Copy Files to Multiple Folders or Computers in Windows using PowerShell alternative replacement

Copying files to multiple folders or computers can be a time-consuming task, especially when you have a large number of files or directories to manage.

Thankfully, Copywhiz can make the process more efficient compared to PowerShell which requires scripting. In this blog, we’ll compare both approaches and provide a step-by-step guide for using each tool.

Let’s have a look on how we can use Copywhiz for efficiency and ease of use

What is Copywhiz?

Copywhiz enhances your file-copy experience by letting you to have more flexibility & control over the file copying and backup process.

Here is how Copywhiz makes file copying a breeze:

Copy only new or modified files
Easily pick files by name, extension, folder etc from bunch of folders
Automatically organize files based on file attributes and metadata
Copy files to multiple folders/computers
Copy files from multiple folders and paste them at once
Sync files between source and destination
Pick files from multiple folders and compress in single .zip file
Schedule file backups
Verify copied files for data integrity
Retain security attributes of files & folders (ownership/user access)
Several more hidden nuggets designed to make your file-copy task easier.

Transcription:

Select files using Windows Explorer, right-click on them and choose Copywhiz–>Copy from the menu.
Right-click inside any folder and select Copywhiz–> Paste Advanced.
Copywhiz window will open. You can add multiple folders by clicking on the Add button placed next to the Destination Folders text box. Alternatively, you can simply drag and drop target folders over the Destination Folders text box. When specifying the Destination Folders, you can suffix the name with %date% or %datetime% variables if you wish to have a dated folder name.
Click on Paste Now. Files will now be copied to all the destination folders sequentially.

That’s it in this video.

Let’s have a look on step by step process using PowerShell.

Using PowerShell

PowerShell is a scripting language built into Windows, allowing for automation of various tasks, including file copying.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Open PowerShell
Press Win + S and search for “PowerShell.”
Right-click “Windows PowerShell” and select “Run as Administrator.”
Step 2: Prepare Your Directories
Ensure the source files are in a single folder.
Create the destination folders if they don’t already exist.
Step 3: Use the Copy-Item Command
The Copy-Item command is the primary tool for copying files.

Example Script

# Define the source file or folder
$Source = "C:\SourceFolder"

# Define the list of destination folders
$Destinations = @(
    "C:\DestinationFolder1",
    "C:\DestinationFolder2",
    "\\RemotePC\SharedFolder" # For network computers
)

# Loop through each destination and copy the files
foreach ($Destination in $Destinations) {
    Copy-Item -Path $Source -Destination $Destination -Recurse -Force
    Write-Output "Files copied to $Destination"
}

Explanation of Parameters

-Recurse: Copies all subdirectories and their contents.
-Force: Overwrites files if they already exist.
Write-Output: Displays a confirmation message.

Step 4: Execute the Script

Copy the script into PowerShell.
Press Enter to run it.
Check the destination folders to confirm the files were copied.

Similarly you can copy files to multiple computers by adding remote destination folders (Network folders/shares).

Conclusion

If you value a user-friendly interface and advanced options like filtering and scheduling, Copywhiz is an ideal choice.