Complete Guide to Set up OneDrive Device Backup for Phone/PC

Setting up OneDrive device backup for your PC and phone allows you to manage and protect your files more easily and securely. Scroll down to get full guides on backing up device to OneDrive.

By @Jonna Last Updated October 10, 2024

Overview of OneDrive

OneDrive is a cloud storage service released by Microsoft in 2007. It allows you to sync files to the cloud and enable OneDrive device backup so that you can access data anytime, anywhere over the internet. Once you sign up, you can get 5GB of free storage, and you can pay for a subscription to get more storage. OneDrive is available for Microsoft Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Windows Phone, etc.

Can you use OneDrive as a backup?

OneDrive is a great cloud storage location, but it may not be a good cloud backup solution. This is because OneDrive is actually a sync service that aims to keep files in the two locations (PC and cloud) the same.

But, you can still use OneDrive for backup only as long as you go with the right method. In the following, you can know how to backup device to OneDrive in several ways.

How to Perform OneDrive Device Backup for Phone

Data can be lost for a number of reasons, including accidental and intentional deletion of files and security threats posed by ransomware. In this chapter, you will know two methods of performing OneDrive phone backup.

Way 1. Backup Android to OneDrive

Step 1. Install the OneDrive mobile app on your phone, launch it, and sign in with your Microsoft account.

Step 2. Click on the Options (three dots) button at the right-top of the Files page.

Step 3. Choose Add Items on the pop-up screen, and select stuff on your phone for backup.

Step 4. If you let OneDrive backup photos and other specific data, you may need to provide permission to the OneDrive backup - just click OK when OneDrive asks for permission. Then, you can backup Android device to OneDrive easily.

Way 2. Backup iPhone to OneDrive

Step 1. Download the OneDrive application, and sign in to it.

Step 2. Click on your profile picture in the top left corner, and tap Settings.

Step 3. Tap on Camera Upload, and toggle the switch to turn on Camera Upload to automatically enable iPhone backup to OneDrive.

Step 4. Click on Include Videos if you want to back up videos to OneDrive.

How to Set up OneDrive Device Backup for Computer

How do I backup my entire computer to OneDrive? The two solutions below let you know how to backup files to OneDrive on Windows 10/8/7 with ease.

Way 1. Backup Computer to OneDrive via Folder Backup

Backing up PC to OneDrive with the Folder backup feature of its desktop app is easy. But it only allows you to back up some user folders, like Desktop, Documents, and Pictures.

Step 1. Run the OneDrive desktop app, click Help & Settings, and choose Settings.

Step 2. Click on Sync and backup and then Manage backup.

Step 3. Select the folders you’d like to back up, and hit Start Backup.

Way 2. Automatically Backup Computer to OneDrive using CBackup

As a stress-free backup alternative to OneDrive, CBackup can help you back up the entire computer to OneDrive more easily. This free cloud backup service comes with File Backup as well as File Sync features. You can use it to back up or sync files/folders to OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, and multiple clouds.

❀ With its File Backup, you can create compressed backups for data, and you can restore backups when it is lost. ❀ File Sync lets you make the destination folder the same as the source folder, allowing you to always keep only the most recent version of your data. ❀ It also offers Scheduled Backup that entitles you to get OneDrive auto backup files in customized frequencies (daily, weekly, or monthly).

You can download CBackup, and follow the guide below to create OneDrive automatic backup for PC now.

Download CBackupWin 11/10/8.1/8/7/XP
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Step 1. Launch the CBackup backup freeware, create an account for it, and log in.

Step 2. Select Storage from the left panel, choose OneDrive, and click Authorize Now to let CBackup access your OneDrive cloud storage.

Step 3. Click Backup, and then the Backup PC to Public Cloud option.

  • If you want to directly create usable copies of files, you can click Sync > Sync PC to Public Cloud to sync folders to OneDrive instead.

Step 4. Select folders or hard drives that you wish to backup to OneDrive. Then, pick OneDrive as the destination path. Click Start Backup to perform OneDrive device backup.

Note: You can set up scheduled backup tasks by clicking Settings > Scheduler. Then, you can choose an appropriate backup frequency, and click OK.

Turn to Professional Device Backup Software for PC Backup

If you want a professional PC cloud backup tool, we highly recommend you try CBackup Cloud. CBackup Cloud offers a secure cloud backup location for you, and it gives 5GB of free cloud storage. You can pay for 1TB or 5TB cloud storage as well.

Learn how to backup computer to CBackup Cloud as follows:

Step 1. Run CBackup and sign in.

Step 2. Click Backup, and hit Backup PC to CBackup Cloud to create a CBackup Cloud backup task.

Step 3. Choose the local directories you want to back up, and click Start Backup to save files to the cloud for protection.

Except for PC backup/sync, CBackup provides other robust functions like:
  • Cloud backup: It allows you to back up OneDrive to Google Drive, Dropbox, and other cloud drives conveniently and quickly.
  • Cloud combination: You can merge multiple OneDrive accounts to increase OneDrive storage for free.

Conclusion

You could use the efficient ways above to perform OneDrive device backup. Compared to the built-in options, we prefer that you try the free cloud backup software - CBackup. With this tool, you can backup entire computer to OneDrive automatically, and you could opt to backup data to CBackup Cloud for free.