ONE APPLICATION - ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES!
ChronoSync is a feature-rich macOS backup and sync app that is capable of backing up your data, performing a bootable, cloning your hard drive, synchronizing files between two computers and storing redundant backups in the cloud. All these tasks can be run manually or scheduled to run automatically when you’re not using your computer. Backup and sync tasks can target just about any type of device that can be mounted as a volume on your Mac. Using ChronoSync is the easiest and smartest way to sync or backup your Mac.
Synchronize
MAC TO MAC
ChronoSync automates the old hassles of keeping your laptop and desktop computers in sync. If you are dealing with more than one Mac, no problem! ChronoSync can synchronize from a central Mac to multiple Macs. Whether it’s a few files or tens-of-thousands, ChronoSync is up to the task.
MAC TO CLOUD
ChronoSync can sync with cloud storage services as if they were local hard drives or file servers. This allows users to share a common set of files in the cloud. Changes to one file can be quickly distributed to all users. ChronoSync + Cloud is a cost effective way to perform workgroup file sharing.
MAC TO CLOUD
ChronoSync can sync with cloud storage services as if they were local hard drives or file servers. This allows users to share a common set of files in the cloud. Changes to one file can be quickly distributed to all users. ChronoSync + Cloud is a cost effective way to perform workgroup file sharing.
MAC TO IPHONE / IPAD​
If you have a set of files that you need to keep synchronized between a Mac and an iPhone or iPad then the combination of ChronoSync and InterConneX is the answer. InterConneX is a free app that connects directly to ChronoSync running on a Mac. Select any folder on your Mac and synchronize all the files within directly to an iPhone or iPad so when a file changes on one device it will synchronize to the other device.
MAC TO SOMETHING ELSE​
If you need to sync files with a Windows PC, between a shared NAS, a central file server, a shared external hard drive or whatever you can mount as a volume on your Mac, ChronoSync has got you covered.
Backup
BACKUP ANY FILES YOU WANT...
...TO ANY DEVICE YOU WANT
ChronoSync can place backed up data on virtually anything you can connect to your Mac. This includes internal hard drives, external hard drives, flash drives, other Macs, cloud storage, PCs, external drives, NAS drives or any other type of volume you can mount on your desktop. Perform remote backups by connecting to file servers using standard file sharing or use ChronoAgent. You can even backup to iPhones and iPads by combining ChronoSync and InterConneX!
Bootable Backup
CLONE YOUR HARD DRIVE
The advantage of having a bootable backup (or clone) is that if something goes wrong with your primary system drive, you can boot from the backup drive and be up and running within minutes. Without having a bootable backup it would take — at the very least — a full day or two to restore your system to a usable state (assuming you had good backups). If you rely on cloud-based services for backup, the whole restoration process can actually take weeks! A bootable backup is a must for any user who simply cannot afford any significant downtime!
ChronoSync can create two types of bootable backup: standard and mirror. A standard bootable backup copies your entire system volume and makes sure it can be booted from the destination device. It will not interfere with additional information on the destination volume. So, for example, if you wanted to keep some additional documents in a special folder on that volume, they would remain intact after the backup. A mirrored bootable backup makes an exact clone of you system volume. Any files on the destination device that do not exist on your source volume will be erased after a mirrored bootable backup.
Data Volume Backup
BACKUP ALL THE DATA ON A MAC
The advantage of Data Volume Backup is you can restore your Mac to its original state if something goes wrong. A Data Volume Backup will backup all of the data on your Mac which can then be copied to a new Mac using Apple’s Migration Assistant.
THE APPLE SPLIT
Beginning with Catalina, Apple split the main drive into two volumes: System and Data. Starting with Big Sur you could no longer copy the System volume. The System volume is read-only and contains all the operating system files that should never change during use of the computer. The Data volume contains everything else, including the user’s home folders. Through a new Apple feature known as firmlinks, the two volumes are linked together to appear as one volume to the user, so you will only see one drive on your Mac. However, there really are two distinct boot volumes mounted.
BOOTABLE OR DATA VOLUME BACKUP?
To create a Bootable backup under Big Sur, Monterey, or Ventura ChronoSync takes advantage of Apple’s APFS replication utility (called ASR) to create a cloned image on the destination volume. Once the full system clone is made, ChronoSync will only handle the Data volume in subsequent syncs.
To create a Data Volume backup under Big Sur, Monterey, or Ventura ChronoSync simply copies any changed files to the destination. A straightforward method to ensure you have a backup of all your data.
WHY DO A DATA VOLUME BACKUP?
Apple split the drive into two volumes to lock down the System files to protect your Mac and keep it safe. Currently you have a choice between a Bootable Backup and Data Volume Backup but if you are using running Big Sur, Monterey, or Ventura. We recommend doing a Data Volume Backup to avoid using ASR. For security, future releases of macOS will probably remove the ability to perform a bootable backup altogether.
Cloud Backup
SHARE DATA OVER THE INTERNET
Ever wish you had access to your files no matter the time or place? With ChronoSync, you can sync and backup your files from a Mac directly to any supported cloud service.
You can also go in the other direction and backup your cloud service to a local drive. You might say you can ‘Backdown’ your files from the cloud so you can have a local copy just in case you lose access to your cloud service.
ChronoSync can even sync/backup directly between 2 cloud services. This is useful if you want to have redundant cloud backups or if you decide to switch to a new cloud service and need to move all your files from the old cloud service to the new cloud service.
Below is a list of just some of the supported cloud services. Don’t see a Cloud service you need? Contact support to see if ChronoSync is compatible.
- iCloud
- Dropbox
- Google Drive
- Microsoft OneDrive
- Box
- Amazon S3
- Google Cloud
- Backblaze B2 storage
- Any other cloud service that uses Apple’s File Provider mechanism, or provides an Amazon S3 Compatibility mode
iCLOUD COMPATIBLE
ChronoSync is one of the few apps available that gives you a direct connection to iCloud. You can backup or synchronize files to and from iCloud. That means you can copy files from your Mac to iCloud and you can copy files stored on iCloud to your Mac or to an external drive connected to your Mac.
SFTP SERVERS, TOO!
You can securely transfer files between two remote systems by using an SFTP Server connection. Learn how by reading the ‘Configure and Backup to an SFTP Server‘ guide.
EASY AS...
Set up your Connection Profile: Cloud Connectivity Guides.
Set up your targets. Backup to the cloud just like you would a locally attached hard drive!
Run your backup!
Additional cloud storage services will be implemented in future releases. Please help us decide the next best ones by contacting Support and providing your feedback.