Problem solved by Diff Anything
Merge two folders on your Mac: use Finder's Merge, or compare both folders in Diff Anything and preview the files you want to copy.
See it in the app
No accounts, cloud comparison service, analytics, or telemetry.
The problem
The same folder lives on two drives, and each copy contains files the other one is missing. A newer file may even have lost something you want to keep. Before bringing the folders together, you need to see what changed.
The solution
Compare both folders in Diff Anything, open changed files to choose the version you want, then copy the remaining files with a preview. Everything runs locally on your Mac. Your files are never uploaded, and no AI is involved.
01 / Folder merging
If both folders have the same name, hold Option and drag one to the location of the other, then choose Merge. Finder preserves newer items: when both folders contain a file with the same name, the older version is replaced. It does not show a comparison of the file contents.
Use this when keeping the newer file is the result you want. If an older version contains something you still need, compare the files before merging.
02 / Folder merging
Left only means a file is present only in the left folder. Right only means it is present only in the right folder. Changed means both folders contain the file but its content differs. Click the file to compare its two versions.
In the tutorial, the newer trip notes are missing the restaurant list. The arrow pointing right copies the older, complete notes to the destination after a replacement confirmation.
03 / Folder merging
After keeping the version you want, select the remaining rows and choose Sync left to right. Update destination adds and updates the selected files while keeping files that exist only at the destination. Review the operations before clicking Apply.
Mirror destination also removes destination files that the source does not contain. Choose it only when you want the destination to match the source. A backup is kept so you can undo a copy or synchronization.
04 / Folder merging
The free version allows 10 new comparisons per day and shows the first 100 folder results. Folder copying and synchronization are Pro features. You can also use the comparison to decide what to copy with Finder.
Clear answers
Finder's Merge requires the same folder name. In Diff Anything, you can select two folders with different names, including folders on separate mounted drives.
Yes. Use Update destination to add and update selected files while retaining destination-only files. Check the preview before applying it; Mirror destination also removes files missing from the source.
Three short steps
Choose Compare two folders and select the first folder on the left and the destination on the right.
Read Left only, Right only and Changed. Open a changed file to compare its two versions, then copy the version you want to keep.
Select the remaining rows, choose Sync left to right and review Update destination before clicking Apply.
Available for macOS and Windows