I’ve written about rclone before, but there have been some major updates, so I’d like to introduce them here.

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rclone for Cloud Storage: Installation, Configuration, and Command Usage This article explores rclone, an open source command-line tool for synchronizing and managing files across various cloud storage services. It covers configurati…

rclone is a powerful open-source tool that allows you to manage various cloud storage services from a single command line. It supports over 70 cloud storage providers, including Google Drive, Amazon S3, Dropbox, and OneDrive, and is available on multiple platforms such as Linux, Windows, and macOS.

Often called the “Swiss army knife for cloud storage,” this tool extends the concept of rsync to the cloud era, enabling efficient file synchronization and backups between local and cloud storage, as well as between different cloud services.

Latest Version Information

The latest version, v1.71.0, released in August 2025, brings significant performance improvements and new features. You can easily update to the latest version using the rclone selfupdate command.

Supported Cloud Storage Services

Here is the support status for major cloud storage services:

For General Users

• Google Drive / Google Photos – Supports both personal and business accounts
• Microsoft OneDrive – Supports personal, business, and SharePoint
• Dropbox – Supports both personal and business accounts
• Box – Business-oriented storage
• MEGA – Storage focused on encryption
• pCloud – Secure storage based on European standards
• Proton Drive – Privacy-focused storage

For Enterprise and Developers

• Amazon S3 – AWS standard object storage
• Google Cloud Storage – GCP standard storage
• Microsoft Azure Blob Storage – Azure standard storage
• Backblaze B2 – Cost-effective cloud storage
• Cloudflare R2 – S3-compatible storage with zero egress fees
• Wasabi – High-speed S3-compatible storage

Self-Hosting and Protocols

• SFTP/FTP – Standard file transfer protocols
• WebDAV – Compatible with Nextcloud and ownCloud
• SMB/CIFS – Windows shared folders
• HTTP – Downloading from web servers

Understanding the Difference Between rclone and rsync

rclone specializes in cloud storage operations, while rsync is focused on file synchronization locally or via SSH.

By using the --multi-thread-streams option, rclone can achieve network transfer speeds more than four times faster than rsync.

Installation Guide

Installing on Windows (Detailed Steps for Beginners)

Method 1: Direct Download from the Official Website (Recommended)

Download

• Go to the official website.
• Choose the version for your Windows system:

64-bit version (most common): rclone-v1.71.0-windows-amd64.zip

32-bit version (for older PCs): rclone-v1.71.0-windows-386.zip

Extract and Place the Files

C:\rclone\           ← Create this folder
  └── rclone.exe     ← Place the extracted file here
      rclone.1       ← Manual (optional)
      README.txt     ← Readme file (optional)

Set Environment Variables (Optional but Recommended)

• Press Windows Key + R and enter sysdm.cpl.
• Go to the “Advanced” tab and click “Environment Variables.”
• Select “Path,” click “Edit,” then “New.”
• Add C:\rclone.
• This allows you to run the rclone command from any directory.

Method 2: Using Winget (Windows 11/10)

# Install
winget install Rclone.Rclone

# Uninstall
winget uninstall Rclone.Rclone --force

Personally, I found this method to be the easiest.

Method 3: Using Chocolatey

# Install
choco install rclone

# Also install WinFsp (for the mount feature)
choco install winfsp

Installing on Ubuntu/Debian

Method 1: Official Script (Recommended)

# Install the latest stable version
sudo -v ; curl https://rclone.org/install.sh | sudo bash

# Install the beta version
sudo -v ; curl https://rclone.org/install.sh | sudo bash -s beta

Method 2: Manual Installation (For more control)

# Download
wget https://downloads.rclone.org/v1.71.0/rclone-v1.71.0-linux-amd64.deb

# Install
sudo dpkg -i rclone-v1.71.0-linux-amd64.deb

# If dependency issues occur
sudo apt -f install

Installing on macOS

# Using Homebrew (Recommended)
brew install rclone

# Manual Installation
cd && curl -O https://downloads.rclone.org/rclone-current-osx-amd64.zip
unzip -a rclone-current-osx-amd64.zip && cd rclone-*-osx-amd64
sudo mkdir -p /usr/local/bin
sudo mv rclone /usr/local/bin/

Initial Setup Guide (Detailed Version for Beginners)

Basic Configuration Concept

In rclone, connection information for each cloud storage service is configured as a “remote.” A single remote represents a connection to one cloud storage account or service.

Configuration Example on Windows (OneDrive)

Open Command Prompt

• Press Windows Key + R and enter cmd.
• You can also use PowerShell.

