Top 2 Ways to backup C drive to OneDrive Easily

You can learn 2 easy ways to backup C drive to OneDrive. And you can choose any of the methods according to your own needs. Please read on.

Clytze

by Clytze Updated on October 25, 2022

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Why Backup C Drive to OneDrive?

OneDrive is a sync and share service provided by Microsoft for users, where your documents, music and image files can be stored loss-free in OneDrive.

  • To protect against data loss due to physical damage and natural disasters, more and more users choose to back up their application and operating system data directly to OneDrive from their C drive.
  • It not only greatly reduces the use of your computer's system storage and makes your computer run more smoothly.
  • It also allows for quick restore in case your system crashes using the system backup files in OneDrive.

How to Backup C Drive to OneDrive

This article will introduce 2 different ways to backup C drive to OneDrive in order, including the OneDrive desktop app, and free third-party sync software. You can choose any of them to help you according to your own needs. You can read on to learn detailed information.

Method 1. Backup C Drive to OneDrive using OneDrive Desktop App

The first method to backup C drive to OneDrive is to use OneDrive desktop app to help you. If you are using Windows 10 or Windows 11, the OneDrive application is built into your computer and you can search for it in the search box and start using it directly. If you are using the system lower than Windows 10, then you need to download OneDrive from the official website and install it first. 

Step 1: Download the OneDrive desktop application and install it or directly search for OneDrive and open it, then sign in to your Microsoft account and follow the instructions to open your OneDrive folder. After finishing this step, you will find the OneDrive folder in Windows Explorer.

Sync D Drive with OneDrive App

Step 2. To sync local folder to OneDrive, please drag and drop the files in D Drive to the OneDrive folder, and they will be shown in the OneDrive cloud. Then, you can check them on the OneDrive website.

Limitations of OneDrive Desktop App

OneDrive desktop application backup C drive files still has some limitations. For example, you can't select C drive files for backup individually, you can't generate a full image of C drive and it doesn't support regular backups. If you want to solve these problems, you can read on to learn about an easier way to backup folder on C drive to OneDrive.

Method 2. Backup C Drive to OneDrive using the Free Third-party Software

Besides the method mentioned above, you can also choose an easier way to backup C drive folder to OneDrive, that is to use the free third-party sync software AOMEI Backupper Standard to help you. It can help you bypass OneDrive's backup restrictions.

  • Automatic sync: You can set a fixed interval (Daily/Weekly/Monthly) to back up the C drive to OneDrive, and the software will automatically sync files from the C drive to the OneDrive regularly.
  • Set reminders: You can write comments for your sync tasks, or set up email notifications to remind you that sync tasks are complete.
  • Various systems: This software supports different Windows systems, including Windows11/10/8.1/8/7/XP/Vista.
  • Simple and easy to operate: This software has a user-friendly design and a clear interface. Therefore, even if you are a green hand, you can easily complete the entire backup process.

Then, you can Download AOMEI Backupper Standard and follow the graphic tutorial below to backup C drive to OneDrive with just a few clicks.

Download FreewareWin 11/10/8.1/8/7/XP
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Step 1. Open AOMEI Backupper Standard, and click Sync > Basic Sync.

File Sync

Notes:

If you are looking for more professional sync features, then you can upgrade to the Pro version and choose the following three sync features according to your needs.

  • Mirror Sync: It will always keep the OneDrive directory the same as the C drive and any additional files in the target folder will be deleted.
  • Real-Time Sync: It will sync file changes in the C drive to OneDrive almost without delay.
  • Two-Way Sync: It will sync the changes in the C drive to the OneDrive directory and vice versa.

Step 2. Click Add Folder to select the local folders you want to backup. If you want to add multiple folders, just click the + icon repeatedly to add all the folders that need to be synced.

Add Folder

Step 3. Click the inverted triangle at the right edge of the second bar and choose Select a cloud drive.

Select a Cloud Drive

Step 4. Choose OneDrive and click OK. 

Select OneDrive

Tip:

If you won’t find OneDrive in the list, then go back to Step 3 and manually navigate to the OneDrive local folder by clicking the folder shaped button in the second bar.

Step 5. Confirm your operations and click Start Sync to backup C drive to OneDrive.

Notes:

  • Options: You can choose different operation priority (High/Normal/Low). The higher the priority is, the faster the sync task will be executed.
  • Schedule: This feature will help you to automatically backup C drive to OneDrive with fixed frequencies such as Daily/Weekly/Monthly/Event trigger/USB plug in. The last two are supported by the professional version.

Summary

To backup C drive to OneDrive, you can choose any of the two methods mentioned in the article to help you. The OneDrive desktop app requires you to manually drag and drop files from the C drive to the OneDrive folder, and there are many backup limitations. It is recommended that you choose the free third-party synchronization software AOMEI Backupper Standard to automatically backup any files on the C drive to OneDrive. It also supports a wide range of Windows operating systems.

In addition, you can download this software to explore more useful functions, such as its Universal Restore function, which can not only help you to restore the system when there is a problem with the system, but also restore the system to a computer with different hardware.

Clytze
Clytze · Editor
Clytze, an editor at AOMEI Technology, is passionate about safeguarding your digital world. She dedicates her expertise to empower users like you in data security and recovery. She firmly believes that everyone should have the tools and knowledge to protect their digital assets through computer backup, seamless disk cloning, and efficient file synchronization. Clytze is your trusted guide on the journey to data safety.