How to Sync Files Between Your UGREEN NAS and Computer

To sync files between UGREEN NAS and a Windows PC or Mac, open the UGREEN NAS desktop client and go to Sync & Backup > Sync > Add > Sync this computer. Choose two-way sync when both locations should stay identical, or one-way sync when one location should send changes without deleting destination copies.

Key Takeaways

• Computer sync is configured through the UGREEN NAS desktop client for Windows or macOS.
• Two-way sync sends file changes and deletions in both directions.
• In one-way sync, deleting a source file does not delete the copy already stored at the destination.
• The default conflict policy preserves both versions by renaming the older file.
• The desktop client must remain running for sync tasks to continue.
• Sync recycle bins and Version Retention provide recovery options, but synchronization is not an independent backup.

Should You Use Sync, Backup, Cloud Drives, or a Network Folder?

Choose the feature based on what you want to accomplish:

For a broader data-protection plan, see how to back up your computer with a NAS. To connect supported cloud storage services, see how to automate NAS and cloud backups.

How Do You Sync UGREEN NAS with Windows or Mac?

Before creating the task:

• Update UGOS Pro and the Sync & Backup application.
• Download and install the UGREEN NAS desktop client.
• Sign in to your NAS from the desktop client.
• Confirm that your account can access the computer and NAS folders you want to use.
• Keep enough free storage space available at both locations.

The desktop client is available for Windows and macOS. Linux users can access NAS files through SMB, NFS, or a web browser, but there is no dedicated UGREEN NAS Linux desktop client for this sync workflow.

1. Open Sync & Backup

Open the UGREEN NAS desktop client, select your NAS, and launch Sync & Backup.

Select Sync from the left-hand menu.

2. Create a computer sync task

Click Add, select Sync this computer, and then click Next.

3. Choose the computer and NAS folders

Select:

• Computer Path: The folder on your Windows PC or Mac.
• UGREEN NAS Path: The corresponding folder on your NAS.

Assign each folder tree to one sync task. Keep folder pairs separate rather than selecting a parent folder in one task and one of its subfolders in another. Overlapping paths can cause the same files to be evaluated by multiple rules, leading to unnecessary transfers or conflicts.

4. Prepare two folders that already contain files

If both selected folders already contain files, review their contents and the selected conflict policy before starting the first two-way sync.

Two-way sync works toward keeping both folders consistent. Files that exist in only one location can therefore be synchronized to the other location. Files with the same path and filename require more care, especially when their contents differ.

Create a temporary copy of important files before the first sync. When the folders contain many overlapping filenames, test the configuration with a small folder first and confirm the results before synchronizing the complete dataset.

5. Choose the sync direction

The direction controls where changes travel and how source-file deletions are handled.

Choose two-way sync when you edit files from both the computer and NAS and want the two folders to match.

Choose computer-to-NAS sync when the computer is the working location and the NAS should receive new or edited files without losing its existing copy when a source file is deleted.

Choose NAS-to-computer sync when the NAS is the primary location and the computer should receive updates without deleting its existing copy after a NAS source deletion.

Two-way sync is convenient, but a deletion from either active folder also removes the corresponding active file from the other side. Recovery options are covered later in this guide.

6. Configure advanced settings

Open the advanced settings if you need to control which files are synchronized.

By default, hidden files and folders whose names begin with a period (.) are excluded. You can also create filename or extension filters, including patterns such as:

• abc.doc
• test*.doc
• *.jpg

Review these filters if an expected file does not appear in the synchronized folder.

The default conflict policy is Keep the new file and rename the old file. If both locations change the same file before synchronization finishes, UGREEN NAS preserves both copies and adds a suffix to the renamed file instead of silently overwriting it.

7. Choose real-time or manual sync

Select the policy that matches your workflow:

• Real-time Sync: Detects and transfers changes while the desktop client is running.
• Manual Sync: Transfers changes when you click Sync Now.

Real-time sync is the practical choice for an active working folder. Manual sync provides more control when you only want files transferred at specific times.

8. Review and confirm the task

Preview the settings, enter a recognizable task name, and click Confirm.

Use names such as Desktop Documents, MacBook Photos, or Work Project so that each task remains easy to identify later.

How Do You Manage Sync Tasks After Setup?

Open Sync & Backup > Sync to view task status, transfer progress, and available controls.

For an existing task, you can:

• Suspend or Resume: Temporarily stop or restart synchronization.
• Edit: Change the folder paths, direction, policy, or filters.
• Computer Recycle Bin: View files deleted from the NAS sync path.
• NAS Recycle Bin: View files deleted from the computer sync path.
• Delete: Remove the sync task.
• Create another task: Select the ··· menu beside the device and add another folder pair.

Deleting a sync task removes its synchronization rule. It is not the same as deleting every file in the selected folders.

