{
    "api_version": "1",
    "kind": "dse_post",
    "self": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/api/v1/posts/syncthing-local-versus-remote-file-versioning/",
    "item": {
        "id": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/updates/syncthing-local-versus-remote-file-versioning/",
        "slug": "syncthing-local-versus-remote-file-versioning",
        "url": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/updates/syncthing-local-versus-remote-file-versioning/",
        "alternate_urls": {
            "markdown": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/updates/syncthing-local-versus-remote-file-versioning.md",
            "json": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/api/v1/posts/syncthing-local-versus-remote-file-versioning/"
        },
        "title": "Know which Syncthing changes create file versions",
        "summary": "Check where a change originated before expecting Syncthing to retain the file’s previous contents.",
        "format": {
            "slug": "guide",
            "name": "Guide"
        },
        "priority": {
            "slug": "info",
            "name": "Information"
        },
        "featured": false,
        "image": {
            "theme": "continuity-recovery",
            "label": "Continuity & recovery",
            "alt": "Paired infrastructure paths converging on a stable recovered service.",
            "card_url": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/assets/editorial/continuity-recovery-card.webp?v=1.8.20",
            "hero_url": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/assets/editorial/continuity-recovery-hero.webp?v=1.8.20",
            "social_url": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/assets/editorial/continuity-recovery-social-v2.jpg?v=1.8.20",
            "width": 2400,
            "height": 1350
        },
        "topics": [
            {
                "slug": "business-continuity",
                "name": "Business Continuity",
                "url": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/topic/business-continuity/"
            },
            {
                "slug": "it",
                "name": "IT",
                "url": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/topic/it/"
            }
        ],
        "author": {
            "name": "DSE Security Editorial Team",
            "url": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/#editorial-team",
            "type": "Organization"
        },
        "publisher": {
            "name": "Detection Systems & Engineering",
            "url": "https://dsesecurity.com/"
        },
        "published_at": "2026-10-15T00:43:37+00:00",
        "modified_at": "2026-10-15T00:44:33+00:00",
        "reviewed_on": "2026-10-14",
        "reading_minutes": 2,
        "word_count": 248,
        "potentially_affected": "Use this guide when deciding whether a Syncthing deployment can recover a particular edit or deletion. Check each receiving device’s actual folder configuration.",
        "dse_recommendation": "DSE recommends mapping the devices on which users edit files and the devices expected to retain prior versions.",
        "primary_source": {
            "name": "Syncthing — File Versioning",
            "url": "https://docs.syncthing.net/users/versioning.html",
            "published_on": null,
            "authority": "docs.syncthing.net"
        },
        "publishing_principles": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/updates/dse-updates-editorial-methodology/",
        "usage_info": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/usage/",
        "copyright_notice": "Copyright © 2026 Detection Systems & Engineering. All rights reserved.",
        "content_html": "<p>Check where a change originated before expecting Syncthing to retain the file’s previous contents.</p>\n<h2>Source facts</h2>\n<p>Syncthing documents file versioning as archiving an older file when a remote device’s change replaces or deletes it. It does not archive the previous contents when the file is changed locally on that same device. Versioning is configured per folder and per device, and the default retains no old versions. The available strategies have different retention behavior; a custom version-storage path should be on the same filesystem as the regular folder.</p>\n<p>Source: <a href=\"https://docs.syncthing.net/users/versioning.html\">Syncthing — File Versioning</a>.</p>\n<h2>Applicability</h2>\n<p>Use this guide when deciding whether a Syncthing deployment can recover a particular edit or deletion. Check each receiving device’s actual folder configuration.</p>\n<h2>DSE recommendation</h2>\n<p>DSE recommends mapping the devices on which users edit files and the devices expected to retain prior versions. Choose and document a versioning strategy on each intended receiving copy. Define capacity monitoring and an owner for restoration requests. Keep a separate backup plan for the recovery requirements that synchronization and local versioning do not meet. Explain the local-edit distinction to users so that a visible synchronized copy is not treated as proof of recoverable history.</p>\n<h2>Verification</h2>\n<p>In a disposable test folder, change a file on one device and inspect versions on another, then repeat with a local change. Test deletion and restoration under the selected strategy. Record which device retained what and the actual retention settings before describing the recovery coverage.</p>\n<h2>Official reference</h2>\n<p><a href=\"https://docs.syncthing.net/users/versioning.html\">Syncthing — File Versioning</a>. Reviewed October 14, 2026.</p>",
