- To backup files to OneDrive from Windows 11, open OneDrive > Settings > Sync and backup, click “Manage backup,” and turn on the folders you wish to upload and keep backed up in OneDrive, including Documents, Pictures, Desktop, Music, and Videos.
On Windows 11 (or 10), OneDrive has a file backup feature that syncs your files from the Documents, Pictures, Desktop, Music, and Videos folders to the cloud, ensuring that data is protected against ransomware, viruses, and other malware.
If you have multiple devices, OneDrive can keep these folders in sync without extra steps. The only caveat about this feature is that you will need a subscription to back up more than 5GB of space since this is the limit in the free version of the cloud storage service.
This guide will teach you the steps to automatically set up folder protection to sync your Windows 11 account folders to OneDrive.
Configure backup files to OneDrive on Windows 11
To back up your files from the known Windows 11 folders (Documents, Pictures, Desktop, Music, and Videos) to OneDrive, use these steps:
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Click the OneDrive (cloud) button in the Taskbar on Windows 11.
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Click the Help & Settings menu (gear) button and select the Settings option.
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Click on Sync and backup.
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Click the Manage backup button from the “Back up important PC folders to OneDrive” setting.
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Turn on the toggle switch to backup files to OneDrive, including Documents, Pictures, Desktop, Music, and Videos.
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Click the Save changes button.
Once you complete the steps, OneDrive will upload and protect your files in the cloud against ransomware, viruses, and other types of malware. Also, your Desktop, Pictures, and Documents folders will sync to your other devices, and you’ll now be able to access those files virtually from anywhere.
Disable OneDrive file backup on Windows 11
To stop file backup to OneDrive on Windows 11, use these steps:
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Click on the OneDrive (cloud) button in the Taskbar.
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Click the Help & Settings menu (gear) button and select the Settings option.
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Click on Sync and backup.
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Click the Manage backup button from the “Back up important PC folders to OneDrive” setting.
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Turn off the toggle switch for the files you no longer want to back up to OneDrive. (Turn off all the options to disable the OneDrive file backup completely.)
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Click the Stop backup button.
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Click the “I’ll do it later” button.
After you complete the steps, OneDrive will stop syncing your Windows 11 account folders.
The only caveat using this feature is that Outlook database files (.pst files) and OneNote files, such as “.one,” “.onepkg,” “.onetoc,” and “.onetoc2” not already stored in OneDrive won’t be synced automatically.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].