You didn’t properly back up your files, and suddenly everything goes poof. Trust me, you don’t want to be there. It happened to me once when I decided I’d had enough of Microsoft OneDrive. Here’s what you can do to prevent this disaster.
A Quick Note About OneDrive
Credit: Corbin Davenport / Microsoft
I’m not here to knock OneDrive (or maybe I am), but Microsoft OneDrive is not a good choice for backing up your Windows PC unless you plan to pay for an upgraded storage plan. When I bought my Lenovo Legion Pro 5i Gen 8 laptop, I was aware that Windows PCs set up OneDrive to back up files automatically. However, I was unaware that this backup is, in fact, not a true backup. How could I have lived under such a rock as a tech writer and reviewer, you say? I have no answer for that. Ignorance is bliss.
What I mean by saying that Microsoft OneDrive isn’t a real backup is this: OneDrive automatically saves all your files to OneDrive, not your PC. So, instead of creating a legitimate cloud storage backup, you’re actually just saving all your files to the cloud. So the moment I got fed up with alerts that I was running out of OneDrive storage, I decided to go on a deletion spree.
Imagine my face, if you would, upon realizing that all the files I thought I was simply deleting from the cloud were, indeed, not saved anywhere on my PC. After panicking, I went to the source, looking for help threads, and found various similar complaints that mirrored my experience. I am not the only person who has grown tired of OneDrive. Unless you ensure in your PC’s settings that it is not linking everything to OneDrive, this could happen to you.
I, thankfully, recovered some of my old files from my other laptop, but my newer files, which I failed to upload to Google Drive, all went bye-bye. Had I known this before, I could have moved all my files locally and then ousted OneDrive. Needless to say, I stopped using it altogether, because I do not care for the push to OneDrive and the non-transparency of their service.
Here’s what you can do to back up your files and skip the OneDrive rabbit hole.
Cloud Options You Can Use To Schedule an Automatic Backup
Credit: Lucas Gouveia/How-To Geek
To back up your PC files, I’d recommend choosing the most convenient method for you. One of the easiest ways is to use a cloud storage service. (Again, I don’t recommend OneDrive.)
Whichever one you choose, you’ll need to schedule an automatic backup process for your PC to ensure all your files are synced to the cloud, rather than you having to painstakingly upload files every time you create a new version of something.
Google Drive
Credit: Andrew Heinzman / How-To Geek
Google Drive has been a favorite of mine since my college days. You can download and install Google Drive for Desktop (available for Windows and macOS) and then use it to back up files to the cloud automatically. Once you’ve installed it and signed in, you can select the folders you wish to back up to your online Google Drive account automatically.
There’s also a setting you’ll want to toggle on to ensure you store these files both locally and in the cloud.
If you create files with one of the Google productivity apps, such as Google Docs, you won’t be able to read or edit them without a Wi-Fi connection.
To use this method, first, go to the Google Drive for Desktop page, download the app, and install it on your PC. Next, log in to your Google account. If you have multiple accounts, select the one you want tied to your Google Drive storage. During the setup process, select which files you’d like to back up continuously.
Set your backup mode to “Mirror files” so you have copies on both your PC and your Google Drive. To do this, right-click on your folders and select “Make available offline.”
You’re all done! Your backed-up folders will appear in your Google Drive file under the “Devices and Drives” section of your PC, and you can access them in your File Explorer app.
Your Google Drive gives you 15GB of free storage (shared across your Gmail, Drive, and Google Photos). If you’re using Drive for Desktop to back up your PC, you may need to upgrade to a paid plan for additional storage. Their storage plans are 200GB for $2.99 per month, 2TB for $9.99 per month, and 5TB (with Google’s AI features) for $24.99 per month. Google also offers much larger storage plans.
Dropbox
Credit: Corbin Davenport / Dropbox
For simple, reliable cloud storage with no fuss, Dropbox is a good choice. Setting it up on your PC is incredibly easy. After you install the desktop app, you’ll see a Dropbox folder on your PC. Dropbox makes it easy to mirror the files you want, so your files stay both local and on the cloud, which is what you want here to prevent something like the OneDriveGate I went through.
