# Exclude files from sync

Keep temporary files, project folders or other files out of Drime Desktop sync with exclusion patterns, and see which files are never synced.

Updated: 2026-10-21  
Source: https://drime.cloud/support/desktop/exclude-files

Exclusion patterns keep some files out of sync: they stay on your computer and are not sent to Drime.

## Add a pattern

1. Open the Drime window from the notification area, then **Preferences** \> **Sync**.

   ![Drime Desktop Preferences, Sync](https://drime.cloud/media/01M5AZVC8H4081ZENRZ8KAV4H1/4320929b9bf2-windows-desktop-prefs-sync.png)

2. Under **Excluded files**, add a pattern, for example `*.tmp`, `node_modules` or `.app/cache/`.

The section then shows how many patterns are configured. A file kept out of sync this way is marked **Excluded by your sync rules**.

To remove a pattern, click **Remove** next to it. When there is none, the list reads **No pattern yet**.

## Patterns already in place

Drime Desktop excludes these by default: `.DS_Store`, `Thumbs.db`, `desktop.ini`, `.git`, `*.tmp`, `~$*`, `.Trash*`, `*.part`, `*.crdownload`, `.sync`, `.idea`, `.vscode`, `__pycache__`, `*.pyc`, `.env` and `.env.local`.

## Files that are never synced

Whatever your patterns, Drime Desktop always skips:

- its own sync databases;
- conflict copies (names containing `_conflict_`);
- Office and LibreOffice lock files, and partial downloads;
- `Thumbs.db`, `Desktop.ini`, `$Recycle.Bin` and `System Volume Information`;
- `.dropbox*` files and `*.app` items.

## Exclusions for a backup

A computer backup has its own rules, separate from sync. Open the backup's menu, choose **Manage exclusions**, then:

| Rule | What it skips |
| --- | --- |
| **Exclude by name** | Files whose name matches a pattern. The wildcards `*` and `?` work. |
| **Exclude by extension** | Files with that extension. Type it without the dot, for example `tmp`. |
| **Exclude by size** | Files **Smaller than** or **Larger than** the sizes you set. |

Click **Save exclusions**. The rules apply to new uploads and to the next rescan. See [Back up folders from your computer](https://drime.cloud/support/desktop/back-up-your-computer).

## If it doesn't work

| What you see | What to do |
| --- | --- |
| A file you want doesn't sync, marked **Excluded by your sync rules** | Its name matches one of your patterns or a default one. Check **Excluded files**, and the list of files that are never synced above. |
| **Could not save exclusions** | The backup rules were not saved: try **Save exclusions** again. |

> **Tip**
>
> To keep whole Drime folders off this computer, use [Drive folder selection](https://drime.cloud/support/desktop/choose-folders-to-sync) instead.