---
title: Sync with clients
description: Introduces arbitrary folder synchronization, sync types, conflict handling, client transfer, locking, and 200,000 folder synchronization capabilities.
slug: sync-client
lang: en
category: Product Features
category_order: 2
order: 25
keywords:
  - Sync
  - Client
  - Conflict Handling
  - File Locking
---

# Synchronize with client

The synchronization function is used to establish a continuous synchronization relationship between the local computer and the BabelBird cloud folder. It is not a simple "whole disk copy", but an enterprise synchronization capability composed of permissions, synchronization direction, automatic synchronization cycle, file locking, conflict handling, blacklist and client task management.

![Client-sync-create.webp](../../assets/images/client-sync-create.webp)
*Clients can create synchronization tasks from local folders and select cloud destinations.*

![Client sync management](../../assets/images/client-sync-manage.webp)
*Sync management is used to view sync status, errors, conflicts and multiple sync tasks.*

## Core Competencies

| Capabilities | Description | Support Platforms |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cloud to local | Any folder in the cloud can be synchronized to any local location, provided the user has download permission | Windows client, Mac client |
| Local to cloud | Any local folder can be synchronized to any location in the cloud, provided the user has upload permission | Windows client, Mac client |
| Two-way synchronization | Local and cloud synchronization, suitable for long-term maintenance of the same batch of working files | Windows client, Mac client |
| Upstream synchronization | Upload local changes to the cloud, suitable for collection, backup, and centralized archiving | Windows client, Mac client |
| Downstream synchronization | Cloud changes are downloaded locally, suitable for data distribution, offline use, and standard material delivery | Windows client, Mac client |
| Automatic synchronization time | Can set automatic synchronization time or synchronization cycle | Windows client, Mac client |
| Sync blacklist | Specify certain file types or temporary files not to participate in synchronization | Windows client, Mac client |
| Editing lock | Files in synchronized folders are automatically locked when editing to reduce multi-person conflicts | Windows client, Mac client |

## Permission prerequisite

- Synchronizing from cloud to local requires download permission for the target folder or file.
- Synchronizing from local to cloud requires upload permission to the cloud target directory.
- If folder permissions, sharing permissions, project permissions, or validity period permissions change, the synchronization behavior should also change.
- When the administrator closes the personal space, restricts downloads, restricts uploads, or adjusts module authorization, the synchronization entrance and capabilities may change with the configuration.
- Due to limitations of the system file management interface, the Linux/Xinchuang client does not support the ability to synchronize folders and mapped disks; the web client and mobile client do not support local folder synchronization.

## Conflicts and versions

After the files in the synchronized folder are edited or overwritten, the client will monitor the local changes and upload them as new versions in the cloud. If local files and cloud files change at the same time, version conflicts may occur. Exclamation marks appearing in synchronized folders usually indicate that there is a version conflict between the local and the cloud. The system will generally try to process it after scanning for updates again. If it does not recover for a long time, you should manually confirm the version that needs to be retained, and then overwrite it by downloading or upload it as a new version.

## Differences from mapping disk

| Dimensions | Sync folder | Virtual mapped disk |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Local storage | Files within the synchronization range will be saved locally | By default, the local space will be incompletely occupied and cached on demand |
| Offline capability | Synced files can be used offline | More dependent on network connection |
| Applicable scenarios | Fixed work data, local batch processing, offline office, data collection | Browse cloud data like accessing local disk |
| Risk points | When the synchronization range is large, it occupies disk and needs to handle conflicts | Network or permission changes will directly affect the access experience |

## Applicable suggestions

- For directories that require long-term offline editing or local batch processing, synchronization is preferred.
- If you only need to browse a large amount of cloud data at any time and do not want to occupy the local disk, use the mapped disk first.
- For large file scenarios such as design, engineering, video, materials, etc., the synchronization range and blacklist should be set appropriately.
- For confidential information, download permissions, watermarks, audits, confidentiality levels and departmental security policies should be combined.

### Overview

- File synchronization is one of the most popular functions of BabelBird Enterprise Drive. It allows users to synchronize any local folder to the cloud or any cloud folder to the local, achieving real-time synchronization of cloud and local files. This section contains the following key functions:

Synchronization management: Babel supports the creation of multiple synchronizations and can manage them uniformly in the synchronization management list.

Multiplayer collaboration: Babel Sync is designed for multiplayer collaboration. It automatically locks files to prevent conflicts caused by multiple people editing at the same time, and also has a conflict handling mechanism and version management.
Consistent with permissions: BabelBird Sync will determine the user's permissions. Users without download permission will not download files due to synchronization, ensuring the consistency and closed loop of permissions. This means that users can set which folders can be synchronized through permissions.

Multiple synchronization types: Babel supports multiple synchronization types, and users can choose the appropriate synchronization method according to specific needs:

Two-way synchronization: the cloud and local folders keep the content consistent, and modifications on either side will be synchronized to the other side.

One-way upward synchronization: local updates will be synchronized to the cloud, but cloud updates will not affect the local.

One-way downward synchronization: Cloud updates will be synchronized to the local, but local updates will not affect the cloud.

- Powerful technical advantages: BabelBird's enterprise network disk synchronization function has a number of technical advantages to ensure performance and stability:

Support large-scale folders: Babel supports folder synchronization of up to 200,000 files.

File editing lock: When editing a synchronized file, the file will be automatically locked to prevent conflicts caused by multiple edits.

Conflict handling mechanism: For editing conflicts on the same file, Babel provides a conflict handling mechanism to ensure the integrity of the file version.

Version management: The file synchronization function and version management work together to ensure that local folders will not be overwritten and lose content due to misoperations and other reasons. Even if a file conflict occurs, the two conflicting versions of the files will be saved.

Error handling in asynchronous situations: The file synchronization function also includes error handling and repair in asynchronous situations.

### How to use

- Turn on synchronization: right-click the local folder and select BabelBird - Sync the folder.

- Select synchronization method: Users can choose the appropriate synchronization method during synchronization, including one-way synchronization, two-way synchronization, etc.

- Permission configuration: Through permission configuration, users can implement more customized synchronization methods and restrict file deletion or other operations as needed.

- Multi-person collaboration: Under multi-person collaboration, files will be automatically locked when editing to avoid conflicts caused by multiple people editing at the same time. The conflict handling mechanism ensures the consistency of file versions.

- Version management: The file synchronization function supports version management, and users can view previous file versions and restore them.

### Summary

The file synchronization function of BabelBird Enterprise Drive is an excellent tool that can achieve real-time synchronization of cloud and local files. Technical advantages such as multiple synchronization methods, permission configuration, multi-person collaboration, and version management ensure high performance, stability, and security.