Picking the Right Files to Backup with OneDrive for Maximum Storage

To get the most out of OneDrive's storage, you need to pick the right files to backup.

Photos are a great place to start, as they can quickly eat up storage space. OneDrive allows you to store up to 15 GB of photos for free.

Videos are another consideration, as they can be quite large. Consider backing up your most important videos, such as family memories or work projects.

Music files are also worth considering, especially if you have a large collection. OneDrive allows you to store up to 10 GB of music files for free.

If you have a lot of documents, such as PDFs or Word files, you may want to prioritize those. OneDrive allows you to store up to 10 GB of documents for free.

Backup your most important files first, and consider setting up automatic backups for your frequently used files.

To get started with OneDrive, you need a Microsoft account, which you can get for free if you don't already have one.

If you're already signed up for Microsoft 365 or have an Outlook.com account, you're good to go. Just sign in with your existing credentials.

You'll start with 5GB of OneDrive storage, which is a great place to begin.

Upgrading to more storage is easy, and it's affordable too - you can get 100GB for $2 per month or more, depending on your needs.

Syncing files with OneDrive is a straightforward process. You can access OneDrive files and folders in File Explorer, and interact with them just like any regular storage drive connected to your PC.

To sync files, you can drag and drop them into your OneDrive folder, or save a document, image, or other file type to it from an application. If you delete a file or folder in your OneDrive, it's deleted from the cloud as well.

OneDrive's file status icons are a useful feature to keep track of syncing progress. A cloud icon means the file is only in the cloud, a green checkmark on a white circle means it's both in the cloud and saved on your PC's storage drive, and a white checkmark on a green circle means it's designated as Always keep on this device.

Here's a breakdown of OneDrive's file status icons:

If you need to access files or folders when you're not connected to the internet, you can right-click any file or folder in your OneDrive and select Always keep on this device. This will download a copy of the file or folder to your PC's main storage drive, making it available offline.

You can make your OneDrive files or folders available offline by right-clicking them and selecting Always keep on this device. This downloads a copy of the file or folder to your PC's main storage drive.

To download all the files and folders in your OneDrive to your PC, right-click your OneDrive in the navigation pane on the left and select Always keep on this device. Be aware that this may take a while if you have a lot of files, especially if some are large in size.

A file or folder can be reverted to cloud-only by right-clicking it and selecting Free up space. This frees up the space on your PC's storage drive that the file or folder took up.

To make files available offline, you can right-click any file or folder in your OneDrive and select Always keep on this device. This downloads a copy of the file or folder to your PC's main storage drive.

This method is especially useful for files or folders you know you'll need access to when you're not connected to the internet. If you have a lot of files in your OneDrive, it may take a while for them to be all downloaded, especially if some are large in size.

To download all the files and folders in your OneDrive to your PC, right-click your OneDrive in the navigation pane on the left and select Always keep on this device. Be aware that this may take some time, depending on the number and size of your files.

If you're not interested in keeping all your files offline, you can select specific files or folders to download. This can help free up space on your PC's storage drive if you're running low.

To revert a downloaded file or folder to cloud-only, right-click it and select Free up space. This frees up the space on your PC's storage drive that the file or folder took up.

To set up Windows PC folders for backup via OneDrive, you can follow these simple steps. First, open the OneDrive settings by clicking the blue cloud icon in the Windows notification area and selecting "OneDrive Help and Settings" icon, then "Settings".

The next step is to open the "Sync and back up" tab and select "Manage Back up". This will allow you to toggle the folders you want to back up to OneDrive on or off.

You can also use the OneDrive app on Windows to set up folder backup. Click the OneDrive icon on your taskbar, then click the gear icon and select "Settings". From there, click "Manage backup" and toggle the folders you want to back up on or off.

If you want to exclude a folder from the OneDrive sync client, select the toggle to turn it off. You'll see a confirmation dialog appear with options to choose from, including "Continue backing up this folder" and "OneDrive only".

Here's a summary of the options:

By following these steps, you can customize OneDrive syncing to suit your needs and ensure your important files are always available offline.

OneDrive's sync status icons are a great way to see if your files are synced or not. You'll see a small icon beside each file or folder's name.

A cloud icon means the file or folder is only in the cloud, not saved on your PC's storage drive. A green checkmark on a white circle indicates the file or folder is synced on your PC and in the cloud, but will revert to cloud-only if you don't access it within 30 days.

A white checkmark on a green circle means the file or folder is designated as Always keep on this device, so it won't revert to cloud-only even if you don't use it.

Animated arrows indicate a file or folder is syncing to the cloud. You can view a log of recent syncing actions by clicking the OneDrive icon in the notification area of the taskbar.

Here's a quick rundown of OneDrive's sync status icons:

By checking the sync status icons, you can easily see which files are synced and which ones need attention.

You can back up your Windows Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders to OneDrive. By default, files in these folders are backed up to folders with the same names in your OneDrive.

