Syncing Files Between Windows and Linux: 3 Easy Steps!
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Summary
- Seamlessly sync files between Windows and Linux without the cloud using Syncthing. 💻🔄
- Install and configure Syncthing on Windows and Linux for secure file sharing. 🔐
- Syncthing requires both systems to be online for file sync to work. 🌐
Tired of manually copying files between operating systems or relying on cloud storage? I'll tell you how I use Syncthing to sync. files seamlessly between my Windows and Linux machines, without compromising my privacy or dealing with storage limits. 🚀
Why I chose Syncthing for file synchronization
If you are like me and regularly work in different operating systems, you know the pain of keeping files synchronized. After trying several solutions, I decided on Syncthing, a free, open-source, continuous file synchronization tool that creates a direct connection between your devices. 🌟
What I like most about Syncthing is that there is no cloud storage involved. Your data is transferred directly between devices, which means you don't have to trust a third-party provider with your private files. Just your devices talking to each other in a secure manner. safe. 🔒
In my home setup, I have two PCs: my main machine which runs on a dual boot Windows and Garuda Linux, and an additional Ubuntu system for testing. Syncthing helps me effortlessly share files, especially screenshots, between my Windows and Ubuntu systems. I'll show you how to set it up. 🖱️
The only limitation you should know
While Syncthing is fantastic, there is one catch: both systems must be running simultaneously for the sync to work. Since there's no buffer, Syncthing can't sync files if one of the devices is disconnected. So, if my Windows PC is on but my Ubuntu PC is off, the sync won't happen. That said, if both PCs are on at the same time, all changes will sync. 🔄
This limitation is a bigger problem for dual-boot setups. Since Windows and Linux are installed on the same system, you can't run both operating systems at the same time. This makes it impossible for Syncthing to sync between these devices. However, there's a very elegant solution to this: a simple USB flash drive. You can plug a USB flash drive into your PC, and when you boot into either operating system, it will read the flash drive and access the files. 💾
How to install and configure Syncthing
Installing and configuring Syncthing can be a bit tricky. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to get it working on your Windows and Linux devices. 📋
Step 1: Install Syncthing on Windows and Linux
First, let's get Syncthing working on Windows. To do this, visit the Syncthing website and go to the Settings menu. DischargesThere you'll find several download links. Ignore everything under the "Base Syncthing" option, as they require you to run a command-line instance for Syncthing to work. If you close the command line, Syncthing stops working, which I find inconvenient. 🚫
Instead, download the Syncthing for Windows setup under the Integrations section. It will take you to a GitHub page where you can download the installation file for WindowsThis release installs a Start Syncthing app and a Stop Syncthing app on your system, making it easier to maintain the service. 🎉
Once downloaded, simply run the installation file and follow the installation wizard. During the process, it will first ask you to configure the port and address. If you are unsure, you can leave the default setting. Then, check the options “Start Syncthing automatically at login” and “Start Syncthing after installation.” Finally, click “Yes” in Create Windows firewall rule for Syncthing; otherwise, it won't work. 🔧
Once installed, open your browser and, assuming you didn't change the default address and ports, paste this address into your address bar:
http://127.0.0.1:8384/
This will open the Syncthing web interface, where you can manage your sync settings. 🌐
I'll share how to configure the settings in the next section. For now, let's Install Syncthing on Linux. This should be fairly straightforward, as many Linux distributions include Syncthing in their repositories. For Ubuntu users, it's as simple as opening a terminal and running:
sudo apt install syncthing
After installation, you'll find two new applications: Syncthing WebUI and Start Syncthing in the Ubuntu Applications view. Open Start Syncthing first, then access Syncthing WebUI. A browser window will open showing the same interface you saw in Windows. 🌍
Step 2: Connect your devices
Now comes the fun part: linking your Windows and Linux systems. I'll start with the Windows device as an example. 🔗
First, open the Syncthing WebUI by visiting the URL:
http://127.0.0.1:8384/
Now, in the top right corner, click Actions > Show ID. This will show you the device ID for your Syncthing on Windows. 📲
Now switch to the Linux machine and open Syncthing. Click “Add Remote Device” in the bottom right corner and enter the device ID of the remote device. Windows. Give it a memorable and easily identifiable name, and click “Save.”
The Syncthing instance on Windows should now display a request to pair the Linux PC. Accept the request, give the Linux PC a recognizable name (this can be different from the PC name), and click "Save." 📝
That's it! Now your PCs with Windows and Linux are connectedYou can verify the connection by checking the "Connected" symbol in the Remote Device section of any interface. If there are any connection issues, it should also appear here.
Step 3: Set up sync folders
Simply connecting the devices doesn't automatically sync your files; you need to tell Syncthing which folders to sync. By default, Syncthing creates a Default Folder for syncing. On Windows, it's located at:
C:\Users\{username}\SyncWhile on Linux, you can find it here:
/home/{username}/SyncSyncing is paused for the Default Folder, but you can easily enable it. Just click the "Edit" button, go to the "Sharing" tab, select the device you want to sync with, and click Save. This should trigger a sharing request on the other device. Accept, and both devices will now be synced. If you add or remove any data (files or folders) from one of the folders, it will appear in the other synced folder. 📂
That said, if you don't want to use the Default Folder, you can also set up a custom folder for syncing. To do this, click "Add Folder" and add the path to the folder you want to share. You'll also need to give it a Folder ID, which should be the same on all synced devices. There's also a Folder Label field. You can enter anything you want here; it's meant to help you identify the folder. 🛠️
Syncthing has transformed the way I share files between my Windows and Linux systemsWhile it's not perfect and requires both systems to be online to sync, it's still my preferred solution for its security, simplicity, and lack of reliance on cloud storage. 🌈
