How To Sync Files Between 2 Macs
by Frank · Published · Updated
![An iMac and MacBookPro on a table, facing each other, with a bi-directional sync symbol between them.](https://i0.wp.com/www.econtechnologies.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Bisync-Button-2x.jpg?fit=800%2C600&ssl=1)
When syncing files between two Macs, we recommend using a ChronoSync to ChronoAgent connection. This offers a faster, more reliable, and more secure connection than using Apple’s built-in File Sharing. Follow these steps to set it up:
1. Decide which Mac will be the Primary Mac. This is the Mac you use the most, or the one where you want to control your backups. This is the Mac where you install ChronoSync.
2. Install ChronoAgent on your Secondary Mac. Setup ChronoAgent by following our Configuring ChronoAgent guide.
![The "General" panel of ChronoAgent's settings](https://i0.wp.com/www.econtechnologies.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/ca-settings-general.png?fit=800%2C703&ssl=1)
3. Create a ‘Connection Profile’ in ChronoSync. Launch ChronoSync and open the ‘ChronoSync->Settings->Connections’ panel. Use our Configure and Backup to a Remote ChronoAgent guide to set up a ChronoAgent Connection Profile.
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.econtechnologies.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/cs-settings-connections.png?fit=800%2C711&ssl=1)
4. Create a new Sync Task. You may want to check out our ChronoSync Quick Start Guide just to learn the basics of ChronoSync Sync Tasks.
5. Your Sync Task will use the Connection Profile you just created. Choose that newly created profile from the ‘Connect to:’ popup menu on the Setup Panel, in the Target Pane of your Sync Task.
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.econtechnologies.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/cs-connect-to-ca.png?fit=664%2C516&ssl=1)
6. The other target is the local volume on the ChronoSync Mac. When syncing to/from ChronoAgents, it is best to set the local volume Target’s ‘Connect to:’ popup to ‘Mounted Volumes(Admin Access)’.
![The "Connect-to" menu of a target with "Mounted Volumes (Admin access)" selected](https://i0.wp.com/www.econtechnologies.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/cs-connect-to-admin-access.png?fit=664%2C516&ssl=1)
It is best to learn by doing, so setup initially using a temporary folder with some test files, perhaps created on your Desktop and experiment with settings and options before targeting important files and data.
Those are the basics. If you want to test this out, the best thing to do is get ChronoSync and ChronoAgent, then activate the free 15-day trial license after launch. You can download the app installers at: https://www.econtechnologies.com/downloads/downloads.html