Run the Configuration Command

rclone config

Create a New Remote

No remotes found, make a new one?
n) New remote
s) Set configuration password
q) Quit config
n/s/q> n  ← Type n and press Enter

Name the Remote

Enter name for new remote.
name> onedrive  ← Enter a descriptive name

Select Storage Type

Type of storage to configure.
Choose a number from below, or type in your own value.
...
XX / Microsoft OneDrive
   \ "onedrive"
...
Storage> onedrive  ← Type onedrive or the list number

Client ID and Secret

Microsoft App Client Id
Leave blank normally.
client_id>  ← Leave blank and press Enter

Microsoft App Client Secret
Leave blank normally.
client_secret>  ← Leave blank and press Enter

Select Region

Choose national cloud region for OneDrive.
1 / Microsoft Cloud Global
   \ (global)
2 / Microsoft Cloud for US Government
   \ (us)
...
region> 1  ← Usually select 1

Advanced Configuration

Edit advanced config?
y) Yes
n) No (default)
y/n> n  ← Type n

Use Auto Config

Use auto config?
y) Yes (default)
n) No
y/n> y  ← Type y

• A browser window will open automatically.
• Log in with your Microsoft account.
• Grant the necessary permissions.

Select Drive

Found drive "root" of type "personal"
y) Yes (default)
n) No
y/n> y  ← Type y

Confirm Configuration

Configuration complete.
Options:
- type: onedrive
- region: global
- drive_type: personal
...
Keep this "onedrive" remote?
y) Yes this is OK (default)
e) Edit this remote
d) Delete this remote
y/e/d> y  ← Type y

Configuration in an SSH Environment (Remote Server)

In environments without a web browser, such as a server connected via SSH, you need to obtain an authentication token from another machine.

1.Start Configuration on the Remote Server

rclone config

2.Select “n” When Asked About Using a Browser

Use auto config?
y) Yes (default)
n) No
y/n> n  ← Type n

Copy the Displayed Authentication Command

Execute the following on the machine with the web browser:
rclone authorize "onedrive"

Get the Authentication Token on Your Local Machine (Windows/Mac)

# Run this in the terminal on your Windows/Mac
rclone authorize "onedrive"

• A browser will open.
• Log in and grant permission.
• The token will be displayed.

Paste the Token into the Remote Server

Enter a value.
config_token> {"access_token":"...","expiry":"..."}  ← Paste the token you obtained

Basic Usage (Detailed Command Explanations)

Listing Files

# List files in the remote (with sizes)
rclone ls onedrive:

# List only directories
rclone lsd onedrive:

# Display in a tree format
rclone tree onedrive:

# List contents of a specific folder
rclone ls onedrive:Documents

Copying Files

# Local → Cloud
rclone copy C:\Users\username\Documents onedrive:backup/documents

# Cloud → Local
rclone copy onedrive:photos C:\Users\username\Pictures

# Cloud → Cloud (direct transfer)
rclone copy googledrive:data onedrive:backup --progress

Important Options:

• --progress or -P: Show real-time transfer status.
• --dry-run: See what would happen without actually performing any operations.
• --interactive or -i: Confirm before deleting.
• --transfers=8: Specify the number of parallel transfers (default is 4).

Synchronizing Files

# One-way sync (makes the destination identical to the source)
rclone sync C:\data onedrive:data --interactive

# Two-way sync (experimental feature)
rclone bisync C:\data onedrive:data --resync

⚠️ Warning: The sync command is destructive.

• Files that exist only in the destination will be deleted.
• It is highly recommended to use --dry-run for a preview first.
• For important data, consider using the copy command instead.

Mount Feature (Use as a Drive)

On Windows:

# Mount as drive X:
rclone mount onedrive: X: --vfs-cache-mode full

# Mount as a network drive
rclone mount onedrive: X: --network-mode --vfs-cache-mode full

On Linux/macOS:

# Create a mount point
mkdir ~\/OneDrive

# Execute mount
rclone mount onedrive: ~\/OneDrive --vfs-cache-mode full --daemon

Cache Modes:

• off: No caching (default).
• minimal: Caches the minimum required.
• writes: Caches writes.
• full: Caches both reads and writes (recommended).

Using GUI Tools

For those who are not comfortable with the command line, several GUI tools are available.

1. Rclone Web GUI (Official)

rclone includes an official, though experimental, Web GUI that allows you to operate it from a browser.

# Start the Web GUI
rclone rcd --rc-web-gui --rc-user=admin --rc-pass=password

# Access http://localhost:5572 in your browser

2. Rclone UI (Third-Party, Recommended)

Rclone UI is a modern desktop GUI that runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux, with the following features:

• Intuitive Operation: Drag-and-drop support.
• Scheduling: Automate regular backups.
• Concurrent Operations: Manage tasks in the background.
• Visual Progress: Graphically view transfer status.

You can download it from the official website.

3. RcloneBrowser (Open Source)

A stable GUI tool that has been in development for many years. It can be easily used on Linux in AppImage format.

