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FolderWatch is a free, MIT-licensed offline Windows utility by ALMARFELD for saving local folder snapshots and comparing later changes. JSON snapshots record relative paths, sizes, modification times, SHA-256 hashes and include/exclude rules. Results separate Added, Removed, Modified, Unchanged and Inaccessible entries, with read-failure diagnostics. Filter the results and export them to CSV.
Comparison uses the snapshot's saved rules. Partial scans retain readable files and report inaccessible entries; unknown descendants are not treated as confirmed removals. Reparse points are skipped. This is on-demand comparison, not continuous monitoring, backup or antivirus. Snapshots do not contain file contents.
v1.1.1: Windows 10/11 x64, self-contained portable ZIP. Extract fully and run FolderWatch.exe. No separate .NET runtime or WebView2 required. No accounts, uploads or telemetry. The executable is not Authenticode signed.
Features
- Save JSON snapshots of relative paths, sizes, times and SHA-256 hashes
- Compare a saved snapshot with the current local folder
- Separate Added, Removed, Modified, Unchanged and Inaccessible entries
- Include/exclude wildcard rules with optional development/temp presets
- Read v1.0.0 snapshots and preserve their saved comparison scope
- Filter results and export the visible comparison to CSV
Project Samples
