{"id":"bridge-devices.which-direction-should-i-choose-for-collab-sync","url":"/faq/bridge-devices/which-direction-should-i-choose-for-collab-sync","category":{"id":"bridge-devices","title":"Bridge & your devices"},"subcategory":{"id":"collab-sync","title":"Collab Sync"},"question":"Which direction should I choose for Collab Sync?","alt_questions":["One-way or both ways Collab Sync","This Mac → other Mac meaning","Mirror only from my main Mac","Collab Sync direction options","Two-way vs one-way folder sync"],"short_answer":"Pick Both ways if you edit on either Mac. Pick This Mac → other Mac (or the reverse) when one Mac holds the master copy and the other should follow it; only one-way syncs can carry deletes across.","answer_markdown":"Choose **Both ways** when you edit the folder on either Mac. Choose **This Mac → other Mac** when this Mac is the master copy and the other should simply follow it, or **Other Mac → this Mac** for the reverse.\n\nOne-way syncs can also, if you opt in, carry deletes across (to the Trash). In two-way syncs, deletes don't carry across — a deleted file comes back from the other Mac.\n\n- [Deleting in synced folders](/faq/bridge-devices/does-collab-sync-delete-files-on-the-other-mac)","answer_html":"

Choose Both ways when you edit the folder on either Mac. Choose This Mac → other Mac when this Mac is the master copy and the other should simply follow it, or Other Mac → this Mac for the reverse.

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One-way syncs can also, if you opt in, carry deletes across (to the Trash). In two-way syncs, deletes don't carry across — a deleted file comes back from the other Mac.

\n","answer_text":"Choose Both ways when you edit the folder on either Mac. Choose This Mac → other Mac when this Mac is the master copy and the other should simply follow it, or Other Mac → this Mac for the reverse.\n\nOne-way syncs can also, if you opt in, carry deletes across (to the Trash). In two-way syncs, deletes don't carry across — a deleted file comes back from the other Mac.\n\n- Deleting in synced folders","tags":["collab sync","direction"],"related":[{"id":"bridge-devices.does-collab-sync-delete-files-on-the-other-mac","question":"If I delete a file in a synced folder, is it deleted on the other Mac?","url":"/faq/bridge-devices/does-collab-sync-delete-files-on-the-other-mac"},{"id":"bridge-devices.how-do-i-set-up-collab-sync","question":"How do I set up Collab Sync between two Macs?","url":"/faq/bridge-devices/how-do-i-set-up-collab-sync"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"Which direction should I choose for Collab Sync? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"Pick Both ways if you edit on either Mac. Pick This Mac → other Mac (or the reverse) when one Mac holds the master copy and the other should follow it; only one-way syncs can carry deletes across.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Bridge & your devices","path":"/faq/bridge-devices/"},{"name":"Which direction should I choose for Collab Sync?","path":"/faq/bridge-devices/which-direction-should-i-choose-for-collab-sync"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/bridge-devices/which-direction-should-i-choose-for-collab-sync","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Which direction should I choose for Collab Sync?","alternateName":["One-way or both ways Collab Sync","This Mac → other Mac meaning","Mirror only from my main Mac","Collab Sync direction options","Two-way vs one-way folder sync"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Choose Both ways when you edit the folder on either Mac. Choose This Mac → other Mac when this Mac is the master copy and the other should simply follow it, or Other Mac → this Mac for the reverse.\n\nOne-way syncs can also, if you opt in, carry deletes across (to the Trash). In two-way syncs, deletes don't carry across — a deleted file comes back from the other Mac.\n\n- Deleting in synced folders","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/bridge-devices/which-direction-should-i-choose-for-collab-sync"}}]},"fragment":"
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Bridge & your devices · Collab Sync

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Which direction should I choose for Collab Sync?

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Short answer: Pick Both ways if you edit on either Mac. Pick This Mac → other Mac (or the reverse) when one Mac holds the master copy and the other should follow it; only one-way syncs can carry deletes across.

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Choose Both ways when you edit the folder on either Mac. Choose This Mac → other Mac when this Mac is the master copy and the other should simply follow it, or Other Mac → this Mac for the reverse.

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One-way syncs can also, if you opt in, carry deletes across (to the Trash). In two-way syncs, deletes don't carry across — a deleted file comes back from the other Mac.

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