When you edit or add files to your Dropbox folder, they sync to the cloud and any devices you’ve linked to your account. And when you make changes to files, they’re also automatically synced.
The downside to Dropbox is that you only get 2GB in the company’s free plan. The first paid plan is for 2TB and costs $119.88 for a year ($9.99 per month). You have to pay annually, as there’s no month-to-month option.
If you have a Plus or Professional plan, you can also select which files are local (on your hard drive and in the cloud) and which ones are online-only.
Another benefit of Dropbox is how easy it is to recover a file if you accidentally delete or overwrite it (there’s a 30-day recovery period). You can select an earlier version from your version history and restore it from there. Additionally, Dropbox makes sharing files with others extremely easy. When you share something, the recipient will receive an email with a link to your files or folders.
Before backing up, ensure that you’re not using another backup service, such as Google Drive, on your PC. You’ll need to disable that to ensure your Dropbox syncs all the files you want properly.
To use Dropbox to back up your PC, start by installing the Dropbox app. Next, log in to Dropbox and the app. The app will launch after install if you choose. From there, you can move or copy any folders and files you want into your Dropbox folder. If it doesn’t automatically launch, you can select your Dropbox folder from File Explorer or the desktop icon.
If you have a paid plan, make sure to select “Local” as your backup to keep files on both your hard drive and the cloud. With a free plan, ensure that you have folders set to “Make available offline.”
You’re all done! Your backed-up folders will live in your Dropbox and automatically sync.
iDrive
iDrive ranks among the best cloud storage services for a reason (and one of our reviewers gave it top marks). This app makes it easy to continuously back up your files, as it does so automatically. Because of this, you can rest assured that your documents, photos, and settings are safely protected (and you can easily restore them if something goes wrong).
iDrive is truly made for long-term storage and recovery when you need it most. This option is also great because it allows you to back up files from external drives and multiple PCs if you wish. This service also has the option to run continuous backups or on a schedule, so even if you forget, iDrive has you covered.
Similar to file recovery with Dropbox, iDrive also saves earlier versions of your files, so you can recover those if you don’t want to keep the edits you made to a file.
The free tier provides 10GB of storage for free and stores up to 30 previous versions of each file you have backed up. The paid plans include $2.95 annually for 100GB, $9.95 per year for 500GB, $99.50 per year for 5TB, $149.50 per year for 10TB, and so on. The more expensive paid plans also offer a slight discount for your first year.
To start, download and install iDrive from the website. Next, sign up for a free account or choose a paid plan. After signing in to the app, you can select the folders and files you wish to back up.
Select your backup plan. iDrive offers continuous backup (so it updates in the background whenever you change or add a file), a backup schedule (daily, weekly, etc.), and a Disc Image Backup feature to mirror your entire PC, including settings, apps, and your operating system.
View your backups on iDrive to confirm, and you’re done.
Backblaze
Credit: Backblaze
Backblaze is a really simple way to back up your computer. With a paid membership ($99 per year after a 15-day free trial), Backblaze not only syncs your files but also continuously backs up your PC. Using Backblaze means you’re totally protected if something goes wrong, and you need a recent restore point. The best part is that you don’t have to back up files manually.
Once you install Backblaze on your PC, it will begin backing up your files and folders immediately. Their paid personal plan offers unlimited data backup, and it keeps one year of your PC history. However, if you delete a file from Backblaze, it will only be available on backup for 30 days.
One caveat here is that Backblaze does seem to exclude specific files by default. So, for instance, system configurations, drivers, application files (.exe), and disk images (.iso) aren’t automatically included in their backups. You also can’t use Backblaze to back up another backup (say, Time Machine or Retrospect RDB). Additionally, if you disconnect an external hard drive, it won’t be backed up if you fail to connect it to your computer (and thus Backblaze) at least every 30 days.
