How to Backup Any Folder to OneDrive (4 Easy Ways) (2024)

Can OneDrive Backup Any Folder?

OneDrive, as a Microsoft product, is pre-installed on Windows 10/11, making it easy for Windows 10 PC owners to back up vital data. As one of the most popular cloud storage services on the market, OneDrive provides up to 5GB of free storage space for new users. You only need a Microsoft or Outlook account to sync and backup folder to OneDrive.

By default, OneDrive backs up the Documents, Pictures, and Desktop folders on your computer. However, this includes some data that is unnecessary to users. In fact, you can select any other folder on your PC to use OneDrive for backup. Once you have all the folders you need in OneDrive, you can access them at any time with any Windows 10 device or smartphone.

We will tell you how to backup and sync any folder to OneDrive in the next content.

How to Sync and Backup Any Folder to OneDrive

In the following, you will learn 4ways aboutOneDrive selective syncand backup on Windows. You can either change the settings of OneDrive or use free backup software to complete this process with ease. Please continue reading to let OneDrive backup any folder and choose a method according to your needs.

Way 1. Set up OneDrive Folder Backup

If the system prompts you to back up important folders (Desktop, Documents, and Pictures), please select Prompt to start the folder backup wizard to set up. If you do not see the prompt, or you have closed the wizard, you can follow the steps below to learn how to backup any folder to OneDrive.

Step 1. Select the white or blue OneDrive iconin the notification area or the taskbar, and then select Help & Setting > Settings > Sync and backup > Manage backup.

Step 2. In the Back up your foldersdialog, tickthe folders to be backed up, and then select Start backup.

Way 2. Sync Any Folder with OneDrive

By default, Windows 10 stores your OneDrive folder in the %UserProfile% folder of your account (for example C:\Users\Kelsey). And you can take OneDrive add folder to sync with this method.

Step 1. Press Win + R, typecmd or cmd.exein the dialog box and click OKto open the command prompt.

Step 2. Type the command at the command prompt: mklink /j "%UserProfile%\OneDrive\Folder Name" "Full path of source folder"and press Enter.

✎Tip: Substitute Full path of source folder you want to sync with OneDrive with the actual full path of the folder in the above command.

Substitute Folder Namein the above command with the folder name you want to display in OneDrive, and it must be a new folder name, which isn’t in your OneDrive folder. This specified folder will be created in your OneDrive folder.

• For example: mklink /j "%UserProfile%\OneDrive\Example Folder" "F:\Example Folder".

Step 3. Now, the specified folder will be synced with your OneDrive.

✎Tip: To stop syncing, delete the Folder Name from the OneDrive folder, this will not delete your actual folder from the drive.

Way 3. Backup Any Folder to OneDrive Manually

You can also back up through the OneDrive web page and upload only the filesyou need.

Step1.Go to the OneDrive websiteand signin toyouraccount.

Step 2. Click the Uploadbutton on the toolbar. You can either upload anyfolder or the selected files.

Way 4. OneDriveBackup Any FolderAutomaticallywith CBackup

The above 3 methods require you to manually add files. Every time a local file is changed, it needs to be done once. This will be very troublesome, and if the OneDrive server fails, you may be at a loss. Don't worry, you can also use professional folder backup software to automatically backup folders toOneDriveon Windows PC.

Some free cloud backup software can do it, such as CBackup.This free cloud backup and sync service supports the direct and easy backup of any folder from PC to OneDrive in a professional way of backup, and it allows you to let OneDrive backup folder on D drive, E drive, or even external disk, without moving.You can use it as a OneDrive client instead.

Step 1. Download, install, and run the CBackup client, andsign up for a free CBackup account to sign in.

Step 2. Go toStorage, then choose OneDriveand click Authorize Now. Then sign in to your OneDrive account and follow the instructions to authorize CBackup to access files in your OneDrive account.

Step 3. Then you can click on the Backuptab, and select Backup PC to Public Cloud.

Step 4. Select any folder or specific folders that you want to backup to OneDrive. And choose OneDrive as the destination.

Tips:If you should take OneDrive to backup other folders, you can create another task to add other folders.

Step 5. Click Start Backupto add any folder to OneDrive backup without moving.

Tips: There are some useful settings for you at the bottom left corner before starting backup, and it will save your time and cloud storage space, like scheduler allows you toperformOneDrive auto backupon daily, weekly, monthly, etc. enable email notification, use file filter to exclude file types you don't want to backup.

More powerful functions of CBackup:

★Tips:

Enable Scheduled Backup to set a fixed frequency or specific time to back up folders to OneDrive automatically.

Cloud to cloud sync and backup OneDrive folders to another cloud drive provides an additional layer of protection for the files in the OneDrive account.

It also provides multiple backup destinations, including mainstream cloud storage services: Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, etc. That's to say, you could backup files to Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, etc.

CBackup provides a more cost-effective choice than cloud storage services - CBackup Cloud (free 10GB), or you can get more backup space at the lowest price with CBackup subscription plans.

Sync files from local computer to Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, etc.

What If OneDrive Storage Space Is Insufficient?

The 5GB space provided by OneDrive for free is often full without backing up a few folders. The most direct way to expand the storage space is to purchase, but the long-term storage payments may be a large expense. If you need more backup space for Windows PC files, you can get more space to back up your data in an easy way. Please keep reading.

Combine OneDrive storage space

Is there a free way to get more OneDrive space? Yes, you can use theCBackup, which is a professional online cloud service that can merge OneDrive accountsto combine the storage space in the accounts to form a larger backup space. The entire operation process is also very simple on CBackup desktop app, the steps are as follows (or you could combine them onCBackup web version):

Step 1. Go to the CBackup desktop app. Under the Storage tab, select OneDrive, and click Authorize Nowto add. Then, click Add Cloud and follow the same steps to add all your OneDrive accounts.

✎Tip: After your authorization, you can access the cloud storage service you added in CBackup, CBackup will not save your login information, and you can cancel the authorization at any time.

Step 2. The account you add will be listed under Storage. You can modify the Cloud nameto make it easier to distinguish and choose the Storage path, tick Note option, and hit OK.

Step 3. Go to Storage > + Add Combined Cloud, and tick all cloud drives you added, and follow the guide to complete the combination. And the idle storage of these drives will be merged into a combined cloud.

✎Tip:OneDrive offers a slightly more expensive subscription plan. You can switch to a cloud backup service that provides more professional backup methods and more reasonable backup space.

CBackupis a reliable PC cloud backup service that provides a larger backup space. If you need to do a temporary PC cloud backup or plan to move data between PCs, backup files to CBackup Cloudis a good choice.

Conclusion

Regarding how to backup any folder to OneDrive, the 4effective ways are provided in this article, you can choose the most suitable one according to your situation. Besides, don't forget to use CBackup to get more OneDrive backup storage space for free, which can make full use of cloud disk space and protect data security.