Technology is disclosed for performing a priority synchronization of a computing device to download a selected set of data files to the computing device from a distributed backup system. Data files are downloaded to a computing device by synchronizing the computing device with a server of the distributed backup system. A priority sync downloads a subset of the data files (“priority files”) rather than all of the data files of the user, thereby minimizing the computing resources consumed to download the data files. The priority sync can select the priority files based on various criteria, including an access pattern of the data files, attributes of the data files, or attributes of the computing device. The priority sync can also download the data files not identified as priority files (“non-priority files”). While the priority files are downloaded in their original format, the non-priority files are downloaded in a downgraded format.