Batch move or copy photos with a template

Overview

File Transfer moves or copies selected files to a destination folder, using a reusable template that holds every transfer decision. Each template sets a transfer mode (Move to relocate originals, or Copy to keep them in place), a folder mode (Flatten into one folder, Preserve Structure to mirror the source, or Organize by Metadata to sort into folders by date, photographer, camera, location, rating, or keyword), and a conflict strategy (apply a naming template, add a numeric suffix, skip existing files, or overwrite). Four templates are built in (Quick Copy, Organized by Date, Full Archive, Photo Import), and custom templates can add metadata filters, checksum verification, and suffix settings.

When to Use

Use File Transfer when reorganizing storage, moving to new hardware, consolidating collections from several places, or preparing a curated set of files for delivery or archive. Choose a Copy-mode template (Quick Copy, Full Archive) when the originals must stay put - backups, client deliveries, or a second drive. Choose a Move-mode template when relocating files to free up the source - imports, migrations between drives, or clearing a capture card. Pick Preserve Structure when the source folder hierarchy matters, or an Organize-by-Metadata template (such as Organized by Date) to sort files into a new structure by date, photographer, camera, location, or keyword.

Requirements

Select a writable destination folder
Select a File Transfer template (built-in or custom) - it sets the transfer mode, folder structure, organization, and conflict resolution
Source files must be accessible and not locked by another application
The destination needs enough free space for every file being transferred
Files must not be write-protected or in use during the transfer
Cloud files must be downloaded and accessible before transfer

How to Use

Select the files to transfer in the left Folder Navigator panel
Select 'File Transfer' from the process bar (it opens the destination folder picker)
Choose a destination folder with enough free space
In the File Transfer options, choose a template - a built-in (Quick Copy, Organized by Date, Full Archive, Photo Import) or one you made in Settings
Check the template's transfer mode, folder mode, organization, and conflict resolution so you know what it will do
Click 'Start' - Archyv transfers the files and resolves conflicts the way the template specifies
Watch the log for skipped, processed, and failed files
Check the destination to confirm the files landed where the template put them, then use 'Refresh' for the next run — Refresh also drops the transferred files from the selection (in Move mode), since the originals are gone; in Copy mode the originals remain and stay selected

Tips & Important Notes

Check the template's transfer mode before you start: Move removes files from the source, Copy keeps the originals. Choose Copy, or back up first, if you're unsure
Match the template to your intent: Quick Copy for fast duplication, Organized by Date for date-based folder trees, Full Archive for checksum-verified backups, Photo Import for capture-card imports
Create your own template in Settings > Transfer Templates when the built-ins don't fit (for example, Organize by Photographer and Date, or add metadata filters)
Review the template's conflict resolution - naming-template rename, numeric suffix, skip, or overwrite - before running against a folder that already has files
Turn on Simulation Mode in General Settings first to preview the transfer in the log
Cloud files must be downloaded and accessible before transfer
Google Drive files that aren't downloaded yet stream on demand, which is slower than most networks. When several appear in a transfer, Archyv shows a hint once per batch (switch it off under Settings > Performance > 'Show cloud storage tips'). The durable fix is to make them local first: in Finder, right-click them > Offline access > 'Available offline' for Shared Drives, or switch Google Drive to 'Mirror files' for My Drive, before transferring. A single large file stays slow until it is available offline
File metadata is preserved through the move or copy, and each file is transferred whole, so an interrupted run leaves no half-written files