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RoboCopy

Robocopy is a free file copy tool that is included with the Microsoft Windows operating system. It allows one to construct complicated instructions to move, or copy files.

RoboCopy

RoboCopy Reviews and Details

This page is designed to help you find out whether RoboCopy is good and if it is the right choice for you.

Screenshots and images

  • RoboCopy Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-22

Features & Specs

  1. High Performance

    RoboCopy is designed for efficient and fast file copy operations, making it suitable for copying large volumes of data quickly.

  2. Resumable Transfers

    It can resume file transfers after interruptions, reducing the need to restart the copy operation from scratch.

  3. Advanced File Selection

    Supports complex file selection criteria, such as filtering by file size, attributes, and last modified date.

  4. Mirroring Capabilities

    Can mirror entire directories, ensuring source and destination directories are kept in sync.

  5. Logging and Reporting

    RoboCopy provides detailed logs and reports of copy operations, which is useful for auditing and troubleshooting.

  6. Multi-threading

    Supports multi-threaded file copying, allowing parallel transfer of multiple files to improve performance.

  7. Robust Error Handling

    Offers robust error handling and retry mechanisms, ensuring higher reliability in copy operations.

  8. Access Control Compliance

    Preserves file and folder permissions (ACLs), ownership, and attributes, ensuring compliance with access control policies.

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Videos

Robocopy Backup Tutorial for Windows

Create A Custom Backup Script With Windows Robocopy by Britec

Robocopy vs GS RichCopy 360 Enterprise Backup Software

Social recommendations and mentions

We have tracked the following product recommendations or mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you see what people think about RoboCopy and what they use it for.
  • Is ultracopier still the very best in terms of open source alternative file copying/merging tool ?
    I used robocopy on a slow network to transfer many gigabyte of data; properly configured with retries and everything worked great. Don't know about your merge needs, so take a look into it and do some tests before actually running it. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • Is copying the best way to transfer large amounts of files?
    If you're copying a ton of files that vary in size, using a command prompt robocopy with the multi-thread parameter can make it so you are copying multiple files simultaneously and max out the bandwidth of whatever connection you're using (usb, SATA, ethernet, etc). Source: almost 4 years ago
  • Game data to new PC
    This would probably work well. Oblivion mod managers edit load order by modifying dates on the files, and I'm not sure if dragging-and-dropping would keep that info. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • Migrating file servers - Robocopy syntax question
    Yes, /mir also deletes files and directories that have been deleted from the source. Here's a list of the switches. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • Robocopy Hell - Copy data without NTFS permissions
    My friend you helped me big time. I was able to test more and the U flag on /COPY was the culprit here. Which isn't a huge deal for me so using /COPY:DAT worked great. Turns out this is the default switching for /COPY anyway according to https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/robocopy. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • How do I write a script to change the background to run as a slideshow?
    Within my first year or two of working there, I wrote a ridiculous backup solution in batch that leveraged vshadow and robocopy to allow it to run without interrupting the user. It worked, but was all kinds of jank...and during a beta testing stage (multiple users, etc), my boss shelved the idea so I could work on "more important" tasks. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • connecting two computers via lan
    Not sure if Iโ€™m understanding your problem correctly but this sounds like something robocopy could help you with robocopy. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • I recently realized that I had no idea what was eating up so much of my C: Drive. I did some digging and found this. Anyone know if there's a way to reduce Local Media app data without rebuilding it entirely?
    Take a look: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/robocopy. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • Upgrade Advice... (Storage)
    If you delete something it deletes it when the mirror runs. To prevent this you can opt for a non mirrored backup by not using the /mir switch which will not Purge files from the mirror that are not on the master, so if you do this you will either have to manually delete things from the mirror or set up a secondary process weekly monthly or whatever that runs the mirror command to remove the excess files from the... Source: about 4 years ago
  • Why is moving some thing to an usb is taking so long?
    Zip it then use Robocopy https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/robocopy. Source: about 4 years ago
  • Trying to learn nested FOR loops. Need some help.
    Besides, for more sophisticated copy operations, I'd recommend you consider to use robocopy. Source: about 4 years ago
  • Robocopy to monitor folder and move files to QNAP NAS
    Https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/robocopy /copy: Specifies which file properties to copy. The valid values for this option are:. Source: about 4 years ago
  • Help: how to sync a folder to immediately copy and save downloads into a seperate folder (but not sync deletions)
    Robocopy is very well suited to this, depending on how "real time" you need. Full guide on it here: Https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/robocopy. Source: about 4 years ago
  • Files with long names are not letting me move a folder in Windows. Is there a quick or easy solution to this?
    Use robocopy, or try renaming some of the higher-level folders to shorten the path names. Source: about 4 years ago
  • Interesting CPU bottleneck on Optane/SSD/Hard Disk
    Tried robocopy's /MT switch? https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/robocopy. Source: about 4 years ago
  • Powershell Multithreading
    That said, it is very easy to shoot yourself in the foot with it, so using a tool that can already do this like robocopy as someone else suggested is the safer play: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/robocopy. Source: over 4 years ago
  • Robocopy
    Robocopy is a popular, versatile Windows command-line utility for mass data copyingโ€ฆ and building on a good thing, spacecowboy shares a script that "runs multiple robocopy instances per directory. It just turned my estimated 50 hour copy job to about 6 - 7. Runs 8 robocopy processes at once by default.". Source: over 4 years ago
  • WinForms/Visual studio - I have a lot of references/custom buttons, etc. files in the program folder. Is there a way to move them to folders and leave only exe + a few other files?
    If you add a post-build step that uses something like RoboCopy to move the required assemblies and supporting files into the sub folder you specified in the application configuration, you will still be able to debug normally. I've never tried this particular wackiness myself, but you should be able to do something similar with any publishing steps you do. Source: over 4 years ago
  • Retroactively Copying File Attributes....Ugh
    Check out robocopy and yes, you may end up migrating the data a second time. I work on linux, so I'm only aware that robocopy exists and is similar to rsync (linux). Https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/robocopy. Source: over 4 years ago
  • How to use Node.js to backup your personal files (and learn some webdev skills along the way)
    Here's the really cool thing though: not only does Windows have a very similar tool with a similar API called robocopy, the rsync NPM package allows us to chain a method called executable() that takes a string. - Source: dev.to / over 4 years ago
  • Dynamic nesting of commands
    How does robocopy do this? I haven't found anything in https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/robocopy on how this is checked. Source: over 4 years ago