The desktop system-tray or menu-bar icon also displays transfer activity and provides quick controls for pausing synchronization.

The UGREEN NAS desktop client must remain running. Fully exiting the client stops active computer-sync tasks. When you reopen it, the task resumes and checks the configured folders for changes.

What Happens When You Delete a Synced File?

Deletion behavior depends on the direction selected when the task was created.

Two-way sync

When you delete a file from either active sync folder, the corresponding active copy is removed from the other side.

UGREEN NAS uses cross-device sync recycle bins to retain the deleted file:

• A file deleted from the computer sync folder is retained in the NAS-side #SyncVersion folder and can be accessed through NAS Recycle Bin.
• A file deleted from the NAS sync folder is retained in the computer-side #SyncVersion folder and can be accessed through Computer Recycle Bin.
• The original device’s operating-system Recycle Bin or Trash may also retain its local copy.

The hidden #SyncVersion folder is created after the first file is deleted from either side of a two-way sync task. Before the first deletion, selecting a sync recycle bin may display “Path does not exist.” This is normal because the corresponding #SyncVersion folder has not been created yet.

One-way computer-to-NAS sync

Deleting the source file from the computer does not delete the copy already synchronized to the NAS.

One-way NAS-to-computer sync

Deleting the source file from the NAS does not delete the copy already synchronized to the computer.

This retention behavior makes one-way sync useful when the destination should continue holding files that have been removed from the source. It still does not replace a complete backup strategy.

What Happens When the Same File Is Edited on Both Sides?

A conflict can occur when both copies of the same file are edited before the previous change finishes synchronizing.

The default policy keeps the newer file under the original filename and renames the older file by adding a suffix. Both versions remain available so that you can compare them and decide which one to keep.

This prevents an automatic overwrite, but it does not merge the contents of two documents.

For files edited by one person, allow synchronization to finish before opening and changing the same file from another device. For simultaneous editing by multiple people, use a collaborative editing platform designed to merge concurrent changes.

How Do You Recover Deleted or Older Files?

UGREEN NAS provides two recovery mechanisms for computer-sync tasks.

Recover a deleted file from a sync recycle bin

1. Open the UGREEN NAS desktop client.
2. Go to Sync & Backup > Sync.
3. Find the relevant task.
4. Open More.
5. Select Computer Recycle Bin or NAS Recycle Bin, depending on where the deletion occurred.
6. Find the deleted file and restore or copy it to the required location.

For two-way sync, check the recycle bin on the opposite side from where the deletion occurred:

• Deleted from the computer: Check NAS Recycle Bin.
• Deleted from the NAS: Check Computer Recycle Bin.

Recover an older file version

Folders used by synchronization tasks automatically enable Version Retention. UGOS Pro retains eight versions by default and supports up to 32. Administrators can change the limit or disable Version Retention.

To manage retained versions:

1. Open Sync & Backup.
2. Go to Administrator Settings > Version Retention.
3. Review the settings for the relevant folder.
4. Open File Version Explorer.
5. Locate the file and required version.
6. Download, copy, or restore it.

Retained versions consume NAS storage, so balance the number of versions against available capacity and the importance of the files.

Disabling Version Retention stops new versions from being created and deletes the folder’s existing historical versions. Confirm that those versions are no longer needed before turning it off.

Sync recycle bins and version history can recover many accidental deletions or unwanted edits, but they remain stored on the same NAS. They cannot protect against theft, fire, complete NAS failure, or every ransomware and account-compromise scenario.

Important files should also be copied to an external drive, another NAS, or supported cloud storage.

Frequently Asked Questions UGREEN NAS file sync

Is UGREEN NAS file sync the same as backup?

No. Sync keeps selected folders current and may carry edits or deletions between locations. Backup is designed to preserve a recovery copy. Sync recycle bins and Version Retention add recovery options, but an independent backup is still needed for important data.

Does deleting a computer file also delete it from the NAS?

In two-way sync, deleting the computer file removes the active NAS copy, although the file is retained in the NAS-side sync recycle bin. In one-way computer-to-NAS sync, deleting the source computer file does not delete the existing NAS copy.

Where do files deleted through two-way sync go?

A file deleted from the computer folder is retained in the NAS-side #SyncVersion folder. A file deleted from the NAS folder is retained in the computer-side #SyncVersion folder. Access them through the task’s NAS Recycle Bin or Computer Recycle Bin option.

Can I sync with my UGREEN NAS while away from home?

Yes. Enable UGREENlink and sign in to the UGREEN NAS desktop client with your UGREENlink ID. Keep the desktop client running while the task is active.

Remote transfer speed depends on the internet connection at both locations, so complete a large first sync over the local network when possible.

See the UGREEN NAS remote-access guide for setup options.