You can check all the info on hard exclusions and what you can include in your backup here and here.
To start using Backblaze, sign up for your Backblaze account on their website. You can use the 15-day free trial before committing to a paid subscription. Then, download and install Backblaze on your PC. From there, you’ll sign in with your account credentials.
Use Backblaze’s default setting for all user files for backup, or adjust backup settings if you wish to add or exclude folders and files. Continuous backup is the default setting. If you wish to change it to once per day, you can do so. Your first backup will begin immediately. This may take a considerable amount of time, depending on the volume of data. You can check your Backblaze Control Panel to monitor the progress. Once it finishes its first go around, you’re all backed up!
External Drives Using Windows File History
Credit: I-ing/Shutterstock.com
If you prefer to back up your PC without using a cloud backup service, a good option is to use an external hard drive and Windows File History. Windows File History is an integrated backup tool built into your PC. What it does is allow you to save your files to an external hard drive automatically. To do this, however, you’ll need to set it up.
After you complete the setup, Windows File History will routinely scan your primary folders (such as Pictures, Desktop, Documents, etc.) and then copy those new or altered files to your external drive. You can also choose your backup schedule.
This method is completely private rather than a cloud-based service. There’s also no additional fee, except for the cost of your external hard drive.
Other benefits of using this method include the ability to recover files that have been accidentally deleted and retrieve previous versions of your files, all of which can be done offline.
To use this method, you’ll first connect your external hard drive to your PC. Next, you’ll need to turn on Windows File History. You may need to go to Settings > Update & Security > Backup > Add a drive and then toggle it on from there. You can also search for File History in the Windows search bar to bring it up and toggle it on if you have a drive connected to your PC. Once it’s on, Windows will begin backing up the default folders.
If you want to add more folders to back up, do so by going to “More Options.” The “More Options” menu also features a setting for backup frequency. You can also customize your file retention here. To prompt your first backup, hit the Backup button. And voilà, your PC now has a backup, and it will continue to back up according to your selected schedule.
NAS (Network Attached Storage)
Credit: Synology
Lastly, you may want to consider a NAS (Network Attached Storage) device to back up your PC with.
A NAS, in simple terms, is basically a dedicated server for storing your backups. You can almost think of it like having a personal cloud storage system. NAS systems connect to your local network (usually via Ethernet) and serve as a storage management system for all computers on your network. These handy systems provide the flexibility to add or replace drives and read and write data without requiring direct connection to your PC.
Most NAS devices come with multiple drives (using a Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) setup). That means your data gets duplicated on these disks, so you’re safe even if something goes wrong with one of the drives. (Though not all NAS devices use RAID).
While using a NAS for backing up your PC is a great option, it can also be a bit expensive. You’ll pay more to get your setup going, though. Keep in mind that, compared to cloud-based backup services, you don’t have to pay a monthly subscription fee.
After you purchase your NAS, it’s time to set it up. Do so by connecting it to your home network and following its included instructions. You’ll also want to take note of the network path. The next step is to turn on Network Discovery on your PC. You’ll find it under Settings > Network and Internet > Advanced network settings > Advanced sharing settings. Once this is done, you can connect to the NAS folder.
From there, you can back up your files in a few ways. You can use Windows File History, the NAS’s integrated software (if it has a backup app incorporated), or manually drag and drop if you aren’t adding too many files at a time. If you opt for File History or your NAS’s software, you can customize your backup schedule and what to back up. Typically, the software for backing up your NAS is more comprehensive and easier to customize than using the File History route.
Protecting Your Data
Whatever backup method you choose for your PC, you’ll have some peace of mind knowing that your files are safe. Some people prefer the simplicity of mirroring files to the cloud through services like iDrive, while others opt for total control and use an external hard drive or NAS system.
At the end of the day, you’ll choose what works for you. All that matters is that you protect your data from getting lost in the void. A little bit of insurance will save you time and frustration when something goes wrong. Trust me, you’ll be grateful you’ve got backups when you need them.
