Introduction

< a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/onedrive/online-cloud-storage" rel="noopener" target="_blank">OneDrive< /a>is a cloud storage service that facilitates file hosting and synchronization. Developed by Microsoft in 2007, it enables users to store their documents and data in the cloud and synchronize them across devices running Android and Windows. It offers up to 5GB of free storage, and users need to purchase additional storage if they require more. Additionally, it serves as a popular backup solution. Let's explore its capabilities.

1. Can OneDrive Backup Specific Folders?

Certainly! As a utility for backup, OneDrive enables users to back up a specific folder. Provided that you have logged into OneDrive and completed the OneDrive setup wizard, your OneDrive will be accessible. To back up your chosen folder, simply drag it into the OneDrive folder or copy and paste the folder within it. This process ensures that you can backup your targeted folder using OneDrive. However, for added security of your data, it's recommended to also back up your OneDrive.

2. Do I Need to Backup OneDrive?

Of course, no backup location is ever entirely safe. Hence, it's crucial to back up your OneDrive regularly. If you have a poor memory, you might consider setting up an automatic backup. OneDrive offers both backup and synchronization features. Are you aware of the distinction between OneDrive sync and backup?

3. OneDrive Backup vs Sync

Features Backup Sync
File Directions One-way process Two-way process
Advantages Data security Access files from other devices via OneDrive sync
Disadvantages Uses free space Cannot ensure file security

Upon understanding the distinction, you might grasp why we need to back up to OneDrive without syncing. Hence, let's delve deeper into the subject.

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Add Folder to OneDrive Backup Without Moving

Explore efficient methods to back up folders to OneDrive without relocating them. This simple guide ensures the security and organization of your crucial files.

add folder to onedrive backup without moving

Why Do We Need to Backup to OneDrive Without Synchronization?

There are indeed several reasons why one might need to backup their data to OneDrive without syncing it. Here are a few possible justifications: 1. **Data Preservation**: Backing up to OneDrive provides an offsite storage solution, which is crucial in case of local device failure or disaster. By not syncing, you ensure that the original data remains untouched and unaffected by any potential issues on your device. 2. **Storage Management**: Syncing can consume significant storage space on your device, especially if you have large files or limited device storage. By backing up without syncing, you can save local space while still having access to your files in the cloud. 3. **Selective Access**: You might want quick access to some files while keeping others less accessible. In this case, backing up without syncing allows you to choose which files are readily available on your device and which remain in the cloud for occasional use. 4. **Security and Privacy**: If you're concerned about sensitive information being synced across all your devices, backing up to OneDrive without syncing can maintain a higher level of security and privacy. This way, the data is only accessible from the device where it was backed up. 5. **Bandwidth Considerations**: Syncing large amounts of data can consume a lot of internet bandwidth, which may be an issue for those with limited or slow connections. Backing up without syncing reduces the strain on your network resources. 6. **Version Control**: By not syncing, you can maintain different versions of files on your device and in OneDrive. This can be useful for file version history or if you prefer to work on separate copies. In summary, backing up to OneDrive without syncing offers advantages such as data preservation, storage management, selective access, enhanced security, bandwidth conservation, and version control.

    • The syncing process is time-consuming and affects the performance of your device.
    • OneDrive might sync incorrect files or documents.
    • Backup is considered safer than synchronization.

When backing up to OneDrive without sync, users require professional backup software, such as Todo Backup Home. So, what capabilities does it offer?

    • Support differential backup, full backup, and incremental backup.
    • Support system clone and system transfer.
    • Support professional operation guides.

If you're curious about how to back up your computer or how to back up OneDrive to an external drive and want to learn more about the Todo Backup tool, just download it and give it a try.

It's time to demonstrate how to back up to OneDrive without synchronization. Accomplishing this backup task is straightforward with the help of a tool like Todo Backup. Let's now delve into the specific steps involved.

How Can I Backup to OneDrive Without Syncing?

In this section, I will demonstrate two methods to perform a backup to OneDrive without using synchronization tools. Todo Backup is a user-friendly backup software that you can utilize. Alternatively, there's another way to back up to OneDrive without syncing. Let's explore the first method now.

Method 1: Using Todo Backup Tool.

As a reliable backup software, it simplifies various types of backup processes. Let's explore the specific steps involved.

