robocopy

Robocopy, short for Robust File Copy, is a command-line utility for copying files and directories in Windows. It is designed for reliable data transfer over local drives and network shares, with features to handle interruptions, large trees, and complex copy operations. It originated in the Windows NT 4.0 Resource Kit and has been included with Windows since Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 as a standard component.

Key features include recursive directory copying, mirroring with /MIR, and optional preservation of file data, timestamps, attributes, security information, owner data, and auditing information via /COPY and /DCOPY settings. Robocopy supports multithreaded copying with /MT, allowing faster transfers on multi-core systems. It can copy or exclude extended attributes, alternate data streams, and reparse points as needed. It offers robust error handling with retry logic controlled by /R:n and wait times via /W:n, and can resume partial copies. Users can tailor operations with include/exclude filters using /XD (directories) and /XF (files). Logging options are provided through /LOG or /LOG+ to capture detailed transfer records.

Typical use cases include backups, migrations, and routine synchronization between locations. Robocopy is usable in batch scripts and can be invoked with UNC paths for remote resources. Examples: robocopy C:\Source D:\Backup /E /COPYALL /R:3 /W:5 and robocopy \\server\share C:\LocalBackup /MIR /MT:16 /LOG+:robocopy.log.

See also: Xcopy as a predecessor and rsync as a cross-platform alternative in other environments.