planning a workflow around it. The documentation spans older client releases, so it should not be read as a promise of identical behavior across all current devices.
Use synchronization alongside independent backups
Synchronization keeps selected locations aligned. It does not by itself provide a protected history of every earlier version, and a mistaken replacement or propagated deletion can affect more than one copy.
Keep important data backed up outside the sync relationship. Our file-backup guide explains independent copies, while Laplink DiskImage covers a separate imaging and recovery workflow.
Choose synchronization or migration by the task
For repeated file exchange, review the folder-pair and conflict workflow described here. For moving selected files, settings and profiles into a new Windows setup, see Laplink PCmover Express.
Explore the Laplink software catalog for related tools. After a test sync, open representative destination files and check the next run before relying on the setup for everyday work.
Compare synchronization, backup and migration
Explore file synchronization software for related catalog tools and workflows.