How to Automatically Backup Files to Google Drive or OneDrive to Prevent Data Loss

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When you use a PC, you must make it a point to create extra copies of your documents and photos somewhere outside your computer’s internal storage. That insulates you from potential data losses caused by sudden hardware failures, system crashes, and malware attacks.

Butlocal backupsaside, it’s also best to upload your files online. Not only does that offer additional protection against unexpected events such as fires and theft, but you get to access the data on any device with an active internet connection.

Google Drive and OneDrive are two popular cloud storage services that can help you backup files to the cloud. The instructions below should help you figure out how to set up each service to safeguard the data on your computer.

Automatically Backup Files to Google Drive

Google Drive allows you to back up and sync files on your PC with its Backup and Sync client for Windows. To avoid any confusion, here’s how the “Backup” and “Sync” elements work:

If you have a Google Account, you can immediately install and use Backup and Sync on your computer. If not, you mustcreate a Google Account. You get 15GB of free storage to start with.Paid plansinclude 100GB for $1.99/month, 200GB for $2.99/month, and 2TB for $9.99/month.

  1. Download theBackup and Sync installerfrom Google. Then, run it on your PC to install the Backup and Sync client.

Once theWelcome to Backup and Syncscreen shows up, selectGet Startedand insert your Google Account credentials to sign into Backup and Sync.

  1. TheMy LaptoporMy Computerscreen that shows up allows you to specify the folders you want to backup to Google Drive.

By default, Backup and Sync displays three folders on your PC—Desktop,Documents, andPictures. You can pick additional folders by selectingChoose Folder.

If you pick the Pictures folder, you must select your photo upload preferences—High qualityorOriginal quality. The former compresses photos and videos to the 16MP and 1080p resolutions, respectively, while the latter uploads them at full quality.

If you want to back up your photos and videos separately toGoogle Photos, check the box next toUpload photos and videos to Google Photos.

Note:Photo and video uploads uploaded in compressed quality don’t count toward your Google Drive storage quota until June 1st, 2021.

  1. SelectNextto proceed.

  2. Pick theSync everything in My Driveoption to sync all files and folders from Google Drive’s My Drive section to local storage. Or, selectSync only these foldersto sync select folders only.

  3. SelectStartto finish setting up the Backup and Sync client.

Folders that you’ve chosen to back up to Google Drive should start uploading immediately. Head over toGoogle Drivein your web browser and select theComputerstab to access the online copies of each folder by device.

Additionally, you should find a location labeledGoogle Drivewithin the sidebar in File Explorer. It should contain files and folders from My Drive that you’ve opted to sync locally. Folders that you copy to or create inside it will upload toMy Drivein the Google Drive web app, as well as to other devices that you’ve set up using Backup and Sync.

If you want to change how the Backup and Sync client functions on your PC later on, select theBackup and Sync from Googleicon on the system tray and go toSettings>Preferences.

How to Back Up Files Using OneDrive

OneDrive comes pre-installed with Windows. Provided that you’vesigned into your PC with a Microsoft Account, you should be ready to start using it.

In addition to syncing your files online, OneDrive also allows you to back up your most important directories—Desktop, Documents, and Pictures—to the cloud. But here are a couple of things to be aware of:

OneDrive provides 5GB of free storage.Paid storage plansinclude 100GB at $1.99/month and 1TB at $6.99/month. The latter option also nets you an Office 365 subscription.

  1. Select theOneDriveicon on the system tray and go toHelp & Settings>Settings.

  2. Switch to theBackuptab and selectManage backup.

  3. Pick the folders you want to back up—Desktop,Documents, andPictures.

  4. SelectStart backup.

  5. SelectOKagain to save your changes.

If you want to back up/sync other folders on your PC to OneDrive, you must usesymbolic links.

A symlink consists of a folder shortcut that points to a directory in another location. Creating a symlink in OneDrive prompts the cloud storage service to sync the files within the target directory.

To create a symlink in OneDrive, open an elevated Command Prompt console (typecmdinto theStartmenu and selectRun as administrator). Then, enter and execute the following command after modifying the two file paths within it as needed:

mklink /J “C:UsersusernameOneDriveMusic” “C:UsersusernameMusic”

Note:The first path instructs the Command Prompt console to create a shortcut folder (namedMusic) within the OneDrive directory. The second path contains the directory that the symlink should point at (in this example, to theMusicfolder in Windows 10). You can also create symlinks on Mac too.

Symlinks aren’t a perfect solution. If OneDrive runs into trouble syncing them, your only alternative is to move the target folders to the centralOneDrivesync location itself. You can find this within the File Explorer sidebar.

Google Drive vs. OneDrive: Make Your Pick

Google Drive edges out OneDrive with its ability to upload folders from any location on your computer. It draws a clear line between backing up and syncing data, and that makes it a very versatile cloud storage solution.

But if you only prefer protecting the most important directories on your PC, then you shouldn’t shy away from OneDrive. It’s also native to Windows and the superior choice from a technical standpoint.

Dilum Senevirathne is a freelance tech writer and blogger with three years of experience writing for online technology publications. He specializes in topics related to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and Google web apps. When he isn’t hammering away at his Magic Keyboard, you can catch him binge-watching productivity hacks on YouTube.Read Dilum’s Full Bio

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