        "content_text": "Check where a change originated before expecting Syncthing to retain the file’s previous contents.\nSource facts\nSyncthing documents file versioning as archiving an older file when a remote device’s change replaces or deletes it. It does not archive the previous contents when the file is changed locally on that same device. Versioning is configured per folder and per device, and the default retains no old versions. The available strategies have different retention behavior; a custom version-storage path should be on the same filesystem as the regular folder.\nSource: Syncthing — File Versioning.\nApplicability\nUse this guide when deciding whether a Syncthing deployment can recover a particular edit or deletion. Check each receiving device’s actual folder configuration.\nDSE recommendation\nDSE recommends mapping the devices on which users edit files and the devices expected to retain prior versions. Choose and document a versioning strategy on each intended receiving copy. Define capacity monitoring and an owner for restoration requests. Keep a separate backup plan for the recovery requirements that synchronization and local versioning do not meet. Explain the local-edit distinction to users so that a visible synchronized copy is not treated as proof of recoverable history.\nVerification\nIn a disposable test folder, change a file on one device and inspect versions on another, then repeat with a local change. Test deletion and restoration under the selected strategy. Record which device retained what and the actual retention settings before describing the recovery coverage.\nOfficial reference\nSyncthing — File Versioning. Reviewed October 14, 2026.",
        "content_markdown": "Check where a change originated before expecting Syncthing to retain the file’s previous contents.\n\n## Source facts\n\nSyncthing documents file versioning as archiving an older file when a remote device’s change replaces or deletes it. It does not archive the previous contents when the file is changed locally on that same device. Versioning is configured per folder and per device, and the default retains no old versions. The available strategies have different retention behavior; a custom version-storage path should be on the same filesystem as the regular folder.\n\nSource: [Syncthing — File Versioning](https://docs.syncthing.net/users/versioning.html).\n\n## Applicability\n\nUse this guide when deciding whether a Syncthing deployment can recover a particular edit or deletion. Check each receiving device’s actual folder configuration.\n\n## DSE recommendation\n\nDSE recommends mapping the devices on which users edit files and the devices expected to retain prior versions. Choose and document a versioning strategy on each intended receiving copy. Define capacity monitoring and an owner for restoration requests. Keep a separate backup plan for the recovery requirements that synchronization and local versioning do not meet. Explain the local-edit distinction to users so that a visible synchronized copy is not treated as proof of recoverable history.\n\n## Verification\n\nIn a disposable test folder, change a file on one device and inspect versions on another, then repeat with a local change. Test deletion and restoration under the selected strategy. Record which device retained what and the actual retention settings before describing the recovery coverage.\n\n## Official reference\n\n[Syncthing — File Versioning](https://docs.syncthing.net/users/versioning.html). Reviewed October 14, 2026."
    },
    "json_ld": {
        "@context": "https://schema.org",
        "@graph": [
            {
                "@type": "Organization",
                "@id": "https://dsesecurity.com/#organization",
                "name": "Detection Systems & Engineering",
                "alternateName": "DSE Security",
                "url": "https://dsesecurity.com/",
                "logo": {
                    "@type": "ImageObject",
                    "url": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/assets/dse-logo-20260812.png?v=1.8.20"
                }
            },
            {
                "@type": "Organization",
                "@id": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/#editorial-team",
                "name": "DSE Security Editorial Team",
                "url": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/",
                "parentOrganization": {
                    "@id": "https://dsesecurity.com/#organization"
                }
            },
            {
                "@type": "WebSite",
                "@id": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/#website",
                "name": "DSE Updates",
                "alternateName": "DSE Security Knowledge Hub",
                "url": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/",
                "inLanguage": "en-US",
                "publisher": {
                    "@id": "https://dsesecurity.com/#organization"
                },
                "potentialAction": {
                    "@type": "SearchAction",
                    "target": {
                        "@type": "EntryPoint",
                        "urlTemplate": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/?q={search_term_string}"
                    },
                    "query-input": "required name=search_term_string"
                }
            },
            {
                "@type": "WebPage",
                "@id": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/updates/syncthing-local-versus-remote-file-versioning/",
                "url": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/updates/syncthing-local-versus-remote-file-versioning/",
                "isPartOf": {
                    "@id": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/#website"
                },
                "lastReviewed": "2026-10-14"
            },
            {
                "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
                "@id": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/updates/syncthing-local-versus-remote-file-versioning/#breadcrumbs",
                "itemListElement": [
                    {
                        "@type": "ListItem",
                        "position": 1,
                        "name": "DSE Updates",
                        "item": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/"
                    },
