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How to Compare Folders and Copy Missing Files
Apply our detailed procedure right away
4 min. read
Updated onOctober 20, 2023
updated onOctober 20, 2023
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Key notes
Think of the following situation: you have your own site and want to tweak it to improve its appearance. But in doing this, you mistakenly and unknowingly delete some code lines.
Then, upon your next login, you realize that the interface has crashed, and you only suspect something is missing. You can only restore the site by reentering the missing lines. If only you knew what those were!
Luckily, you have abackupof your site stored in the cloud (and perhaps on some external HDD). What you need to do now is to make sure you get the exact information back on the site.
Since simply copy/pasting doesn’t necessarily do the trick, you’d better use an app that could help you identify whatever is missing.
So, in this article, we’ll look at a few free tools that can help you compare the contents of and copy whatever files are missing from one location to another.
How do you compare two folders?
1. Windiff.exe
The app will tell you if it found differences and where. To view the differences, click theExpandbutton in the right upper corner and double-click the reddened result in the window.
To current the differences, click again onFile > Copy Files >choose where you want to copy from (left or right) +Different files>OK.
2. WinMerge
The missing files will be highlighted in a different color.
To have the same information in both folders, go to theMergetab >Copy All to LeftorCopy All to Right,depending which information is complete.
3. FreeFileSync
FreeFile Sync is an excellent tool to use if you want tocompare a local folder versus Google Drive, or a local folder versus a folder your FTP server recursively using FTP or SFTP connection.
Then, to copy from one source to another, click on Synchronize and choose one of the options.
Perhaps the best ones areTwo-way sync,which will identify and apply changes on both sides orMirror,which means that the two folders will become a mirror copy.
Looking for acloud solution to store large folders? Check out our article for some recommendations.
4.ExamDiff
As in the previous solutions, the differences bear a different color.
Then, to sync the content, go toEdit > Replace Block in Second File from FirstorEdit > Replace Block in Second File from the Second.
ExamDiff also has a Pro version, which is paid, and which adds the possibility to compare directories and binary files, compare a local folder to the one on FTP server using built-in plug-ins, or synchronize files and folders between your PC and external media.
5. UseTotal Commander
To synchronize the two folders, in thecompare window, select the files you want to copy, then click on the checkbox between the columns and clickSynchronize.
As mentioned, these are just some of the free tools available, not an exhaustive list. Also, there are more options, including tools offering free trials and paid plans.
In case you don’t want to use these advanced tools, you can alwaysautomatically copy files from one folder to anotherusing built-in apps on Windows.
If you recommend a similar tool, drop us a line in the comments section below.
More about the topics:file management tools
Milan Stanojevic
Windows Toubleshooting Expert
Milan has been enthusiastic about technology ever since his childhood days, and this led him to take interest in all PC-related technologies. He’s a PC enthusiast and he spends most of his time learning about computers and technology.
Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as a front-end web developer. Now, he’s one of the Troubleshooting experts in our worldwide team, specializing in Windows errors & software issues.
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Milan Stanojevic
Windows Toubleshooting Expert
Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as a front-end web developer. Now, he’s specialized in Windows errors & software issues.
