{"id":60596,"date":"2025-07-23T17:53:49","date_gmt":"2025-07-23T13:53:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/?p=60596"},"modified":"2025-10-15T15:27:23","modified_gmt":"2025-10-15T11:27:23","slug":"how-to-backup-onedrive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/blog\/how-to-backup-onedrive\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Backup Microsoft 365 OneDrive"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>This guide explains how to backup onedrive by comparing different approaches, including the native OneDrive backup service, manual methods, and dedicated third-party <a href=\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/saas-backup\/m365\/onedrive-backup\/\">OneDrive backup solution<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"mceTemp\"><strong><span style=\"color: #f74e00;\">Looking for the best OneDrive security solution?\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"call-to-action\">\n<div class=\"call-to-action__left\" style=\"width: 40%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-41595\" src=\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/OneDrive-Backup-with-Third-Party-Solutions-1.png\" alt=\"onedrive backup solution\" width=\"252\" height=\"212\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"call-to-action__right\" style=\"width: 60%;\">\n<div class=\"call-to-action__title\">MSP360 OneDrive Backup<\/div>\n<div class=\"call-to-action__text\">Start your 14 days <strong>free trial<\/strong> to protect your data in OneDrive.<\/div>\n<!--HubSpot Call-to-Action Code --><span class=\"hs-cta-wrapper hs-cta-deferred\" id=\"hs-cta-wrapper-99ffabf7-fc76-4439-a4a9-742566c44499\" data-portal=\"5442029\" data-id=\"99ffabf7-fc76-4439-a4a9-742566c44499\"><span class=\"hs-cta-node hs-cta-99ffabf7-fc76-4439-a4a9-742566c44499\" id=\"hs-cta-99ffabf7-fc76-4439-a4a9-742566c44499\"><!--[if lte IE 8]><div id=\"hs-cta-ie-element\"><\/div><![endif]--><a href=\"https:\/\/cta-redirect.hubspot.com\/cta\/redirect\/5442029\/99ffabf7-fc76-4439-a4a9-742566c44499\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"hs-cta-img\" id=\"hs-cta-img-99ffabf7-fc76-4439-a4a9-742566c44499\" style=\"border-width:0px;\" src=\"https:\/\/no-cache.hubspot.com\/cta\/default\/5442029\/99ffabf7-fc76-4439-a4a9-742566c44499.png\" alt=\"CTA\"><\/a><\/span><\/span><!-- end HubSpot Call-to-Action Code -->\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"table-of-content \">\n\t\t\t\t<p>Table of Contents<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<ul><\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<h2>Native OneDrive Backup Options and Limitations<\/h2>\n<p>Microsoft 365 OneDrive offers a few built-in backup options and tools. These can help to protect certain types of data \u2013 but, as explained below, they are not sufficient for meeting large-scale backup needs.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>\n<h3>PC Folder Backup: Sync Desktop, Documents and Pictures to OneDrive<\/h3>\n<p><strong>PC Folder Backup<\/strong> is a OneDrive feature that automatically syncs key user folders \u2013 <strong>Desktop, Documents and Pictures<\/strong> \u2013 with your OneDrive cloud storage.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-61098 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/how_to_backup_onedrive_pc_folder_backup-300x215.png\" alt=\"how-to-backup-onedrive-pc-folder-backup\" width=\"560\" height=\"401\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/how_to_backup_onedrive_pc_folder_backup-300x215.png 300w, https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/how_to_backup_onedrive_pc_folder_backup-624x447.png 624w, https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/how_to_backup_onedrive_pc_folder_backup-350x250.png 350w, https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/how_to_backup_onedrive_pc_folder_backup-100x71.png 100w, https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/how_to_backup_onedrive_pc_folder_backup.png 732w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>To enable it:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Click the OneDrive cloud icon in your system tray,<\/li>\n<li>Then go to <strong>Help &amp; Settings &gt; Manage Backup.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>From there, you can toggle the folders you want to sync.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>After you enable it, OneDrive automatically uploads the files in those folders and makes them accessible from any synced device, providing protection from local hardware failure and ensuring cross-device availability.<\/p>\n<p>However, this feature has notable limitations:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>It only supports three default folders (<strong>Desktop, Documents, Pictures)<\/strong>,<\/li>\n<li><strong>Downloads<\/strong> or <strong>custom folders<\/strong> \u2013 aren\u2019t backed up unless manually moved.<\/li>\n<li>PC Folder Backup doesn\u2019t support <strong>full system restore<\/strong>, so <strong>operating system files<\/strong>, <strong>apps<\/strong> and <strong>custom configurations<\/strong> aren\u2019t protected.<\/li>\n<li>There's also <strong>no built-in versioning<\/strong> within this feature, meaning older file revisions can\u2019t be recovered through this method alone.<br \/>\n<span class=\"further-reading \">Further reading<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/blog\/third-party-backup-software-microsoft-365\/\">Microsoft 365 Backup Solution: Native vs third party backup software<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>Version History and Recycle Bin<\/h3>\n<p>OneDrive includes two helpful tools for recovering lost or changed files: <strong>Version History<\/strong> and the <strong>Recycle Bin<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-61095 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/how_to_backup_onecrive_version_history_and_recycle_bin-300x159.png\" alt=\"how-to-backup-onedrive-version-history-and-recycle-bin\" width=\"561\" height=\"297\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/how_to_backup_onecrive_version_history_and_recycle_bin-300x159.png 300w, https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/how_to_backup_onecrive_version_history_and_recycle_bin-624x331.png 624w, https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/how_to_backup_onecrive_version_history_and_recycle_bin.png 732w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 561px) 100vw, 561px\" \/><\/p>\n<h4>Version History<\/h4>\n<p>Version History lets users restore previous versions of a <strong>file<\/strong> stored in OneDrive.