Practical Use Cases

1. Automating Regular Backups

Example for Windows Task Scheduler:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-16"?>
<Task>
  <Triggers>
    <CalendarTrigger>
      <StartBoundary>2025-01-01T02:00:00</StartBoundary>
      <Repetition>
        <Interval>P1D</Interval> <!-- Run daily -->
      </Repetition>
    </CalendarTrigger>
  </Triggers>
  <Actions>
    <Exec>
      <Command>C:\rclone\rclone.exe</Command>
      <Arguments>sync C:\ImportantData onedrive:backup --log-file=C:\rclone\backup.log</Arguments>
    </Exec>
  </Actions>
</Task>

Example for Linux cron:

# Edit crontab
crontab -e

# Run backup every day at 2 AM
0 2 * * * /usr/bin/rclone sync /home/user/documents gdrive:backup --log-file=/var/log/rclone-backup.log

2. Migrating Data Between Multiple Clouds

# Migrate large amounts of data from Google Drive to OneDrive
rclone copy googledrive: onedrive: \
  --transfers=20 \
  --checkers=40 \
  --drive-chunk-size=128M \
  --onedrive-chunk-size=100M \
  --progress \
  --log-file=migration.log

3. Encrypted Backups

# Create an encrypted remote
rclone config
# Select the crypt type and wrap an existing remote

# Upload with encryption
rclone copy /sensitive/data secret: --progress

Performance Optimization Techniques

Transferring Large Files

# Increase chunk size for faster speeds
rclone copy largefile.zip gdrive: \
  --drive-chunk-size=256M \
  --transfers=8 \
  --progress

Handling a Large Number of Small Files

# Increase checkers and transfers
rclone copy photos/ onedrive:photos/ \
  --transfers=32 \
  --checkers=16 \
  --fast-list \
  --progress

Limiting Bandwidth

# Limit to 1MB/s during business hours, unlimited otherwise
rclone copy data remote: \
  --bwlimit "08:00,1M 18:00,off" \
  --progress

Troubleshooting

Common Problems and Solutions

1. Authentication Error

Error: Failed to create file system for "remote:": failed to make oauth client

Solution:

• Token expired → rclone config reconnect remote:
• Start over with configuration → rclone config delete remote → Re-configure

2. Slow Transfer Speed

Solution:

# Increase parallel transfers
rclone copy source dest --transfers=20 --checkers=40

# Use a VPS as an intermediary
rclone copy local intermediate: && rclone copy intermediate: final:

3. Garbled Filenames

Solution:

# Specify encoding
rclone copy source dest --local-encoding=Slash,LtGt

4. Out of Memory

Solution:

# Adjust buffer size
rclone copy source dest --buffer-size=16M --use-mmap

Security Best Practices

1. Encrypting the Configuration File

# Set a password for the configuration
rclone config
# Select s) Set configuration password

# Specify the password via an environment variable
export RCLONE_CONFIG_PASS="your-secure-password"

2. Principle of Least Privilege

• If read-only access is needed, configure with Read-Only access.
• Restrict access to specific folders only.
• Update API keys regularly.

3. Log Management

# Record detailed logs (for troubleshooting)
rclone copy source dest -vv --log-file=rclone.log --log-level=DEBUG

# Configure log rotation
rclone copy source dest \
  --log-file=rclone.log \
  --log-max-size=10M \
  --log-max-age=7d \
  --log-max-backups=5

Advanced Features

Union (Combine Multiple Storages)

Treat multiple cloud storages as a single virtual drive:

# Create a Union remote
rclone config
# Select the union type
# upstream = gdrive: onedrive:dropbox:

# Example usage
rclone ls union:  # Lists the contents of all storages

Crypt (Transparent Encryption)

# Create an encryption layer
rclone config
# Select the crypt type
# remote = gdrive:encrypted
# filename_encryption = standard
# directory_name_encryption = true

Serve (Turn into a File Server)

# Serve as an HTTP server
rclone serve http remote:path --addr :8080

# Serve as a WebDAV server
rclone serve webdav remote:path --addr :8080

# Serve as an FTP server
rclone serve ftp remote:path --addr :2121

Summary and Future Outlook

rclone has evolved beyond a simple file transfer tool into an integrated cloud storage management platform. It stands out from conventional tools, especially in the following areas:

1. Multi-Cloud Support: Supports over 70 services, helping to avoid vendor lock-in.
2. High-Speed Transfers: Achieves speeds several times faster than traditional tools through parallel transfers.
3. Flexibility: Can be operated via command line, GUI, or API.
4. Security: Provides enterprise-level security with encryption, least privilege, and audit logs.

For anyone looking to seriously leverage cloud storage, rclone is an essential tool. I recommend starting with the simple rclone ls command and gradually mastering its more advanced features.

It’s also important to regularly check the official documentation for new features and improvements. The community is active, and many use cases and troubleshooting tips are shared on the forum.

To unlock the true power of your cloud storage, give rclone a try.