I need to change folders! This is so frustrating...

[jacfalcon]

Okay, so we can’t change folders. I’m not sure why, but it sure makes Syncthing stressful.

So then I remove the pairing/folder from synching with “Remove.” Then I have to go to another device, open the folder, uncheck the device, close it, open it again, check it again, and close it. Then go back to the other device and reset from scratch.

Why isn’t there a “reset” next to the checkbox or something so I don’t have to open the folder twice each time?

Then I accept the folder again, set up the new directory…

“folder marker missing”

Yes it’s missing, I’m trying to change the location to a new one! Why can’t I do this???

“Well you have to remove the folder from synching, then move the folder to the new location, then set it up again with the link to the new location”

follows instructions exactly…

…

“folder marker missing”

GAH.

I feel like every two years I come back to synching, spend hours setting it all up, and then go through these sorts of headaches all over again. I get you can mess files up with syncing, but we need to be able to change directories. There has to be a way. It can’t be that I set it up and then can never use any other directory on that device again…

Help.

(I’m on Android at the moment but I’ve had the same issues over the years on PC and my Steam Deck.)

UPDATE: Now it’s happening on my Desktop, too. File stored on an old hard drive I don’t even have anymore, trying to set a new location…

“folder marker missing”

[tomasz86 (Tomasz Wilczyński)]

Do you mean that you want to change the folder path?

@jacfalcon

So then I remove the pairing/folder from synching with “Remove.” Then I have to go to another device, open the folder, uncheck the device, close it, open it again, check it again, and close it. Then go back to the other device and reset from scratch.

Alternatively, you could just pause and unpause the remote device, which will trigger a reconnection and a pop-up to add the folder again. This should be simpler than the other method.

@jacfalcon

“folder marker missing”

I think some screenshots would help understand the problem better, however seeing this specific error when adding a new folder usually means that there are permissions issues, with Syncthing being unable to write to the specified folder path.

[sektor2sync]

Hello,

you can do it quickly as per FAQ when you edit the configuration file. This is from the FAQ:

How do I rename/move a synced folder?

Syncthing doesn’t have a direct way to do this, as it’s potentially dangerous to do so if you’re not careful - it may result in data loss if something goes wrong during the move and is synchronized to your other devices.

The easy way to rename or move a synced folder on the local system is to remove the folder in the Syncthing UI, move it on disk, then re-add it using the new path.

It’s important to do this when the folder is already in sync between your devices, as it is otherwise unpredictable which changes will “win” after the move. Changes made on other devices may be overwritten, or changes made locally may be overwritten by those on other devices.

An alternative way is to shut down Syncthing, move the folder on disk (including the .stfolder marker), edit the path directly in config.xml in the configuration folder (see Syncthing Configuration) and then start Syncthing again.

The last section is what I’m referring to. I did it often and it works perfect. Just double check for typos when you edit the path string in the config.

[calmh (Jakob Borg)]

Even faster is to pause it in the GUI, do whatever is necessary to move it on disk, change the path in the advanced config editor in the GUI, unpause it in the GUI.