[Easy & Simple] How to Backup External Hard Drive to iCloud

Quick Search:

• Why Backup External Hard Drive to iCloud?
• How to Backup External Hard Drive to iCloud on Mac
• Backup External Hard Drive to iCloud on Windows
• Transfer Files from External Hard Drive to iCloud from iCloud.com
• Backup External Hard Drive to iCloud with MultCloud
• Bonus Tip: How to Backup iCloud Drive to Another Cloud
• Conclusion
• FAQs about Backing Up External Drive to iCloud

Why Backup External Hard Drive to iCloud?

Imagine the frustration of losing years' worth of family photos, critical business documents, or an extensive music library due to hardware failure or unforeseen circumstances. The risks associated with data loss are real and can have severe consequences. From hardware malfunctions to accidental deletions or even theft, there are numerous ways your data can disappear in the blink of an eye. 

That's why having a comprehensive backup strategy is essential. On the other hand, backing up data from external hard drive to iCloud is convenient since users can then access their data anywhere and anytime, as long as the network connection is stable. Meanwhile, iCloud makes it easy and effortless to share photos and files with friends and colleagues.

In this article, we will guide you how do I backup my external hard drive to iCloud. Also, to add a layer of protection, we will give you a bonus tip to backup iCloud Drive to another cloud directly without downloading. If you happen to need this, continue to read.

How to Backup External Hard Drive to iCloud on Mac

Now that we've established the importance of backing up your data, let's dive into the process of backing up an external hard drive to iCloud. By following these steps, you can safeguard your files and enjoy peace of mind knowing your data is securely stored in the cloud. First of all, you have to enable iCloud Drive on Mac, Windows, then backup external drive to iCloud.

If you are wondering "how do I move files from hard drive to iCloud" on Mac, you can follow the operations below:

Step 1: Open a Finder window on your Mac. Locate your external hard drive in the sidebar.

Step 2: Select the files and folders you want to back up. Drag them to the iCloud Drive section in the sidebar.

You can also download files from your iCloud web app to your device manually. Then connect the hard drive to your device and move files by dragging and dropping as well.

Backup External Hard Drive to iCloud on Windows

If you're using a Windows computer to backup external hard drive to iCloud, check here:

1. Please install the iCloud for Windows app on your computer, and log in to your iCloud account. Ensure your external hard drive is connected to your computer and can be detected.

2. Then tick iCloud Drive, and hit Apply to add iCloud Drive to your Windows File Explorer.

3. Now, open the external hard drive and the iCloud Drive side by side, then drag and drop external hard drive files to iCloud Drive folder.

Transfer Files from External Hard Drive to iCloud from iCloud.com

Besides, you can also upload files from external hard drive to the iCloud website directly to backup external hard drive to iCloud, here it is:

1. Please log in to your iCloud.com, then tap the Drive section to open iCloud Drive.

2. Tap the Upload icon (Cloud icon) at the middle of the window, then choose the files in your external hard drive, and hit Open to upload files from external drive to iCloud Drive directly.

If you have videos and photos to keep in iCloud, you can upload them to iCloud Photos instead.

Backup External Hard Drive to iCloud with MultCloud

Except for the above ways to backup external hard drive to iCloud, you can also take advantage of the comprehensive multiple cloud storage manager - MultCloud. It allows you to upload files from your computer, external drive, or other device to iCloud Drive, iCloud Photos, or other clouds you're using.

To sync external hard drive to iCloud with MultCloud, check the following simple clicks:

1.  Please log in to your MultCloud account after creating an account. Make sure your external drive is connected with your computer.

2. Tap "Add Cloud", and choose iCloud Drive to add. You can also add iCloud Photos according to your situation.

3. Click iCloud Drive from the left side after adding successfully, then open a folder to save external hard drive files, now tap Upload File from the top menu.

4. Choose the files and folders in the external hard drive, and tap Open to upload external hard drive files to iCloud Drive.

Bonus Tip: How to Backup iCloud Drive to Another Cloud

We’ve known how to backup external hard drive to iCloud. As mentioned before, hard drives are vulnerable with natural disasters. To ensure data security, it is recommended to backup iCloud Drive to another cloud service, such as Google Drive, MEGA, Wasabi, etc. Those kinds of cloud drives are equipped with a cutting-edge encryption and large free storage space.

When backing up iCloud Drive to another cloud, the download-and-upload method is the easiest way. However, you will need to consume much time, especially when you have a large number of files to backup. At the same time, the network connection should be stable. To make the process easier, you can take advantage of a practical and popular cloud backup service – MultCloud.

MultCloud is a cloud storage management platform that allows you to manage and backup files across multiple cloud storage services, including iCloud, Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, Wasabi, Box, etc. in a single interface. Here’re the detailed benefits of using MultCloud to backup iCloud Drive to another cloud:

On top of features above, MultCloud also allows you to restore files between clouds easily, as long as you have backed up data between clouds via MultCloud.

Now, follow the operations below to learn how to backup iCloud Drive to another cloud via MultCloud, and we will take Google Drive as an example:

Step 1: Sign up for a MultCloud account on the official website.

Step 2: Go to Add Cloud on the left taskbar. Press the icon of iCloud Drive to add and give MultCloud access. Next, apply the same way to add Google Drive.

Step 3: Head to Cloud Backup then, and choose iCloud Drive as the source and Google Drive as the target. After all is finished, tap the Backup Now button.

With MultCloud, you can also backup Google Photos to Synology NAS, ensuring the safety of your data.

• Smart Share: Share cloud files via public, private, or source mode.
• One-key Move: Quick data transfer, sync, and backup among clouds.
• Email Archive: Protect emails to other clouds or local disks.
• Remote upload: Effectively save web files to clouds via URL.
• Save Webpages as PDF/PNG: Keep them locally or online.
• Safe: Full-time 256-bit AES and OAuth authorization protections.
• Easy: Access and manage all clouds in one place with one login.
• Extensive: 30+ clouds and on-premise services are supported.

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Conclusion

Backing up your data, including your external hard drive, is crucial to ensure the safety and availability of your files. In this article, we explored how to backup external hard drive to iCloud in step-by-step operations. We also discussed the way to backup iCloud Drive to another cloud seamlessly via MultCloud.

Remember, data loss can occur unexpectedly, and having a reliable backup strategy in place is essential. Don't delay—start backing up your external hard drive to iCloud today and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing your files are protected.

FAQs about Backing Up External Drive to iCloud