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Difference between sync & copy?
Difference between sync and copy in rclone
What's the difference between sync and copy?
The key difference is what happens to files that exist at the destination but not the source:
| Behavior | copy | sync |
|---|---|---|
| Adds new files | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Updates changed files | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Deletes extra files at dest | ❌ No | ⚠️ Yes |
| Safe for beginners | ✅ Yes | ❌ Use with caution |
Quick examples
# Copy: only adds/updates, never deletes
rclone copy /photos gdrive:backup
# Sync: makes destination match source exactly (deletes extras!)
rclone sync /photos gdrive:backup --dry-run # Always test first!When to use each
Use copy when you want a safe backup that accumulates files over time. If you delete a file locally, it stays in your backup. This is the safest choice for most backup scenarios.
Use sync when you want an exact mirror. If you delete a file locally, it gets deleted from the destination too. Always run with --dry-run first to see what would be deleted!
Final answer
When in doubt, use copy. It's always safer to have extra files than to accidentally delete something important.
For detailed usage, filtering options, and troubleshooting, see the full guides:
- rclone copy - The safe backup command
- rclone sync - The powerful mirroring command
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