What Is Syncthing? #
Syncthing is an open-source, decentralized file synchronization tool. Unlike BTSync (Resilio), Syncthing is fully open-source with no proprietary components. Files sync directly between your devices via encrypted connections — no third-party cloud involved. On a seedbox it solves one problem elegantly: completed downloads appear on your home machine automatically, without FTP sessions or manual transfers.
Installing Syncthing on Your Seedbox #
- Log in to your EvoSeedbox client area and open your service dashboard
- Find Syncthing in the Apps section and click Install — it runs in its own Docker container and gets an HTTPS-secured URL
- Click Open to reach the Syncthing web UI
Setting Up Your First Sync #
On Your Seedbox #
- In the Syncthing web UI, click Add Folder
- Folder Path:
~/downloads/(or any folder you want to sync — a dedicated~/downloads/sync/subfolder keeps things tidy if you only want finished files) - Give it a label such as Seedbox Downloads
On Your PC or NAS #
- Download Syncthing from syncthing.net (Windows, macOS, Linux; Synology and QNAP packages exist too)
- Open the local web UI (usually
localhost:8384) - Click Add Remote Device and enter your seedbox’s Device ID (on the seedbox UI: Actions → Show ID)
- Accept the connection prompt on both sides
- Share the folder with the new device and choose where it lands locally
Files now sync automatically. New downloads on your seedbox typically start appearing on your PC within a minute of completing.
Recommended Settings for Seedbox Use #
- One-way sync: set the seedbox folder to Send Only and your PC folder to Receive Only. This prevents an accidental local deletion from wiping files on the seedbox (and the reverse).
- Ignore patterns: in the folder settings, add patterns so partial data never syncs — for example
*.part,*.!qB,.session/and ruTorrent’s incomplete directory if you use one. - Bandwidth limits: under Actions → Settings → Connections you can cap upload/download rates so an overnight sync doesn’t saturate your home connection.
- File versioning: enable Simple File Versioning on the receiving side if you want a safety net against accidental overwrites.
Common Pitfalls #
- Syncing incomplete torrents — if you sync the live download folder, Syncthing copies pieces as they change and wastes bandwidth. Either use ignore patterns or have ruTorrent move completed files into the synced folder (see AutoTools: move completed downloads).
- Devices never connect — Syncthing relays traffic automatically when a direct connection fails, so syncing still works but slower. This is normal behind CGNAT; no port forwarding is required.
- Disk fills at home — remember the sync target needs as much free space as everything you download. Prune the folder or sync selectively.
Syncthing vs BTSync (Resilio) #
| Feature | Syncthing | BTSync/Resilio |
|---|---|---|
| Open source | Yes (fully) | No (proprietary) |
| Cost | Free | Free tier limited, Pro $60/year |
| Performance | Good | Slightly better |
| Discovery | Relay + local | Tracker-based |
Frequently Asked Questions #
Is Syncthing faster than FTP for getting files home? #
For hands-off transfers, yes in practice — it starts the moment a download completes and retries on its own. For a single large one-off transfer, a parallel FTP client can edge it out; see faster FTP downloads.
Does Syncthing use my seedbox upload bandwidth allowance? #
Traffic from the seedbox to your home counts like any other transfer from the box. If your plan meters torrent uploads specifically, normal file syncing is not the thing to worry about — but very large libraries do add up.
Can I sync to my phone? #
Yes — Syncthing has an official Android app, and iOS has compatible third-party clients (e.g. Möbius Sync). Phones work best as Receive Only targets for selected folders.
Is my data encrypted in transit? #
Yes. All device-to-device traffic is TLS-encrypted, and devices authenticate each other by Device ID — even relayed connections can’t be read by the relay.
Related Pages #
- Syncthing seedbox hosting — one-click Syncthing on EvoSeedbox
- Sync files between seedbox and PC — all transfer methods compared
- Mount your seedbox with SSHFS/WebDAV
- All one-click seedbox apps