Step 1. The first time you use Todo Backup to back up your files, click Create backup on the home screen, and then click the big question mark to select backup contents.

backup files step 1

Step 2. Since you're planning to back up files and folders on your computer, proceed with the "File" backup mode. Here, you can choose to back up pictures, videos, documents, and all other types of files.

backup files step 2

Step 3. Navigate to find the files, folders, or directories you want to back up, select them all, and click "OK".

backup files step 3

Step 4. Next, you need to choose a backup location to save and store the backup.

backup files step 3

Step 5. Todo Backup enables users to save backup files to any device that suits your needs, such as a local hard drive, external USB drive, SD card, network drive, NAS drive, or even the brand's cloud drive. Personally, we recommend selecting the cloud drive over physical drives for storing important backups due to its better accessibility, flexibility, and security.

backup files step 5

To access the Tools Cloud, all you need is an email registration and login.

backup files to cloud

Step 6. If you're interested in an automatic and intelligent backup schedule for the next file backup task, proceed with the "Options" setting. Here, you can encrypt a confidential file backup, compress the backup image size, or customize a backup scheme to instruct the software on when to initiate the next backup.

Customize an advanced and automated backup task here:

backup scheme

Step 7. Click "Backup Now" to initiate the file backup process. Your completed backup files will be displayed on the left side in a card format.

backup files step 6

Method 2: OneDrive.

OneDrive is an excellent backup solution, but if you wish to back up your files to OneDrive without syncing them, you'll need to follow the guidance below to temporarily pause the sync process before initiating the backup.

Click the OneDrive icon > Click "More options" > Click Pause syncing.

pause sync

You can decide whether to allow the sync to pause for two or four hours based on your requirements. Here's how to back up to OneDrive without syncing: 1. Open the OneDrive application on your computer. 2. Click on the OneDrive icon in the system tray (near the clock) to open the OneDrive menu. 3. Select "Settings" from the menu that appears. 4. In the OneDrive Settings window, go to the "Account" tab. 5. Under the "Backup" section, click "Manage backup." 6. In the "Backup settings" window, you'll see a list of folders that are set to sync with OneDrive. 7. To temporarily stop the sync, uncheck the folders you want to pause. 8. Click "Pause backup" and choose either "For 2 hours" or "For 4 hours," depending on your preference. 9. Once the backup process is completed, the sync will automatically resume after the chosen time period. By following these steps, you can initiate a backup to OneDrive without continuous syncing during the specified period.

Step 1. Click the OneDrive icon and enter your email address and password to sign in.

Step 2. Upon completing the login process, you will be redirected to the setup wizard. Here, you can configure advanced settings.

setup onedrive

Step 3. Open the OneDrive folder option, and then drag your targeted data into this window. You can back up your data to OneDrive.

drag files to onedrive

Aside from backing up, it's crucial to understand how to restore OneDrive as well. Hence, the following section will discuss how to backup and restore OneDrive.

Bonus Tip: OneDrive Backup and Restore

When it comes to backing up and restoring OneDrive, tools like Todo Backup can alleviate your concerns. The following two sections will respectively demonstrate how to backup and restore OneDrive. 1. **Backing Up OneDrive:** To back up your OneDrive data with Todo Backup, follow these steps: - Download and install Todo Backup on your computer. - Launch the software and select "Backup" from the main interface. - Choose "File Backup" to initiate the process. - In the "Select Source Files/Folders" section, navigate to the OneDrive folder location and select the files or folders you wish to back up. - Designate a safe destination for the backup file in the "Select Destination" section. - Customize any additional settings, such as backup schedules or compression options, if needed. - Finally, click "Backup Now" to start the backup process. 2. **Restoring OneDrive:** Restoring your OneDrive backup using Todo Backup is straightforward: - Open Todo Backup on your computer. - From the main menu, choose "Restore" to proceed. - Locate the OneDrive backup file you previously created in the "Select Backup Image File" section. - Once the backup file is selected, choose "Restore to Original Location" or "Restore to a Different Location," depending on your preference. - If necessary, adjust any advanced options, such as file merging or filtering. - Click "Restore Now" to initiate the restoration process. Your OneDrive data will be restored to the chosen location. Remember that backing up regularly and keeping your backups updated is crucial for data safety. With Todo Backup, you can ensure the security of your OneDrive files.

1. How to Backup OneDrive?

Todo Backup is a reliable backup software, and it's not troublesome to back up OneDrive. Let's now proceed with the backup steps.

Step 1. To start a backup, click the Select backup contents option.

create file backup step1

Step 2. There are four data backup categories: File, Disk, OS, and Mail. Click on File.

create file backup step2

Step 3. On the left, both local and network files will be displayed. You can expand the directory to select the backup files.

File backup

Step 4. Follow the on-screen prompts and select a location to save the backup.

