When I run SyncBackPro/SE it always prompts me with "A program needs your permission to continue". Why?


You'll need to change all the paths & names in this article as appropriate if you are using SyncBackPro. This article is not applicable to SyncBackFree.


Windows Vista introduced some very strict security features, one of which is called User Account Control (UAC). UAC basically means that all programs are run, by default, with the least number of security privileges. For example, even if you are an Administrator when you run a program it runs at the lowest security level, meaning it cannot delete or change system files, for example. The purpose of this is to protect your system from malicious programs that may damage or exploit your system.

SyncBackPro/SE requires Administrator (and other, e.g. backup operator) privileges for a number of features to work, e.g. copying open/locked files, creating or deleting schedules, etc. Therefore, when it is run it requests that it be run at the maximum security level for the current user. This means Windows will prompt you every time it is run (you are not prompted when it is run from a schedule - this makes sense because you may not even be logged in when the scheduled task is run).

There are several ways to remove this prompt:

  • Run SyncBackPro/SE (Not Elevated) (via the Start Menu in Windows)
  • Create a shortcut that runs SyncBackPro/SE elevated without prompting. In V11 you can do this via burger menu > Global Settings > Security and click the Create Shortcut With No UAC Prompt
  • Have SyncBackSE/Pro start with Windows via burger menu > Global Settings > Easy > Start with Windows
  • Install SyncBackPro/SE for yourself so it never runs elevated.
  • Switch off UAC in Windows. This is not advisable.
  • Use SyncBack Touch. This is discussed below.


Note that running at the lowest security level means you cannot copy open/locked files, for example. It also means any profiles that are stored in the same folder as the SyncBack executable cannot be used unless you have write permission to that folder (which is unlikely).


Windows has blocked some startup programs


If you receive the message 'Windows has blocked some startup programs' when logging in then Windows has blocked the program from starting. This article explains how to run a blocked program.


SyncBack Touch


SyncBack Touch is a cross-platform file server. It lets SyncBackPro and SyncBackSE copy files to and from another device, e.g. Windows, macOS, Linux or Android device, over the network (LAN or Internet). SyncBackFree cannot use SyncBack Touch.


Simply install SyncBack Touch on the device you want to the access the files on and then create a profile in SyncBackPro/SE to use that device.


On Windows, SyncBack Touch run as a service in the background. This means it can copy open/locked files and also access most (if not all) of the files on the computer on behalf of SyncBackPro/SE. Because of this if you use SyncBack Touch with SyncBackPro/SE then you may not need to run SyncBack elevated.