Example usage for robocopy.
robocopy C:\data D:\backup /E /R:2 /W:2robocopy command
Copy directory trees with retry, mirroring and metadata options; mirroring can remove destination files.
Documented syntax
robocopy <source> <destination> [<file>[ ...]] [<options>]The linked Microsoft Learn article is the upstream authority. Availability may depend on Windows release, role, optional feature or interactive tool context.
Examples
Example from the linked Microsoft Learn article. Check its paths, targets and availability before adapting it.
robocopy c:\reports "\\marketing\videos" yearly-report.mov /mt /zExample from the linked Microsoft Learn article. Check its paths, targets and availability before adapting it.
robocopy C:\Users\Admin\Records D:\Backup /E /ZB /LOG:C:\Logs\Backup.logExample from the linked Microsoft Learn article. Check its paths, targets and availability before adapting it.
robocopy C:\Users\Admin\Records D:\Backup /MIR /R:2 /W:5 /LOG:C:\Logs\Backup.logExample from the linked Microsoft Learn article. Check its paths, targets and availability before adapting it.
robocopy C:\Users\Admin\Records D:\Backup /S /MAXAGE:7 /MOV /LOG:C:\Logs\Backup.logExample from the linked Microsoft Learn article. Check its paths, targets and availability before adapting it.
robocopy C:\Users\Admin\Records D:\Backup /ETA /PURGE /LOG:C:\Logs\Backup.logExample from the linked Microsoft Learn article. Check its paths, targets and availability before adapting it.
robocopy C:\Users\Admin\Records D:\Backup /S /E /COPY:DAT /MT:16 /LOG:C:\Logs\Backup.logParameters, options and clauses
| Option / clause | Description |
|---|---|
/S, /E | Copy subdirectories; /E includes empty directories. |
/MIR | Mirror a tree; may delete destination files absent from the source. |
/COPY:<flags> | Choose file properties to copy, such as data, attributes and timestamps. |
/R:<n>, /W:<n> | Set retry count and wait time after a failed copy. |
/L | List planned actions without copying or deleting files. |
/MT[:n] | Use multiple threads where supported. |
/lev:<n> | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/z | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/b | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/zb | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/j | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/efsraw | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/copy:<copyflags> | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/dcopy:<copyflags> | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/sec | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/copyall | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/nocopy | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/secfix | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/timfix | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/a-:[RASHCNETO] | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/create | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/fat | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/256 | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/mon:<n> | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/mot:<m> | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/rh:hhmm-hhmm | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/pf | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/ipg:<n> | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/sj | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/sl | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/sparse:<y | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/noclone | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/iomaxsize:<n>[kmg] | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/iorate:<n>[kmg] | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/threshold:<n>[kmg] | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/xa:[RASHCNETO] | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/xf <filename>[ ...] | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/xd <directory>[ ...] | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/xc | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/maxage:<n> | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/minage:<n> | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/maxlad:<n> | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/minlad:<n> | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/xj | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/fft | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/reg | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/tbd | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/x | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/v | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/ts | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/fp | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/bytes | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/ns | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/nc | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/nfl | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/ndl | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/np | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/eta | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/log:<logfile> | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/log+:<logfile> | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/unilog:<logfile> | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/unilog+:<logfile> | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/tee | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/njh | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/njs | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/unicode | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/job:<jobname> | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/save:<jobname> | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/quit | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/purge | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/mov | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/move | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/a+:[RASHCNET] | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/nodcopy | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/nooffload | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/compress | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/sparse:<y|n> | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/a | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/m | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/ia:[RASHCNETO] | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/xn | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/xo | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/xx | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/xl | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/dst | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/xjd | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/xjf | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/nosd | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/nodd | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
/if | Microsoft documents this switch; use the linked reference for accepted values, effects and version limits. |
<source> | Microsoft documents this argument or subcommand; check the linked reference for its required format and context. |
<destination> | Microsoft documents this argument or subcommand; check the linked reference for its required format and context. |
<file> | Microsoft documents this argument or subcommand; check the linked reference for its required format and context. |
<options> | Microsoft documents this argument or subcommand; check the linked reference for its required format and context. |
Review a command and its target before running it. Commands that alter files, services, accounts, disks, permissions or databases may be difficult to reverse. Test in a safe environment and keep backups.