What’s the difference between OneDrive backup and sync?

You might have heard about OneDrive backup and sync, but do you know the difference between them? Don't worry; this article will shed light on their distinctions. Keep reading.

What is OneDrive?

OneDrive is a cloud storage service that allows users to store their files. The amount of storage depends on the plan the user subscribes to. The OneDrive sync client is an application installed on Windows or macOS that synchronizes files in selected folders to the cloud. In Windows, there are three default folders that can be synced – Desktop, Documents, and Pictures.

In the following screenshot, you can see a “Backup” tab within the OneDrive sync client interface. This Backup option leads users to believe that the OneDrive sync app can back up their data, thus confusing users about the difference between backup and sync.

Overview of OneDrive backup and sync

Generally, OneDrive backup and sync refers to backing up locally stored files to the OneDrive cloud drive or syncing cloud data to a specific location on your device.

Normally, users can exchange data between their local devices and online cloud storage through actions like uploading and downloading. However, when we wish for data transfer to be a routine and automated process, Microsoft's official OneDrive backup solution proves to be a good option.

What's the Difference Between Backup and Sync?

Cloud service software provides both backup and synchronization services to users. However, there are differences between the two, which we will discuss in detail below.

• Different direction of operation: Backup is a unidirectional process, while synchronization is bidirectional. A backup copies files from the original location to the target location. Synchronization isn't just about copying; it keeps multiple copies of files in sync between two or more locations.
• Different user needs: A backup involves keeping a copy of files at another location. The primary purpose of a backup is to protect against loss of files at the original location due to accidental deletion or damage. In contrast, synchronization is mainly about maintaining file replicas across different locations. As such, there's no guarantee of file safety with synchronization, as deleting a file at the source location can result in the loss of its synced counterparts elsewhere.

Pros and Cons of OneDrive Backup and Sync

By understanding the differences, we can also determine which method is best suited for a particular situation. If data security is your priority, backup is the way to go. But with synchronization, we can access our files on different devices. Let's discuss the pros and cons of both methods briefly to better understand their distinctions.

Pros and Cons of OneDrive Backup

The OneDrive app can back up important files that are saved in default locations, like Desktop, Documents, and Pictures.

Advantages:

With OneDrive backup and restore, your important files are safe.
Users can recover modified files using OneDrive's file version history feature.

Disadvantages:

Backups count against your free OneDrive storage.
OneDrive lacks the expertise to protect your files from a major disaster.

The Pros and Cons of Synchronization

OneDrive offers a sync feature that lets you upload your files to the cloud in seconds.

Advantages:

You can access your files from any device, like a computer, phone, or tablet, by syncing through OneDrive. People can easily share and collaborate on files that are synced with OneDrive.

Disadvantages:

OneDrive can't guarantee the safety of your files.

Steps to Set Up OneDrive Backup and Sync

Here, we will guide you through the complete steps to set up OneDrive backup or sync on your computer. You can follow these instructions according to your preferences.

• Set up OneDrive backup with the OneDrive client
• Set up OneDrive sync with the OneDrive client

Set up OneDrive backup with the OneDrive client

Step 1: Go to System Settings and click on Update & Security.

Step 2. Tap on the "Backup" option.

Step 3: Under Back up your files to OneDrive, select the Back up files option.

Step 4. Tap the folder you want to back up, then press the “Start Backup” button at the bottom.

You might be interested in the 7 Best PC Auto Backup Software of 2022 – Updated.

Set up OneDrive sync with the OneDrive client

Step 1. Open your computer's Settings and select OneDrive.

Step 2: Enter your e-mail address and log in.

Step 3. When you see the message "This is your OneDrive folder," click on "Next." If you want to change the folder location, click on "Change location" instead.

Change the folder location

Step 4: Select the folders you want to synchronize, then click "Next."

Step 5: Once you've done that, just put your files in the folder, and OneDrive will automatically sync them to the cloud.