Does OneDrive automatically back up? Find the answer here.

[[1\] Overview of Microsoft OneDrive](#1) Microsoft OneDrive is a cloud storage service that enables users to store, synchronize, and share files and documents online. Developed by Microsoft, it is part of the Office 365 suite and also offers standalone subscription options. Key features of OneDrive include: 1. **File Storage**: Users can upload various types of files to the OneDrive cloud for access from any device. 2. **Synchronization**: OneDrive syncs files and folders across multiple devices, ensuring all data stays up to date. 3. **Sharing and Collaboration**: Users can easily share links to their OneDrive files or folders, allowing others to view and edit content, fostering teamwork. 4. **Version History**: OneDrive maintains file versions, enabling users to revert to previous versions in case of accidental modifications or deletions. 5. **Mobile Access**: Through smartphone or tablet apps, users can access their OneDrive content from anywhere. 6. **Automatic Camera Backup**: When enabled on mobile devices, OneDrive automatically backs up photos and videos to prevent loss. 7. **Integration with Office Apps**: Users can create and edit documents using Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other Office apps directly within OneDrive. OneDrive offers various storage plans, including a free version and paid subscriptions, catering to the needs of both individual and business users. Paid subscriptions typically include larger storage capacity and additional features, such as advanced security options and more robust collaboration tools.

Microsoft's OneDrive is a cloud-storage service designed for Windows 10, similar to iCloud, Google Drive, iDrive, and Dropbox. It allows users to store, synchronize, and share data and files over the internet.

OneDrive enables easy access to your backups from any device. It features folder protection, which backs up and syncs photos, files, and documents in that folder to the cloud.

You can find it in your computer's taskbar as a program with a blue cloud icon. You can also search for it using the search bar.

OneDrive comes with 5 GB of free storage, and premium users can get up to 1 TB. It's an excellent choice for backing up important files from your PC, tablet, or mobile device.

Aside from the aforementioned features, it also offers several other attributes, such as:

• Create and edit files on tablets or smartphones
• Backup files to the cloud for easy access
• Share files and photos with friends
• Get real-time updates when files change
• Share and synchronize files across platforms
• Real-time syncing, allowing multiple users to collaborate on the same project simultaneously
• Integration with Microsoft 365, enabling creation and editing of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents in their online versions
• Offer 5GB of free cloud storage space, along with paid options of 100GB, 1TB, and 6TB

Related Reading: How to Set Up Automatic Backup to OneDrive in Windows 11/10/8/7

[[Answer] Does OneDrive automatically back up files?] Yes, OneDrive does have an automatic backup feature. When you set up OneDrive on Windows 10, you can choose the "File Sync" option, which automatically backs up your documents, pictures, and other folders to the cloud. Additionally, you can use OneDrive's "Backup" feature to automatically back up specific folders like "Desktop," "Documents," and "Pictures." This feature can be enabled in the OneDrive settings. Make sure to regularly check your backup settings to ensure your files are always up to date.

Now that you know so much about OneDrive, you might be wondering, does OneDrive backup automatically?

The answer is "Yes." OneDrive lets users back up Windows 10 files to the Cloud via the app. By setting up PC folder backup, it'll automatically backup and sync all files within the Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders to OneDrive, so they're accessible on other devices logged in with the same Microsoft OneDrive account.

How to Set Up Automatic Backup to OneDrive Backing up your files and data automatically to OneDrive can help protect important information from accidental loss. Here's how to set up automatic backup to OneDrive on Windows 10: 1. **Open OneDrive:** - Click on the OneDrive icon in the taskbar (usually a blue cloud-shaped icon). - If it's not on the taskbar, search for "OneDrive" using the search bar. 2. **Sign in to OneDrive:** - If you're not signed in, enter your Microsoft account credentials. 3. **Set Sync Options:** - In the OneDrive main interface, click the gear-shaped "Settings" icon in the top-left corner. - Select the "Options" tab. - Under "General," find the "Backup" option, then click "Manage backup." 4. **Configure Automatic Backup:** - In the "Manage Backup" window, you'll see a list of apps and folders that can be backed up. - Choose the content you want to back up, such as the desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders. - Check the checkboxes next to the items you want to back up, then click "Start backup." 5. **Ensure Real-time Sync:** - Back in the OneDrive settings, make sure "Sync all files and folders" is selected under the "Sync" tab. 6. **Check Backup Status:** - After setting this up, you can return to the OneDrive main interface anytime to monitor the backup progress. - Once the files are backed up, they'll be available in your OneDrive cloud storage and accessible from any other logged-in device. Please note that these steps apply specifically to OneDrive settings on Windows 10. If you're using a different operating system or device, the process might vary. Also, ensure you have sufficient OneDrive storage space to accommodate all backup content.

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to set up automatic backups to OneDrive:

Step 1: Open OneDrive on your computer. Click the “Cloud” icon in the taskbar, then choose “More > Settings.”

2. In the Settings window, select the “Auto-save” tab, and check the boxes for “Save photos and videos to OneDrive when I connect my camera, phone, or other device to my PC” and “Save screenshots to OneDrive.”

Step 3. Finally, click OK to save your settings.

Note: Local files larger than 20 GB can't be synced automatically.