File backup step4

Click Options to encrypt the backup with a password in Backup Options, then click Backup Scheme to set the backup schedule and initiate the backup at a specific event. You can also select additional options to customize the backup process according to your needs.

Backup options

Step 5. The backup can be stored on a local disk, the tool's online service, or a NAS.

file backup step4

Step 6. Todo Backup allows users to back up data to both a third-party cloud drive and its own cloud drive.

If you want to back up data to a cloud drive provided by a third party, select Local Drive, scroll down to add Cloud Device, and then add and log in to your account.

Backup to cloud
You can also opt for the Todo Backup cloud drive. First, sign up for a Todo Account, then click on Todo Cloud and log in.

backup to tools cloud

Step 7. Click Backup Now to initiate the backup process. Once completed, the backup job will appear as a card on the left side of the panel. Right-click the backup job to perform additional actions on it.

File backup step7

Now, let's move on to OneDrive restore. It's crucial to know how to restore data for everyday work.

2. How to Restore OneDrive? To restore OneDrive, follow these steps: 1. Sign in to OneDrive: Visit the OneDrive website (onedrive.com) and log in using your Microsoft account credentials. 2. Access the Backup section: Click on your profile picture in the top right corner, then select "Settings" from the dropdown menu. In the Settings window, click on the "Backup" tab. 3. Manage backups: Here, you can see the files or folders that are backed up from your PC. If you want to restore an entire backup, proceed to the next step. If you only need specific files, locate them in the list and click "Restore" next to the respective item. 4. Restore all backups: To restore all your backed-up files, click on "Manage backup" under the "Current backups" section. Then, click "Stop backup" to pause the ongoing backup process. Next, click "Restore your files" to initiate the restoration of all previous versions. 5. Choose a restore point: In the Restore Your Files window, you can either choose a specific date or select "Restore all files to their latest saved version" to revert to the most recent backups. 6. Confirm the restore: Review the changes you're about to make, then click "Restore" to start the restoration process. This may take some time depending on the size of your files. 7. Resume backup (optional): After the restore is complete, if you paused the backup earlier, you can resume it by going back to the Backup tab in Settings and clicking "Start backup." Remember that restoring OneDrive will overwrite any changes made to the backed-up files since the selected restore point. Make sure you've saved any important new data elsewhere before proceeding with the restore.

What should you do if you accidentally delete some crucial files? Naturally, you'd need to recover them. But how? Now, follow these steps and attempt to restore your files using the tool Todo Backup.

Step 1. Launch Todo Backup, and click "Browse to Recover".

Click "Browse to Recover" Click Browse to Recover

Step 2. Navigate to your backup destination, and select the backup file you wish to restore. (Backup files created by Todo Backup tools are saved as .pbd files.)

Select the backup file

Step 3. Select the recovery location. You can choose to recover data to a specific location or back to its original location.

File recovery step3

Step 4. Click "Proceed" to start the recovery process.

Users can easily back up and restore OneDrive with the tool Todo Backup. This page primarily focuses on how to back up to OneDrive. If you're encountering such issues, download it and let this software assist you.

Frequently Asked Questions About Backing Up to OneDrive Without Synchronization

This section addresses frequently asked questions about backing up to OneDrive without synchronization. Hopefully, it will assist you with the issues you are currently encountering.

Yes, you can use OneDrive primarily for backup purposes. OneDrive allows you to store and synchronize your files, documents, and other data in the cloud. This means that you can create a copy of your important files to be stored safely and access them from anywhere with an internet connection. However, it's worth noting that OneDrive is designed for both file storage and collaboration, so while it's an excellent backup solution, it also encourages sharing and editing files in real-time.

Of course, you can. OneDrive offers users the ability to back up their data and provides 5GB of free storage space. In addition to OneDrive, you can also back up your data to other storage solutions like Google Drive, Dropbox, or external hard drives. Choose a backup tool that best suits your requirements.

How do I backup a folder exclusively to OneDrive?

Step 1. Click on the OneDrive icon to open it.

Step 2. Drag the targeted folder into the OneDrive window.

Step 3. Begin backing up.

Then, your data is safeguarded and stored in OneDrive. Ensure that you have disabled syncing if you don't wish for your folder to be synchronized to the cloud.

Is OneDrive backup the same as synchronization?

No, OneDrive backup is a unidirectional process, whereas synchronization is bidirectional. Backup involves keeping a copy of your files in one location, whereas synchronization maintains duplicate files across multiple locations. Furthermore, synchronization does not ensure file safety, as deleting the original file would also result in the deletion of the synchronized file.