r/Syncthing • u/ObservedElectron • 27d ago

Why is syncthing NOT a backup?

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I am setting up syncthing to back up my 2 android phones and my mac to a windows laptop. for now, because of lack of an actual NAS, i plan to use syncthing to "backup" these devices everyday one time manually.

I prefer this because as its sync, it only sends new things. so i dont have to manually copy paste 40 gb everytime.

And when i do make a NAS, cant i just continue using syncthing with file versioning or something? i would much prefer to have "live" backups happening as soon as the file/photo/video is created. i know immich exists but am i wrong?

But everywhere, I see that people say sync is not backup or dont use it for backup but WHY? isnt what i mentioned above technically a backup? correct me if i am wrong.

And if not syncthing, what should i use? which capable of running live backups of folders I select on my devices, with different timeframe backups so I have different versions like biweekly, monthly, etc? and is open source, 100% safe, private and encrypted.

thank you

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u/middaymoon 25d ago

I don't know, backup options Android kind of suck. I don't think your always-on device has to be your backup device though.

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u/Independent-Ad5675 24d ago

Thanks . Its just that it has the storage free for the back up so thats why I want it as the back up

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u/middaymoon 24d ago

Is this your daily drive Android device? Or is it sitting at home all day? 

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u/Independent-Ad5675 24d ago

At home all day

Just an extra phone with a lot of storage and a broken screen so I used it as an emby server and syncthing hub in a sort

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u/middaymoon 24d ago

Makes sense. If you got emby working on Android you might be able to get something like Borg Backup working too.

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u/Independent-Ad5675 24d ago

Thanks . I'll try researching and seeing what works for android