---
id: data-transfers.is-data-transfers-real-time-sync
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/data-transfers/is-data-transfers-real-time-sync
category: "Data Transfers"
subcategory: "Scheduling transfers"
question: "Does Data Transfers sync changes in real time?"
alt_questions:
  - "continuous sync storage studio"
  - "live sync folder to cloud"
  - "instant sync when file changes"
  - "does sync run automatically when I save"
  - "real-time two way sync mac"
short_answer: "No. Transfers run when you start them or on a schedule (as often as every hour), picking up changes since the last run. For near-instant mirroring between two of your Macs, use Collab Sync."
tags: ["real time", "schedule", "sync"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/data-transfers/schedule-a-recurring-transfer", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/data-transfers/bidirectional-sync-vs-collab-sync", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/data-transfers/every-n-hours-timing"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# Does Data Transfers sync changes in real time?

No. A transfer runs when you start it or when its schedule comes round — the most frequent schedule is every hour. Changes made in between are picked up on the next run.

If you want a folder kept the same on two of your Macs within seconds of each save, **Collab Sync** does that over a direct link between the two Macs, with no cloud in between.

Related: [Schedule a transfer](https://storagestudio.us/faq/data-transfers/schedule-a-recurring-transfer) · [Bidirectional sync or Collab Sync?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/data-transfers/bidirectional-sync-vs-collab-sync)