How to Perform OneDrive Full Backup: 3 Ways

OneDrive is a cloud-based storage service that lets you easily store, backup files and photos for sharing and online collaboration. A full backup involves creating at least one complete copy of all the files you want to protect in a single operation. Usually, applications, operating systems, and software cannot be included in a full backup. While this method requires copying a large amount of data and can be time-consuming, it offers the best protection for your files and facilitates easier organization later on.

OneDrive full backup here can be divided into two cases:

• Create PC full backup to OneDrive, which protects your files from local hardware failures and allows you to access your files remotely from other devices.
• Backup OneDrive files to external hard drive or other devices to keep a local offline backup of your cloud data, safeguarding against accidental deletions or Microsoft account issues.

On this page, we will show you how to backup to OneDrive for Windows 11/10 computers for backup and how to backup your OneDrive files easily. Let's get started now!

Part 1. How to Let OneDrive Full Backup for PC

In this chapter, we will introduce two solutions for backing up your computer to OneDrive in order. The first one is to use OneDrive's desktop App, and the other is to use free third-party backup software. Each method includes a detailed graphic tutorial.

Method 1. Use OneDrive Desktop App

The first way to perform a full PC backup to OneDrive is by using the OneDrive desktop APP. All you need to do is sign in to OneDrive and follow the steps below to backup your PC to OneDrive.

Step 1. Double-click the OneDrive icon on the left side of your taskbar.

Step 2. In the OneDrive pop-up, click Help & Settings, and then in the pop-up menu, choose Settings.

Step 3. Click Backup from the tabs at the top of the OneDrive settings window.

Step 4. In the Important PC Folders section, click Manage backup.

Step 5. Then, OneDrive will display the Manage folder backup screen. Select the files you want to back up.  If you need, you can also backup documents, pictures, etc.

Step 6. Click Start backup.

That's how to backup to OneDrive on Windows 10/11 using the OneDrive desktop app. As you can see that it only supports specific folder backup, so to let OneDrive backup entire computer, try the method below.

Method 2. Use Free Backup Software - AOMEI Backupper Standard

Although OneDrive can help you back up your entire computer's data to OneDrive, it cannot restore data from the cloud when your local data is lost. And it is limited to specific folders backup. In order to better protect data security, it is recommended that you use the professional third-party software AOMEI Backupper Standard to help you back up the entire system to OneDrive. It has these advantages:

You can download and install this freeware and follow the steps below to start backing up your entire system to OneDrive. If you are a Windows Server user, you can choose this version of AOMEI Backupper Server.

Step 1. Download and run the OneDrive desktop app on your computer first. Then, open AOMEI Backupper Standard, install, and launch the software. You can click Backup > System Backup.

Step 2. You can modify the task name to distinguish it from other backup tasks. The software will select the system and boot partitions by default as the source. Please click on the destination box to select the OneDrive folder to save your system backup image.

• The OneDrive desktop folder is probably located in C:\Users\UserName\OneDrive.

Notes:✎...

Schedule: You can set up OneDrive automatic backup by configuring fixed intervals to run the system backup task, such as daily, weekly, monthly, one time, or event trigger with USB plug in.

Backup Scheme: You can select a backup scheme, and it will help you save the target disk space by deleting the older backups. And this feature is supported by the professional version or higher versions.

Step 3. Confirm all your operations and click Start Backup to perform the system backup to OneDrive easily.

Part 2. How to Create OneDrive Full Backup to Hard Drive

Apart from performing OneDrive full backup for computer, you may also be curious about the question - Do I need to backup OneDrive?

Yes, it is generally recommended to back up your OneDrive data. This is because OneDrive is not a comprehensive backup solution and doesn't protect against all potential data loss scenarios like accidental deletion, account compromise, human error, and so on. To backup your OneDrive files to an external hard drive, network drive, and other location, the AOMEI Backupper Standard software can also help you. 

Step 1. Run AOMEI Backupper, go to the Backup tab, and select File Backup.

Step 2. Then, click on Select Source to choose Add File or Add Folder, and navigate to the OneDrive desktop folder and select the items you wish to back up.

Step 3. Pick the connected external drive or other paths to store the OneDrive files for backup easily.

FAQs about OneDrive Full Backup

Q1: Can I back up my whole computer to OneDrive?

A1: Yes, you can back up many files and folders to OneDrive, but you cannot back up your entire computer in one go. Instead, you need to manually upload files or set up backup for specific folders like Documents, Pictures, and Desktop. Additionally, you can use the OneDrive app to automatically sync these folders for easier access across your devices.

Q2: Is everything saved on OneDrive backed up?

A2: Standard folders like Desktop, Documents, Music, Pictures, and Videos may not be automatically included in OneDrive. To ensure these folders are backed up and accessible on all your devices, you should manually back them up. Check how to manage your OneDrive backup settings for more information.

Q3: What are the downsides of using OneDrive?

A3: OneDrive has some limitations, such as fewer sharing options, restricted file management features, and limited settings for desktop synchronization. Sharing files with non-Microsoft users can be particularly challenging due to these constraints.

Summary

This article describes what a full backup is and offers two simple methods to back up your files to OneDrive. You can use the OneDrive desktop app or free third-party backup software. I recommend the second option because it not only creates a full backup to OneDrive but also allows for quick recovery if you lose data, providing extra security for your files.

Additionally, its Universal Restore feature lets you restore backups to computers with different hardware if needed. There are many more useful features to discover, so you can download this free software to learn more.