Importing Photos and Videos

The Import task for photos and videos copies new photos and videos from a camera, a memory card or a smartphone connected by USB to your PC. Unlike the other task types, you choose exactly which items are copied. Items you don't copy are not suggested again at the next import.

Setting Up the Import Task

The import task is created by SyncFolder itself, with your approval:

  1. Click Import on the Home page (tooltip: Import photos and videos from a USB device).
  2. The first time, the Add photo/video import task dialog appears. It asks your permission to add the import task and to use the Pictures folder as the default save location. Click Add task.
  3. The task now appears in the task list as Import task for photos and videos.

If access to the Pictures folder is disabled in Windows, the task can't be created: "The 'Import task for photos and videos' could not be created because access to the Pictures folder is still disabled. Open Windows Settings / Privacy / Pictures, enable access and then try again." See Permissions.

Changing the Default Save Location

Open the Tasks page, select the import task and click Configure. The Task configuration page explains the task and lets you choose another folder as the default save location. Only the Internal, external (usb,..) or network drive location type is available for the import task.

Importing

  1. Connect the camera, memory card reader or phone to the PC by USB. Unlock the phone and allow file transfer.
  2. Click Import on the Home page, or Execute on the import task in the Tasks page.
  3. The dialog Choose the USB device or the memory card from which you want to import photos and videos appears and searches for available external devices. Select the device and click Select.
  4. SyncFolder scans the device. "Attention! Scanning the device can sometimes take several minutes."
  5. Select the items to import and click Copy selected or Copy selected to....

The Import Page

ElementWhat it does
External deviceThe device being imported from.
Default save locationThe folder used by Copy selected.
Previous importWhen the last import from this device took place.
Show: New / AllNew shows only items added since the previous import; All shows everything on the device.
Sort: Newest / OldestOrder of the items.
Select all / Unselect allSelects or clears all items shown.
Copy selectedCopy all selected items to the folder that is configured for the "Import task for photos and videos".
Copy selected to...Copy all selected items to a folder to be designated. You choose the folder each time.

Import Options

In case of a mobile device import only images and videos from the camera folder and its subfoldersCheck box

When you import from a phone, only the camera folder and its subfolders are scanned. Images in other folders of the phone, for example from apps, are then not shown.

Erase items after copying from the deviceCheck box

Deletes the imported items from the device once they were copied successfully, to free up space on the camera or phone.

If no device is found, check that it is connected and unlocked. If the device is found but "No pictures or videos found" is shown, the phone may still be locked or set to Charging only instead of File transfer.

For a fully automatic copy of your phone's photos — without selecting items — use a 1-way sync or copy task with the Phone, tablet or other mobile media device location type, or the Android app's Mobile Sync over Wi-Fi.

Related topics: Task Types · Permissions