download syncthing for android and pc on pc - add folder, give it a meaningful name on android(syncthing fork) - create folder>gear icon next to directory, pick your photos folder> I enabled watch for changes, pull oldest first, do not enable ‘ignore delete’ on android - while on the devices tab, top right add device, copy code and send to your pc, add device (add remote device) copy the device id, and give your phone a name on pc - folders > camera folder > edit > ignore patterns > trashed > save on pc - actions > advanced > folders > camera folder> ignore delete (the options are alphabetical) on android - edit folder > folder type > send only on pc - edit folder > advanced > folder type > receive only
Now, your phone will send all files from your camera folder to your pc. deleting files from your phone will not sync with your pc, your pc will keep files deleted on your phone. deleting files on your phone will not result in ‘.trashed-***’ files being synced to your pc. deleting files on pc does not delete on the phone
when you flip the ignoredelete switch, the android app won’t go past 95% sync. this is normal, though not desired, behavior
this is horribly written and probably very confusing, but I thought I would leave it here incase someone else is looking for the same thing.
on another note, I was having very slow speeds transfer speeds. I am not now (mobile data for phone, wifi to 5g home internet for pc). seeing speeds up to 5mbps, they had been down to 300kpbs or worse. not sure what happened there.