                    {
                        "@type": "ListItem",
                        "position": 2,
                        "name": "Know which Syncthing changes create file versions",
                        "item": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/updates/syncthing-local-versus-remote-file-versioning/"
                    }
                ]
            },
            {
                "@type": [
                    "Article",
                    "TechArticle"
                ],
                "@id": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/updates/syncthing-local-versus-remote-file-versioning/#article",
                "identifier": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/updates/syncthing-local-versus-remote-file-versioning/",
                "url": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/updates/syncthing-local-versus-remote-file-versioning/",
                "headline": "Know which Syncthing changes create file versions",
                "description": "Check where a change originated before expecting Syncthing to retain the file’s previous contents.",
                "abstract": "Check where a change originated before expecting Syncthing to retain the file’s previous contents.",
                "articleBody": "Check where a change originated before expecting Syncthing to retain the file’s previous contents.\nSource facts\nSyncthing documents file versioning as archiving an older file when a remote device’s change replaces or deletes it. It does not archive the previous contents when the file is changed locally on that same device. Versioning is configured per folder and per device, and the default retains no old versions. The available strategies have different retention behavior; a custom version-storage path should be on the same filesystem as the regular folder.\nSource: Syncthing — File Versioning.\nApplicability\nUse this guide when deciding whether a Syncthing deployment can recover a particular edit or deletion. Check each receiving device’s actual folder configuration.\nDSE recommendation\nDSE recommends mapping the devices on which users edit files and the devices expected to retain prior versions. Choose and document a versioning strategy on each intended receiving copy. Define capacity monitoring and an owner for restoration requests. Keep a separate backup plan for the recovery requirements that synchronization and local versioning do not meet. Explain the local-edit distinction to users so that a visible synchronized copy is not treated as proof of recoverable history.\nVerification\nIn a disposable test folder, change a file on one device and inspect versions on another, then repeat with a local change. Test deletion and restoration under the selected strategy. Record which device retained what and the actual retention settings before describing the recovery coverage.\nOfficial reference\nSyncthing — File Versioning. Reviewed October 14, 2026.",
                "datePublished": "2026-10-15T00:43:37+00:00",
                "dateModified": "2026-10-15T00:44:33+00:00",
                "mainEntityOfPage": {
                    "@id": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/updates/syncthing-local-versus-remote-file-versioning/"
                },
                "inLanguage": "en-US",
                "isAccessibleForFree": true,
                "author": {
                    "@type": "Organization",
                    "name": "DSE Security Editorial Team",
                    "url": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/#editorial-team"
                },
                "publisher": {
                    "@id": "https://dsesecurity.com/#organization"
                },
                "image": {
                    "@type": "ImageObject",
                    "@id": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/updates/syncthing-local-versus-remote-file-versioning/#primaryimage",
                    "url": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/assets/editorial/continuity-recovery-social-v2.jpg?v=1.8.20",
                    "contentUrl": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/assets/editorial/continuity-recovery-social-v2.jpg?v=1.8.20",
                    "width": 1200,
                    "height": 630,
                    "caption": "Know which Syncthing changes create file versions"
                },
                "articleSection": [
                    "Business Continuity",
                    "IT"
                ],
                "keywords": [
                    "Business Continuity",
                    "IT",
                    "Guide",
                    "Information priority"
                ],
                "genre": "Guide",
                "about": [
                    {
                        "@type": "Thing",
                        "name": "Business Continuity",
                        "url": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/topic/business-continuity/"
                    },
                    {
                        "@type": "Thing",
                        "name": "IT",
                        "url": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/topic/it/"
                    }
                ],
                "wordCount": 248,
                "timeRequired": "PT2M",
                "publishingPrinciples": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/updates/dse-updates-editorial-methodology/",
                "usageInfo": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/usage/",
                "copyrightHolder": {
                    "@id": "https://dsesecurity.com/#organization"
                },
                "copyrightNotice": "Copyright © 2026 Detection Systems & Engineering. All rights reserved.",
                "citation": {
                    "@type": "CreativeWork",
                    "name": "Syncthing — File Versioning",
                    "url": "https://docs.syncthing.net/users/versioning.html"
                }
            }
        ]
    }
}