Practical Robocopy Examples

Master Robocopy with these real-world examples that solve common file management challenges. These practical robocopy examples will help you copy, backup, and synchronize files efficiently.

Basic File Copy

robocopy C:\Documents D:\Backup

Copies all files from Documents to Backup folder.

Mirror Directory (Exact Backup)

robocopy C:\ProjectFiles D:\Backup\ProjectFiles /MIR

Creates an exact replica, deleting extra files in destination.

Copy Only New Files

robocopy C:\Source D:\Destination /XO /E

Copies only newer files, including all subdirectories.

Fast Multi-threaded Copy

robocopy C:\LargeFiles D:\Backup /MT:16 /R:3 /W:5

Uses 16 threads with 3 retries and 5-second waits for speed.

Copy Specific File Types

robocopy C:\Photos D:\PhotoBackup *.jpg *.png *.raw /S

Copies only image files from all subdirectories.

Network Backup with Logging

robocopy C:\Data \\Server\Backup /MIR /LOG:backup.log /R:5

Mirrors to network drive with detailed logging.

Exclude Temporary Files

robocopy C:\Source D:\Destination /E /XF *.tmp *.log /XD "temp" "cache"

Copies everything except temp files and specified folders.

Resume Interrupted Transfer

robocopy C:\LargeFiles D:\Backup /Z /R:10

Enables resume mode for interrupted network transfers.

Copy with All Attributes

robocopy C:\Source D:\Destination /COPYALL /E

Preserves all file attributes, timestamps, and security permissions.

Dry Run Test

robocopy C:\Source D:\Destination /L /E

Shows what would be copied without actually copying anything.

These practical robocopy examples cover the most common scenarios system administrators and power users face daily. Start with basic commands and add options as needed for your specific requirements.