SyncToy Windows 11: Is It Workable & How to Use & an Alternative

SyncToy compatibility and alternatives on Windows 11

Many users are discussing the issue of SyncToy running on Windows 11. If you also have Windows 11 installed, you may be wondering if SyncToy will work on Windows 11. The answer is: extra steps are needed. In addition, you can try MiniTool ShadowMaker, an alternative to SyncToy software.

Is SyncToy feasible on Windows 11?

SyncToy is a free tool in Microsoft's PowerToys series that allows you to easily synchronize files and folders. You first need to create a folder pair (left folder and right folder) to synchronize. These folders and files can be located on your external drive, local hard drive, or on a network share on another PC.

SyncToy provides three different types of synchronization operations:

1. Synchronize: Two folders contain exactly the same file. You can update the left or right folder, and another folder will also change accordingly.
2. Mirror (Echo): It looks for changes in the left folder and makes the right folder match the left folder.
3. Contribute: Similar to a mirror, but it does not delete any files.

If you are using a Windows 11 PC and want to sync files and folders, then a question arises: Can SyncToy run on Windows 11? As mentioned above, it is compatible with Windows 10, 7, Vista, and XP, but Windows 11 does not support it. The latest version is SyncToy 2.1, and maintenance was suspended in January 2021.

However, according to some videos and forums, some users can use SyncToy on Windows 11. To use this tool on your PC, you should try an extra step – installing .NET Framework 2.0.

How to download and use SyncToy on Windows 11

How do you use this tool in Windows 11? Please follow these steps:

Step 1: Install .NET Framework 2.0.

1. Click the Start icon, enter to enable or turn off Windows features and press Enter .
2. In the Windows Features pop-up window, select .NET Framework 3.5 (including .NET 2.0 and 3.0) , and click OK.
3. Restart Windows 11 when finished.

Alternatively, download .NET Framework 2.0 from Microsoft and install it using the downloaded file.

Step 2: Download SyncToy 2.1 from CNET and run the SyncToySetupPackage_v21_x64.exe file to install this file synchronization tool on Windows 11.

Step 3: Start SyncToy and click Create New Folder Pair .

Step 4: Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the synchronization task. To find more information on how to sync folders with SyncToy, see our previous article - How to sync files with SyncToy on Windows 10?

MiniTool ShadowMaker: SyncToy alternative for Windows 11

While Microsoft SyncToy is a reliable tool and SyncToy can run on Windows 11 after installing .NET Framework 2.0, some users may want an alternative software. If you need to automatically sync multiple folders, you need to turn to the Task Scheduler. Additionally, SyncToy does not officially support Windows 11, so potential problems may arise during the process.

MiniTool ShadowMaker is a free PC backup software and file synchronization software that allows you to back up Windows and data as well as sync files and folders in Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7.

When it comes to automatic file synchronization, this tool can meet your needs. In addition, it supports various file types—pictures, videos, audio, Word/Excel documents, and more. Additionally, you can run MiniTool ShadowMaker to sync your data to a shared folder on a local drive, an external drive, or another PC in the same LAN.

Step 1: Launch this Windows 11 alternative to SyncToy and click to continue to try it out after it is loaded.

Step 2: Under the Sync tab, go to Source and select the file or folder you want to sync. Then, click on the target to select the target location.

Step 3: Click Sync Now to start the sync task.

in conclusion

This article introduces a lot of information about SyncToy on Windows 11. After installing .NET Framework 2.0, you can still run this software on your Windows 11 PC. Please follow the provided guidelines. Alternatively, run MiniTool ShadowMaker, an alternative to SyncToy to easily synchronize folders and files in Windows 11.

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