To turn this backup feature off or on, right-click your OneDrive in the navigation pane on the left in File Explorer. From the menu that opens, select OneDrive and Settings.

The backup feature is useful because it keeps your files safe in case your PC crashes or is lost. You can access your backed-up files from any device with an internet connection.

To manage backup settings, click the Manage backup button in the Sync and backup tab. You'll see a list of folders that are being backed up to OneDrive, and you can toggle switches to turn backup on or off for each folder.

Here's a list of the folders that can be backed up to OneDrive:

If you want to exclude a folder from the OneDrive sync client, select the toggle to the corresponding folder to turn it off. You'll see a confirmation dialog appear with options to choose from: "Continue backing up this folder", "OneDrive only", or "This computer only".

You can use OneDrive to back up your Windows Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders by default, but you can also turn this feature off or on in the OneDrive settings.

To manage backup folders, right-click your OneDrive in File Explorer, select OneDrive and Settings, and then click Sync and backup in the left column. You can toggle switches to turn backup on or off for each folder.

You can also use a third-party backup solution like Acronis Cyber Protect to customize OneDrive backups and ensure continuous data protection.

There are two native methods to back up OneDrive files and folders: downloading files manually in the web interface and storing them in a safe place, or using the OneDrive Sync client application and copying the files.

To sync a OneDrive folder to another computer, sign into OneDrive on the other computer, go into your OneDrive settings, and choose the computer folders you'd like to include in the backup.

Here are some ways to back up OneDrive data:

You can back up OneDrive files and folders to secure storage, such as a local hard drive or dedicated cloud, in several ways.

One way to back up OneDrive is to use the web interface, which allows you to download files manually and store them in a safe place.

Another option is to use the OneDrive Sync client application, which copies the files for you.

You can also use a professional backup solution to customize OneDrive backups and ensure continuous data protection.

There are two native methods to back up OneDrive files and folders: downloading files manually in the web interface and storing them in a safe place, or using the OneDrive Sync client application and copying the files.

Here are the steps to follow for each method:

To sync a OneDrive folder to another computer, sign into OneDrive on the other computer and go into your OneDrive settings to choose the computer folders you'd like to include in the backup.

You can explore third-party backup solutions for added peace of mind. Acronis Cyber Protect is a reliable option that offers system and OneDrive backup, as well as robust cybersecurity capabilities.

Acronis Cyber Protect has a wide range of features that make it an attractive choice. You can explore these features in more detail on the Acronis website.

One of the standout features of Acronis Cyber Protect is its ability to back up OneDrive files. This is a convenient option if you're already using OneDrive for cloud storage.

Cloud backups are quick and efficient, enabling anywhere-data-recovery for both individuals and businesses.

However, they can be vulnerable to internet outages or data breaches, which is where local backups come in.

Local backups can be kept offline in a secure location to enable rapid recovery, making them a valuable addition to your backup plan.

The 3-2-1 Rule of Backup recommends keeping local and cloud copies of your data to ensure flexible backups and optimal recovery.

Cloud backups are often considered superior to local backups, but this doesn't mean local backups are obsolete.

Both approaches can benefit your backup strategy if implemented adequately, providing multiple layers of protection for your data.

The first step in creating a backup plan is to define what needs to be backed up. This includes identifying the critical data and systems that require protection.

You'll want to consider the type of data you need to back up, such as files, folders, or entire systems.

A good rule of thumb is to start with the most critical data and work your way down. This will ensure that you're prioritizing the most important information.

Scripting your backup process can be as simple as using a command-line tool like rsync or as complex as a full-fledged scripting language like Python.

To determine what needs to be backed up, consider the default backup feature for Windows Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders. These folders are backed up to the same-named folders in your OneDrive by default.

Files in the Windows Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders are automatically backed up to OneDrive. This means your Word documents, for instance, will be backed up to the Documents folder in OneDrive.

To control which folders are backed up, click the Manage backup button in the Sync and backup panel. This will show you which folders are currently being backed up to OneDrive.

You can turn backup on or off for each folder by clicking the toggle switch to the right of the folder name. This gives you control over what data is transferred to OneDrive.

Data backup is a crucial step in protecting your files and memories. You can back up your Windows Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders to OneDrive by default. To turn this feature off or on, right-click your OneDrive in File Explorer and select OneDrive and Settings.

OneDrive has an app for mobile devices, allowing you to sync your mobile with OneDrive. To do this, open the app, log in, and tap on three dots in the upper right corner to add more files.

You can also sync a OneDrive folder to another computer by signing into OneDrive on the other computer and choosing the computer folders you'd like to include in the backup. To do this, go into your OneDrive settings and select the folders you want to backup.

To manage your backup settings, click the OneDrive icon, then click "Settings > Manage backup" if you're using the desktop program on Windows. On Mac, click the OneDrive icon, then click the gear icon and go to "Preferences > Account > Add a folder."