How to Backup SD Card to Google Drive from Android or PC

Want to know how to backup SD to Google Drive? This tutorial will show the different methods of backing up SD card from Android and computer, and how to back up SD card to Google Photos.

By @Jonna Last Updated September 30, 2024

Can I Backup My SD Card to Google Drive?

“I'm trying to move my 16GB SD card data to my 64GB SD card via Google Drive... And I'm thinking about storing the SD card data in Google Cloud, which might protect them better. How do I backup my SD card to Google Drive?”

With the prevalence of cloud storage services, more and more people are accustomed to storing data in the cloud. For many users, backing up the SD card to the cloud is a necessary choice to avoid the loss of important data. In this guide, you can learn how to backup SD card to Google Drive in many situations, and you will also know how to expand the cloud storage space for free.

Why Backup SD Card Files to Google Drive?

Google Drive has more than one billion users worldwide, and it will still be the largest cloud storage service. Backing up data to Google Drive can effectively guarantee its security. Besides, there are the following indispensable reasons.

  • With large free storage: Whenever you register for a Google account, it will automatically create a drive account with 15GB of storage space for you to store important files, documents, pictures, etc.

  • Easy to access: Compared with SD card or other external storage methods, backing up data in Google Drive can access files anytime and anywhere through the network, and there is no need to worry about local accidents that will cause data loss on the cloud.

  • Cut cost: Backup files to Google Drive, so you don't have to buy other hard drives to keep your data. You can subscribe to the plan according to your needs, or use some other tools to get more space for free, saving money and effort.

  • Free up storage space of SD card:  Although the storage capacity of the SD card is quite large, it will be run out of quickly. And the full memory will affect the operation of the device. Thus, backing up SD card to Google Drive can reduce the memory of SD card.

How to transfer files from SD card to Google Drive? In the next chapter, you will learn the detailed steps of the solutions.

Part 1. Backup Android SD Card to Google Drive

For Android users, transferring SD card data is a common requirement. Follow the steps below to learn how to backup SD card to Google Drive from Android.

Way 1. Use Google Drive app

1. Download the Google Drive app to your Android device, launch, and log in to your account.

2. Click the Folder icon located at the bottom right corner of the page and select the folder you use to store SD card data.

3. Click Create new icon (plus), then click Upload, select the file or folder to be backed up, and finally click Done.

Way 2. Use Photo Gallery

This method is suitable for users who only need to transfer photos or videos from the SD card to Google Drive.

1. Navigate to the Photo Gallery of your Android device, then click the Send or Menu button on the screen. If you are using Samsung, click SHARE to continue.

2. Click Save to Drive to upload pictures or videos to Google Drive.

3. The backup progress will be displayed on the page, waiting for all photos to be uploaded to Google Cloud.

Part 2. Backup PC SD Card to Google Drive

In addition to backing up the SD card on the mobile device to the cloud, you can also back up the SD card from the computer to Google Drive in the same way as follows.

Way 1. Use Google Drive disk

1. After installing the Google Drive desktop app, Drive for desktop, on the desktop, navigate to a hard disk named Google Drive on your computer.

2. Then connect the Android device or SD card with a card reader to the computer, open the disk storing the SD card data, and select the file to be uploaded to Google Drive.

3. Copy and paste these files into the Google Drive disk and they will be synchronized to Google Drive.

Way 2. Use Google Drive for desktop

1. Run the Drive for desktop program on your computer.

2. Connect your SD card with a card reader with your laptop. Then, tap on the Add device in the Google Drive notifications.

3. Choose to upload files to Google Drive, and hit Save.

Way 3. Use the free PC cloud backcup software

Some free cloud backup software provides free backup PC to Google Drive service, such as CBackup. If the above two methods are not available, or if you find it troublesome to manually add folders and back up to the cloud, we recommend that you switch to this easier method. Let's make Google Drive auto backup folder and file with CBackup.

1. Download and install the CBackup desktop app, sign up and sign in to CBackup.

Download CBackup Win 11/10/8.1/8/7/XP
Secure Download

2. Click Storage > select Google Drive > Authorize Now. Then follow the steps to sign in to your Google Drive account, and allow CBackup to get access to your Google Drive files.

3. Select Backup Backup PC to Public Cloud.

4. Choose folders/files on your SD card for backup, and select the added Google Drive account as the backup destination. 

5. Click Start Backup to backup SD card files to Google Drive.

Tip: CBackup is a secure and free cloud backup tool that offers a secure and stable cloud server called CBackup Cloud with 5GB. With the PC client of CBackup, users can easily backup files from Windows PC to its CBackup Cloud. What’s more, CBackup is very cost-effective, which offers more huge storage space at reasonable pricing. If you need a PC auto backup for your SD card data, CBackup is undoubtedly the best choice, which could safely backup data to the cloud and can easily restore the data at any time

Frequently Asked Questions to Backup SD Card

In addition to the method of backing up the SD card data to Google Drive, you may have more information you want to know in the process.

#1. How to Backup SD card to Computer

Method 1: Copy and paste: Use a card reader to connect the SD card to the computer, press the "Win + E" key to go to Computer or This PC, then find the disk where the SD card is located, copy the files in it, and paste files to the computer.

Method 2: With AOMEI Backupper Standard:

1. Download and install AOMEI Backupper Standard on PC. And connect the SD card to the computer.

2. Select Disk Backup under the Backup tab.

3. Click Add disk to select a removable disk, and then select a location on the computer as the destination. Finally, click Start Backup.

#2. How to Backup SD Card to Google Photos

On Android: Download the Google Photos on the device and log in to your account, click the Menu icon in the app, click Settings > Back up & Sync > Choose folders to back up..., and then select the folder to back up.

On PC: After connecting the SD card to the PC, enter the Google Photos website, open an existing photo album or create a new photo album, click Upload and locate the removable disk, click Open to confirm.

What If Google Drive has Not Enough Storage?

If the amount of data in your SD card is too large, a Google Drive account with only 15GB of free space will not meet your needs. In addition to paying to upgrade your account, the web version of CBackup can help you back up more data - combine free cloud storage to expand your backup space, or back up the SD card to a larger backup space.

Expand Google Drive storage for free

Using CBackup allows you to merge the storage space of multiple cloud drive accounts. The combined small space can be used to back up the data in your SD card. 

Note: If you have already downloaded the client, you can also do the following directly on the desktop application.

1. Sign in to the client or website of the service with your CBackup account.

2. Click Add Cloud under the My Storage tab, then select your cloud drive (here is Google Drive) and click Add to confirm the operation.

3. Change the Cloud name of the cloud drive to make it easier to distinguish, tick the checkbox before Note and click OK.

4. Repeat Step 1-Step 3 to add all of your Google Drive cloud drives. Now click My Storage > + > New Combined Cloud in order.

5. Tick all the Google Drive accounts, then click Next, choose the order for cloud drives to store files and click OK.

Now, you can see the Total Space of the Combined Cloud under the My Storage.

Note: If you want to move files between cloud storage, you can go to the Backup Tasks tab, add the source and destination, and finally click Start Backup.

Final Words

That’s all about how to backup SD card to Google Drive from Android or PC, you can choose any of the above methods. Don't forget to use CBackup to expand your backup space for free, it can also help you back up files in one drive directly to another drive.