Does OneDrive Backup Everything? Your Ultimate Guide to Cloud Storage

Preface

"Does OneDrive backup everything?" The simple answer to this question is no. Not all the data of your computer will be not backed up to OneDrive. However, there are flexible options to back up specific files and folders, such as photos, videos, and documents. The types of files you want to back up, how you use the service, and your OneDrive settings will all affect the total amount of files backed up.

What Can and Can't be Backed up by OneDrive?

"Does OneDrive back up everything?" When considering this question, it's important to understand the scope of OneDrive's backup functionality. Microsoft offers a cloud storage service called OneDrive, which allows users to store and access files across multiple devices. Multiple files can be synchronized and preserved, but it doesn't automatically back up all the files on your computer without any special settings.

OneDrive Can Back up:

• Documents: Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, PDFs, and other commonly used file formats can be backed up easily via OneDrive.
• Photos and videos: OneDrive can be set up to automatically upload photos and videos taken with your camera, smartphone, or computer.
• Specific folders: OneDrive has the option to backup specific folders on your computer, including Documents, Pictures, and Desktop folders.

OneDrive Cannot be Backed up:

• Operating system files and system files: These cannot be backed up by OneDrive since it is not a complete backup tool for the system.
• Installed apps: OneDrive does not keep backups of the apps installed on your computer. For this, an alternative solution is needed, such as a full disk image backup.
• Complete computer: OneDrive can back up specific files and folders, but it cannot automatically back up your entire computer.

How to Set Up OneDrive for Backing Up Files

Here are the steps to set up OneDrive to back up specific files and folders:

Method 1: Use OneDrive's Folder Backup Function

1. Open OneDrive from the start menu or click on its icon in the taskbar to launch it.

2. Click on the OneDrive icon, then select "Help and Settings" and finally click on "Settings".

3. Go to the "Backup" tab in the settings menu. Then select "Backup Management"

4. You will be given the option to back up your Desktop, Documents, and Photos. Please select the folders to back up.

5. Select "Start Backup" to begin the backup process. Select the folders you want to start syncing with OneDrive in the cloud.

Method 2: Manually Add Files and Folders to OneDrive

1. Go to the OneDrive folder on your computer. The file explorer is usually located under "Quick Access" or "My Computer".

2. Drag and drop the files you want to back up into the OneDrive folder that contains the files and folders you want to back up.

3. When you drag a file to the OneDrive folder, it will automatically start syncing with the cloud.

This method can be useful when you want to back up data from a location that is not covered by the folder backup feature or when you don’t want to back up the entire folder. This method helps you back up only the files you select.

Method 3: Automatically Back up Photos and Videos Using Your Mobile Device

1. Go to your device’s app store and download and install the OneDrive app.

2. Sign in using your Microsoft account.

3. To enable the Camera Upload feature, go to the app’s settings and select “Camera Upload.” When you enable this feature, your photos and videos will be automatically backed up to OneDrive.

4. Here you can decide whether to include videos or not, and you can set photos to upload only when you have Wi-Fi.

This method can be very useful if you want to protect your precious memories without having to upload them manually every time you take a new photo or video.

Bonus Tip: Transfer or Sync Files between OneDrive and Other Cloud Services

This article addresses the question “Does OneDrive backup everything?” If you’re considering migrating files from your current cloud service to OneDrive, or vice versa, MultCloud can be extremely useful. Trusted by over 3 million users, MultCloud is a multi-cloud management tool that facilitates the transfer or synchronization of files between various cloud services.

For instance, it allows for seamless file transfers from cloud drives like Google Drive to OneDrive without the need to download and then re-upload files. MultCloud also enables you to access and manage all your cloud accounts via a single application. Currently, it supports more than 30 different cloud services, including Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, Box, Google Photos, iCloud Photos, FTP, WebDAV, and more.

Summary

Does OneDrive back up all your data? No, but it provides an efficient tool to back up the most important files and folders on your computer, as well as photos and videos from your mobile device. Before you can make OneDrive your trusted backup option, you need to understand its capabilities and limitations. This will ensure that your important documents, photos, and other files are kept safe and easily accessible from anywhere, at any time.