How to backup photos and documents with OneDrive

With Microsoft OneDrive now you can save and synchronize files thanks to new backup features, here's how to best use the program

To back up, synchronize and share specific folders and files, one of the best services to use on our computer is OneDrive from Microsoft. Until recently this program had a big limitation: some non-removable folders could not be included in OneDrive backup. Now, however, Microsoft has eliminated this block.

The folders that we wanted to be stored on the Redmond company's cloud, in fact, had to be moved and stored in the OneDrive folder related to your Windows 10 profile. A system that made it impossible to backup to some "fixed" Windows folders, such as Documents, Images or other system folders. Microsoft, to favor the users who already use its service (and find more) has removed this block and now we will be able to perform on OneDrive any type of backup. Basically, now you can back up desktop folders, documents and images from their default locations thanks to OneDrive's new Folder Protection feature. So, here's how to make a backup with Microsoft's service.

How to use OneDrive to save documents, photos and videos

Before seeing the steps you need to take to use OneDrive to make a backup, it's important to remember that the new folder protection feature was released by Microsoft in mid-2018: in case you can't find the commands below, try updating your operating system and attempt saving your system folders to OneDrive again.

Once the client is updated, we bring the mouse cursor towards the clock present in the Start bar and look for the OneDrive icon (a small white cloud), right-click on it and choose Settings. In the window that pops up choose the Automatic Saving tab and then click on the Refresh Folders button.

At this point, OneDrive will go to calculate the space you already have occupied on Desktops, Images and Documents and ask you if you want to start the backup. At this point click Start Protection and wait: the process will take a few minutes and, if you chose to view the synchronization progress, the OneDrive window will display the name of each file backed up and synchronized. When the backup is complete, log in to another computer or mobile device on which OneDrive is active and installed with your profile and you'll find all the files in the backed up folders ready to use.

Warning before you try to make a backup with OneDrive, there still remain some limitations in the service. For example, you can't back up certain files, such as Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft OneNote PST files, you can't sync files larger than 20GB, and you can't use a private OneDrive account to protect and secure files on a computer that's part of a corporate network.