Summary of the public mentions of RoboCopy

Public opinion regarding RoboCopy, Microsoft's robust file copy command-line utility, presents a varied yet generally favorable view, especially among technically adept users who value its powerful feature set. Despite its inherently complex nature, it stands out as a sophisticated choice for file management, particularly suitable for network administrators and advanced Windows users.

Strengths and Features

RoboCopy is praised for its advanced functionality and speed. Users appreciate its multithreaded copying capabilities, which makes it efficient in transferring large volumes of data, and its ability to resume copying after interruptions. The tool's I/O-based unbuffered file copying is noted for enhancing the pace of large file transfers, an advantage for professionals dealing with substantial datasets.

RoboCopy's versatility is another highlight; it offers multiple filters that allow users to select specific file types, directories, and file attributes like NTFS ACLs, timestamps, and owner information. This granularity supports bespoke data replication and migration tasks, critical for IT and network administrators who require precise control over file operations.

Command-Line Interface

The command-line nature of RoboCopy, however, is a double-edged sword. While powerful, it can be daunting for novice users who might prefer a graphical user interface (GUI). Many casual users mention their preference for GUI-based alternatives or wrappers like WinRoboCopy, which simulates a GUI for RoboCopy, suggesting ease of use is a potential area for improvement.

Comparisons and Alternatives

RoboCopy is frequently compared to other file copier tools like TeraCopy, FastCopy, and FreeFileSync. Where it excels in functionality and speed, competitors often provide more user-friendly experiences with rich GUIs. RichCopy, another Microsoft utility with a GUI, offers RoboCopy's powerful capabilities in a more accessible form, though it lacks deep Windows shell integration. Consequently, RoboCopy tends to be the choice for those prioritizing power and flexibility over usability.

Community Insights

Community feedback indicates that experienced users leverage RoboCopy for complex tasks like server migrations, data synchronization, and creating backups with specific attributes, employing command switches such as /mir for mirroring and /MT for multithreading to optimize performance. Discussions in forums and technical blogs often involve sharing tips to optimize its extensive command options, reflecting its active user base willing to navigate its complexity for robust results.

Final Thoughts

In essence, RoboCopyโ€™s public perception is one of a powerful, if not somewhat inaccessible tool for casual users, favored in professional circles for its deep command-line capabilities and superior performance in large-scale and complex file copying endeavors. As such, while not universally applauded for ease of use, it is respected and recommended for scenarios demanding rigorous data replication and file management under Microsoft environments.

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Is RoboCopy good? This is an informative page that will help you find out. Moreover, you can review and discuss RoboCopy here. The primary details have not been verified within the last quarter, and they might be outdated. If you think we are missing something, please use the means on this page to comment or suggest changes. All reviews and comments are highly encouranged and appreciated as they help everyone in the community to make an informed choice. Please always be kind and objective when evaluating a product and sharing your opinion.