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FreeFileSync

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Freeware file synchronization program
FreeFileSync 6.7 running on Windows 8.1
Initial releaseAugust 2008; 16 years ago (2008-08)
Stable release14.0 / 1 December 2015; 15 March 2016; 8 February 2017; 12 March 2017; 16 April 2017; 27 April 2018; 3 June 2018; 6 July 2018; 15 August 2019; 17 October 2019; 27 December 2019; 17 May 2020; 25 July 2020; 3 September 2020; 4 October 2020; 1 November 2020; 6 December 2020; 2 January 2021; 3 February 2021; 3 March 2021; 2 March 2021; 3 April 2021; 9 May 2021; 15 June 2021; 15 July 2021; 17 August 2021; 3 December 2021; 2 January 2022; 4 February 2022; 16 April 2022; 17 May 2022; 23 June 2022; 31 August 2022; 16 November 2022; 16 December 2022; 21 January 2023; 20 February 2023; 17 May 2023; 20 June 2023; 21 July 2023; 10 September 2023; 23 October 2023; 23 November 2023; 7 January 2024; 2 March 2024; 9 November 2024; Error: first parameter cannot be parsed as a date or time. (1 December 2015; 15 March 2016; 8 February 2017; 12 March 2017; 16 April 2017; 27 April 2018; 3 June 2018; 6 July 2018; 15 August 2019; 17 October 2019; 27 December 2019; 17 May 2020; 25 July 2020; 3 September 2020; 4 October 2020; 1 November 2020; 6 December 2020; 2 January 2021; 3 February 2021; 3 March 2021; 2 March 2021; 3 April 2021; 9 May 2021; 15 June 2021; 15 July 2021; 17 August 2021; 3 December 2021; 2 January 2022; 4 February 2022; 16 April 2022; 17 May 2022; 23 June 2022; 31 August 2022; 16 November 2022; 16 December 2022; 21 January 2023; 20 February 2023; 17 May 2023; 20 June 2023; 21 July 2023; 10 September 2023; 23 October 2023; 23 November 2023; 7 January 2024; 2 March 2024; 9 November 2024)
Operating systemWindows, Linux, macOS
PlatformIA-32, x86-64
TypeFile synchronization utility
LicenseFreeware
Websitewww.freefilesync.org

FreeFileSync is a program used for file synchronization. It is available on Windows, Linux and macOS. The project is backed by donations. Donors get access to a Donation Edition that contains a few additional features such as an auto-updater, parallel sync, portable version, and silent installation. FreeFileSync has received positive reviews.

FreeFileSync works by comparing one or multiple folders on their content, date or file size and subsequently synchronizing the content according to user-defined settings. In addition to supporting local file systems and network shares, FreeFileSync is able to sync to Google Drive, FTP, FTPS, SFTP and MTP devices.

Adware/malware

Earlier versions were packaged with OpenCandy, an adware module which many antivirus software vendors classify as malware.

Since the release of version 10.0 in April 2018, the software is ad-free. In November 2018 Norton wrongly considered FreeFileSync installer as a malware and blocked its installation.

Supported operating systems

FreeFileSync is available for 32bit and 64bit operating systems. As of July 2024 the then current version 13.7 of FreeFileSync supported the following operating systems and versions:

  • Windows 11 down to Windows 7.
  • macOS 14.0 "Sonoma" down to Mac OS X 10.10 "Yosemite".
  • On Linux, many well-known distributions are supported. The website cites Arch Linux, CentOS, Debian, Fedora, Manjaro, Mint, openSUSE and Ubuntu.

Older operating systems

Support for Windows Vista and XP ended with FreeFileSync_v10.11. The latest release compatible with Mac OS X 10.7.5 is FreeFileSync_8.4_Mac_OS_X. Older versions are still available on the project website.

See also

References

  1. https://freefilesync.org/. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. "FAQ: Donation Edition". freefilesync.org.
  3. O'Neill, Mark (29 August 2012). "Compare and synchronize PC files easily with FreeFileSync". pcworld.com. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  4. "FreeFileSync: App Reviews, Features, Pricing & Download". alternativeto.net. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  5. Akerlund, Geoff (10 March 2014), FreeFileSync comes bundled with the OpenCandy malware, and there's no option to not install it., Backup Review, retrieved 2 February 2018
  6. Richards, Gizmo (16 April 2017), Controversial Advertising Program Now Being Embedded in More Software, Tech Support Alert, retrieved 2 February 2018
  7. PUP.Optional.OpenCandy, Malwarebytes, retrieved 3 February 2018
  8. OpenCandy, Sophos, retrieved 3 February 2018
  9. ADW_OPENCANDY, Trend Micro, retrieved 3 February 2018
  10. Virustotal analyses of OpenCandy, Virus Total, retrieved 3 February 2018
  11. Brinkmann, Martin (3 May 2018). "FreeFileSync 10.0 updates removes ads from installer". ghacks.net. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  12. "My virus scanner/firewall shows a scary warning. Is there a virus, malware, or trojan?". freefilesync.org.
  13. List of supported operating systems https://freefilesync.org/faq.php#operating-systems
  14. Archive of old versions of the software https://freefilesync.org/archive.php

External links

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