How to Set Up Automatic Backup to OneDrive on Windows 11/10/8/7

To save you from the hassle of repetitive setup, this page offers solutions to set up automatic backup to OneDrive on Windows 10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP. Meanwhile, if you're looking for an easier way to configure backups, we've also listed a more straightforward method – using the Todo Backup tool.

OneDrive Backup Alternatives - Tailor Your Diverse Backup Needs

As mentioned above, there are some limitations to automatic backup with OneDrive that can make the process less than ideal. A better option is Todo Backup Home, a professional backup software that can meet your various backup types, including full backup, differential backup, and incremental backup.

Scheduled backup options let you back up hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, or on an event-driven basis to meet your diverse backup needs.

Unlike OneDrive, the Todo Backup tool lets you save backup files to internal and external hard drives, cloud services, and network locations (NAS).

It also offers a cloud-service tool that provides 250 GB of free cloud storage, so you never have to worry about storage space again.

To give you a clearer idea of what Todo Backup offers, we've compared it with OneDrive in the table below. We're sure you'll find plenty of reasons to choose either tool.

Todo Backup is a user-friendly tool that's perfect for both novices and pros. Here's a straightforward guide on how to back up your files with Todo Backup: 1. **Download and Install Todo Backup**: First, visit the official Todo Backup website and download the version compatible with your operating system. Once downloaded, run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to install it. 2. **Launch Todo Backup**: After installation, open the Todo Backup application. Upon the first launch, you might see a welcome screen; click "Start" or "Quick Start" to familiarize yourself with the software's basic features. 3. **Choose Backup Type**: On the main interface, you'll see various backup options like "File Backup," "System Backup," "Disk Backup," etc. Select "File Backup" based on your needs. 4. **Select Files and Folders to Backup**: After choosing "File Backup," you'll reach the source file selection screen. Browse your computer, check the files and folders you want to back up. You can also use wildcards (* and ?) to include or exclude specific file types. 5. **Choose Backup Destination**: Next, specify where you want to save the backup files. You can choose a local hard drive, external drive, network location, or cloud storage. Make sure you have enough space for the backup data. 6. **Set Backup Schedule (Optional)**: If you want to automate backups, click the "Task Scheduler" option to set the backup timing and frequency (e.g., daily, weekly, or monthly). 7. **Create Backup Strategy**: Once all settings are correct, click "Next" and choose "Backup Now" to perform the initial backup. Alternatively, select "Save as Template" to quickly apply the same backup settings later. 8. **Monitor Backup Progress**: The backup process may take some time, depending on the file size. Todo Backup will display a progress bar and relevant info during this time. Upon completion, a success message will appear. 9. **Verify Backup**: To ensure backup integrity, you can verify the backup file. This step is optional but highly recommended, especially for crucial data. 10. **Restore Backup (if needed)**: When you need to recover files from a backup, simply choose "Restore" in Todo Backup, locate and select the appropriate backup file, and follow the prompts. That's a detailed breakdown of using Todo Backup for file backup. Remember to keep your backups up to date to protect your latest data.

Step 1. Tap Select Backup to start the backup.

There are four types of data to back up: files, disks, operating systems, and mail.

Step 3: On the left, you'll see a list of local and networked files. Expand the folders to select the ones you want to back up.

Step 4. Choose where you want to save your backup, following the on-screen instructions.

In the Backup Options, you can click Options to encrypt your backup with a password, set up a backup schedule, and choose in the Backup Policy whether to initiate backups during specific events. There are many customizable features to explore, allowing you to tailor the backup process according to your needs.

Step Five: The backup can be stored on a local disk, the tool's cloud service, or a network-attached storage (NAS) device.

Step Six: Todo Backup allows users to back up their data to third-party cloud-storage drives or to the company's own cloud storage.

If you want to back up data to a third-party cloud, choose “Local Disk,” then scroll down and add a cloud device with your account information.

You can also use the tool's own cloud storage service. Click “Tool Cloud,” create an account with your tool account, and log in.

Step 7. To start the backup, click Backup Now. When the backup is successfully completed, it will appear as a card in the left pane. Right-click on it to manage the backup job in detail.

After all

By now, you should have found the answer to the question: Does OneDrive automatically back up?

Indeed, OneDrive does provide great convenience for users to back up and synchronize their data. However, due to limitations such as file size restrictions (e.g., individual files limited to 20GB), lack of scheduled/incremental backups, and no support for backing up files to external drives or NAS, its automatic backup capabilities might not meet everyone's needs. If you're looking for a better alternative, you can try the Todo Backup tool, which is a comprehensive backup solution that can more effectively handle your data backup tasks.

Frequently asked questions about OneDrive automatic backup

1. How do I stop OneDrive from automatically backing up?

Yes, you can do that by following the steps outlined in the article to uncheck the option that says "Automatically save photos and videos to OneDrive when I connect a camera, phone, or other device to my PC."

How do I know my files have backed up to OneDrive?

You can find all the files that are backed up to OneDrive by default in the "Cloud" icon. To check the status of your OneDrive backup, go to Settings > Settings tab > Backup > More backup settings.

Is OneDrive a backup or synchronization?

OneDrive is designed for syncing and backup. It automatically keeps a copy of your files both on your local device and in the cloud. This way, you can access a real-time backup from anywhere. You can also set it up to back up specific folders only.

4. How long are backups retained in OneDrive?

According to Microsoft, deleted files remain in the OneDrive Recycle Bin for 30 days. After this time, they are permanently deleted and cannot be recovered.