{"id":"data-transfers.use-the-root-of-an-account","url":"/faq/data-transfers/use-the-root-of-an-account","category":{"id":"data-transfers","title":"Data Transfers"},"subcategory":{"id":"setting-up","title":"Setting up a transfer"},"question":"What does “Use … root” mean in the cloud picker?","alt_questions":["Use root option New Transfer","transfer a whole cloud account","pick the top level of my cloud account","use account root as destination","what is the root of a cloud account"],"short_answer":"It uses the whole account or device — its top level — as the source or destination. As a destination, prefer a dedicated folder instead, especially for a one-way sync, which removes anything not in the source.","answer_markdown":"The root is the very top level of an account or device — everything in it. Choosing **Use … root** from the cloud picker fills the field with the whole account without opening the folder browser.\n\nAs a **source**, that means the transfer covers the entire account. As a **destination**, files land at the top level, mixed in with whatever is already there — usually you'll want to **Browse** and pick or create a dedicated folder instead, especially for a one-way sync, which removes anything at the destination that isn't in the source.\n\nRelated: [Pick a folder inside a cloud account](/faq/data-transfers/pick-a-folder-inside-a-cloud-account) · [Does Sync (one-way) delete files?](/faq/data-transfers/does-one-way-sync-delete-files)","answer_html":"

The root is the very top level of an account or device — everything in it. Choosing Use … root from the cloud picker fills the field with the whole account without opening the folder browser.

\n

As a source, that means the transfer covers the entire account. As a destination, files land at the top level, mixed in with whatever is already there — usually you'll want to Browse and pick or create a dedicated folder instead, especially for a one-way sync, which removes anything at the destination that isn't in the source.

\n

Related: Pick a folder inside a cloud account · Does Sync (one-way) delete files?

","answer_text":"The root is the very top level of an account or device — everything in it. Choosing Use … root from the cloud picker fills the field with the whole account without opening the folder browser.\n\nAs a source, that means the transfer covers the entire account. As a destination, files land at the top level, mixed in with whatever is already there — usually you'll want to Browse and pick or create a dedicated folder instead, especially for a one-way sync, which removes anything at the destination that isn't in the source.\n\nRelated: Pick a folder inside a cloud account · Does Sync (one-way) delete files?","tags":["cloud picker","root","new transfer"],"related":[{"id":"data-transfers.pick-a-folder-inside-a-cloud-account","question":"How do I pick a specific folder inside a cloud account as the source or destination?","url":"/faq/data-transfers/pick-a-folder-inside-a-cloud-account"},{"id":"data-transfers.does-one-way-sync-delete-files","question":"Does Sync (one-way) delete files at the destination?","url":"/faq/data-transfers/does-one-way-sync-delete-files"},{"id":"data-transfers.copy-a-whole-cloud-account-to-a-drive","question":"How do I download everything from a cloud account to my external drive?","url":"/faq/data-transfers/copy-a-whole-cloud-account-to-a-drive"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"What does “Use … root” mean in the cloud picker? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"It uses the whole account or device — its top level — as the source or destination. As a destination, prefer a dedicated folder instead, especially for a one-way sync, which removes anything not in the source.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Data Transfers","path":"/faq/data-transfers/"},{"name":"What does “Use … root” mean in the cloud picker?","path":"/faq/data-transfers/use-the-root-of-an-account"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/data-transfers/use-the-root-of-an-account","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"What does “Use … root” mean in the cloud picker?","alternateName":["Use root option New Transfer","transfer a whole cloud account","pick the top level of my cloud account","use account root as destination","what is the root of a cloud account"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The root is the very top level of an account or device — everything in it. Choosing Use … root from the cloud picker fills the field with the whole account without opening the folder browser.\n\nAs a source, that means the transfer covers the entire account. As a destination, files land at the top level, mixed in with whatever is already there — usually you'll want to Browse and pick or create a dedicated folder instead, especially for a one-way sync, which removes anything at the destination that isn't in the source.\n\nRelated: Pick a folder inside a cloud account · Does Sync (one-way) delete files?","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/data-transfers/use-the-root-of-an-account"}}]},"fragment":"
\n
\n\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

Data Transfers · Setting up a transfer

\n

What does “Use … root” mean in the cloud picker?

\n

Short answer: It uses the whole account or device — its top level — as the source or destination. As a destination, prefer a dedicated folder instead, especially for a one-way sync, which removes anything not in the source.

\n

The root is the very top level of an account or device — everything in it. Choosing Use … root from the cloud picker fills the field with the whole account without opening the folder browser.

\n

As a source, that means the transfer covers the entire account. As a destination, files land at the top level, mixed in with whatever is already there — usually you'll want to Browse and pick or create a dedicated folder instead, especially for a one-way sync, which removes anything at the destination that isn't in the source.

\n

Related: Pick a folder inside a cloud account · Does Sync (one-way) delete files?

\n\n

Last reviewed

\n\n

Related questions

\n

Also available as Markdown and JSON.

\n
"}