Bidirectional Sync With Unison

Synchronize two directories so changes on either side propagate.

LinuxbackupFilessyncLow risk
Run unison dir1 dir2 to reconcile the two directory trees.

01Command

Command
$ unison dir1 dir2

02What it does

Unison compares two roots, shows a list of differing files and lets you propagate changes in either direction, remembering state between runs so conflicts can be detected. Roots can be local or remote over SSH, making it a two-way alternative to rsync.

03Risk

RiskLow risk
Requirementssudo apt install unison
!Warning: Conflicting edits require a manual decision; read the proposed actions before confirming.

04Undo

✓No undo needed — this command does not change persistent state.

05Sources

  • Debian package: unison
    Debian · vendor-doc · 2026-09-20
    Evidence: Debian packages Unison, a bidirectional file synchronizer for local or remote roots.
  • Unison
    Official project · vendor-doc · 2026-09-20
    Evidence: Debian packages Unison, a bidirectional file synchronizer for local or remote roots.

Last verified: 2026-09-22 · Category: Files & Folders

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