Android’s file sync is broken. Here’s how I worked around it.

File transfer on Android is a painful experience. Google’s mandatory reliance on the media transfer protocol from Android 4.0 and the Android file transfer app with the Mac were nothing short of a nuisance for me. Not only is it difficult to move large amounts of files, even small transfers often fail or get stuck. This has been a bit good for Windows users to support built-in MTP on Windows, but the situation is not very good there.

Related: The best app for transferring files between Android and PC

Over the past few years, I’ve found dozens of apps and solutions, while not looking for answers to quickly and reliably transfer files between my phone and my computer. Here’s what worked best for me.

If all you have to do is send some new music albums or quickly copy some pictures from your Android phone to your computer, there are a few options that are as reliable as FTP. The protocol has been around since 1971 and it may feel rather difficult to set up. However, apps like Dirty, FTP Server Pro, to listen to, set up an FTP server and toss files.

Read more: This Nifty Xiaomi file-sharing feature of stock Android is required

The FTP Server Pro The app is fairly low-key and doesn’t bring much in the way of improved functionality. But it doesn’t have to. Unlike many similar apps, I’ve found both the free and paid versions to be significantly tougher when transferring hundreds of gigabytes. Tap a button, enter FTP details on your computer, and you’ll have instant wireless access to your phone’s file system. Combine this with the free FileZilla app on your computer, and you’ll find an excellent, reliable, wireless way to transfer files.

You can now copy, move, or delete files and folders as if you’ve connected the phone to your computer.

Easy local backup using FolderSync

But my worries about inadequate file access on Android have deepened. As a person who goes through a lot of phone calls, I’ve lost personal photos before because I forgot to back them up before resetting the device. For all its tight lockdown on the iPhone, Apple’s iTunes app makes it incredibly easy to back up all your photos, videos, documents and even apps. I’ve been wanting a similar solution on Android for a long time. The FolderSync app The problem is not completely solved, but it has saved my bacon more than once. Also, it’s as close as possible to the estimated local backup experience I needed.

As interested Android authority Readers may already know that I am a homelab nest. Between home server, multiple NAS drives and strict backup strategies, I like to back up all my data offline. File sync on SMB fits perfectly in my “lab”, but it will work even if you have a regular old computer.

The FolderSync application lets you connect your phone to any existing SMB or FTP destination. In fact, the app will even let you sync with a host of cloud-based services, but it beats the point of what we’re trying to achieve here. You can then add the source and destination folders and set the app to automatically copy files to a set schedule. Additionally, it is possible to set requirements such as connecting to a power source or the same Wi-Fi network before starting sync.

My favorite setting, however, is the ability to set sync directions. For example, my phone’s Photos folder is set to copy exactly what it looks like on my NAS drive. This is a one-way sink; It does not reflect any changes I have made to the NAS drive. In the meantime, the Documents folder has been set up for two-way sync and will delete any files I have already deleted from my NAS locally. It’s a very flexible solution that not only helps me back up my data locally, but also gives me some more control over folders and files.

Also read: Top 10 best file manager apps for Android

Cloud is convenient, but not always the best solution

While Google, and virtually other companies, want users to embrace the cloud as the future, I strongly believe that data ownership is important. The only way to own your data is to keep your own copy. Of course, I still retain a copy of my photos in Google Photos, but it’s something I don’t feel comfortable giving a lifetime of memories to a third party whim and novelty.

Making local transfers difficult may not be Google’s intention, but the fact is that a few years later, it did nothing to make file transfers and backups easier on Windows and Mac in particular. There are no effective sync utilities or services outside of cryptic ADB commands to fully secure your data locally, but the two utilities I mentioned here go a long way towards making local file syncing easier for me.

Next up: The best photo backup app on Android