ZBack: When You Just Want to Copy Folders Without Breaking Anything
Some days, all that’s needed is a way to copy files from one place to another — no databases, no background services, no proprietary formats. That’s what ZBack is about. It’s a tiny, portable tool that helps you mirror, back up, or sync folders with minimal setup and zero fuss.
What It Really Is
ZBack is one of those programs that haven’t changed much in years — and that’s kind of the point. It’s simple, predictable, and doesn’t require installation. You download it, run the `.exe`, set source and destination paths, and click a button. That’s it.
No services. No cloud. No “smart” analysis. Just file copy — direct, fast, and customizable.
Where It’s Useful
– Backing up folders to external drives manually or on a schedule
– Keeping a local copy of a shared network folder
– IT staff who need a portable tool that works on any Windows machine
– Avoiding the complexity of sync software that wants to “manage” your files
It’s especially nice on USB sticks — no install means it’s ready to run anywhere.
Core Features (And Why They Matter)
| Feature | What It Means in Practice |
| One-Way or Two-Way Sync | Mirror, backup, or sync — your choice |
| No Installation Needed | Just run the `.exe` — works from USB too |
| Command-Line Mode | Useful for scheduled jobs or batch automation |
| Filters and Masks | Include/exclude by file type, size, date |
| Logging | See what happened after each job — plain text output |
| Preview Mode | Simulate first, then run — avoids mistakes |
| Scheduler Integration | Works with Windows Task Scheduler easily |
| Manual or Auto | Run jobs interactively or on a defined schedule |
What It Doesn’t Do (And That’s Fine)
Let’s be clear — this isn’t imaging software.
– It won’t back up your whole system.
– It doesn’t compress or encrypt.
– There’s no fancy versioning.
What it does is move files from A to B — and it does that really well.
System Requirements and Setup
– Windows XP or newer (yes, it still works that far back)
– No installation — unzip and run
– Needs write access to destination path
– Optional: Windows Task Scheduler if automating jobs
Runs without admin rights in most cases.
Getting Started
1. Download from the official site:
http://tomaszsobczak.com/zback.html
2. Unzip and launch ZBack.exe.
3. Set source and destination.
You can save jobs if needed.
4. Pick operation type:
Sync (two-way), backup (one-way), or mirror.
5. Use Preview if unsure.
It’ll show what’s about to happen — no surprises.
6. Click Go.
Files move. Done.
What Users Say
“I’ve used it to sync my dev folder with a test machine for 5 years. Still works.”
“One .exe, no install, no problems. Every backup tool should be like this.”
“The interface looks old, but it’s clear — and it never deletes things unless I tell it to.”
Bottom Line
ZBack doesn’t try to solve every problem. It does one job — copy files reliably — and leaves the rest to the user. For people who like to see what’s going on, prefer manual control, or just want to carry a backup tool in their pocket, ZBack still earns its keep.
Sometimes old-school is the right call.