<br \/>\nTo access it, right-click a file in OneDrive (via the web or File Explorer integration) and choose <strong>Version History<\/strong>. This is useful for recovering from accidental edits or overwriting.<\/p>\n<p>Version History is only available for <strong>files stored<\/strong> in OneDrive, not those synced outside supported folders and retention periods are capped at <a href=\"https:\/\/agileit.com\/news\/disaster-recovery-plan-enough\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">30 days<\/a> for most types of data. Neither tool should be relied upon as a comprehensive or long-term backup strategy.<\/p>\n<h4>Recycle Bin<\/h4>\n<p>The <strong>Recycle Bin<\/strong>, on the other hand, allows users to retrieve deleted files for a <strong>limited time<\/strong> \u2013 typically <strong>30 days<\/strong> for personal accounts or up to <strong>93 days<\/strong> for business users.<\/p>\n<p><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-60599\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/recycle-bin-onedrive-300x118.png\" alt=\"recycle bin in onedrive\" width=\"1075\" height=\"423\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/recycle-bin-onedrive-300x118.png 300w, https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/recycle-bin-onedrive-1024x403.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/recycle-bin-onedrive-768x302.png 768w, https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/recycle-bin-onedrive-1536x605.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/recycle-bin-onedrive-624x246.png 624w, https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/recycle-bin-onedrive.png 1570w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1075px) 100vw, 1075px\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Note: <em>When the retention period ends (<strong>30 days<\/strong> for personal accounts or up to <strong>93 days<\/strong> for business accounts), or if a user manually deletes items from the <strong>Recycle Bin<\/strong>, the files are moved to the <strong>Second-stage Recycle Bin<\/strong>. This area is accessible only to <strong>administrators,<\/strong> who can restore the items if needed.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Despite their usefulness, both tools are <strong>limited<\/strong>. They operate on a per-file basis, meaning you must manually restore<strong> individual files<\/strong> rather than bulk-recovering <strong>folders<\/strong> or <strong>large sets<\/strong> of data. This can be tedious and inefficient in the case of widespread data loss.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>For these reasons, the Recycle Bin falls short of meeting most standard definitions of backup \u2013 such as that of Gartner, which <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gartner.com\/reviews\/market\/enterprise-backup-and-recovery-software-solutions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">states<\/a> that true data protection requires the ability to \u201ccapture <strong>point-in-time<\/strong> copies of enterprise data for the purpose of recovering it from multiple data loss scenarios, enhancing data protection initiatives and expanding data insights and access capabilities.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">OneDrive Sync to Local Devices<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">OneDrive\u2019s sync feature mirrors files between the cloud and your local device. This enables real-time access to your files, both online and offline. When you make changes on your device, OneDrive updates them and syncs the latest version across all devices, ensuring you always work with the most up-to-date file.. This is especially convenient for users who frequently switch between devices or require access to files while offline.<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-61099 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/how_to_backup_onedrive_sync_to-local_devices-300x300.png\" alt=\"how-to-backup-onedrive-sync-to-local-devices\" width=\"444\" height=\"444\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/how_to_backup_onedrive_sync_to-local_devices-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/how_to_backup_onedrive_sync_to-local_devices-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/how_to_backup_onedrive_sync_to-local_devices-250x250.png 250w, https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/how_to_backup_onedrive_sync_to-local_devices.png 563w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 444px) 100vw, 444px\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p>However, OneDrive Sync <strong style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">is not a true backup<\/strong><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"> solution. Because changes sync in real time, accidental deletions, overwrites or ransomware-encrypted files will also sync across devices \u2013 potentially destroying or corrupting files everywhere. Without a separate, <\/span><strong style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">time-stamped<\/strong> <strong style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">backup<\/strong><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">, recovery from such events can be very difficult. In addition, syncing doesn\u2019t capture <\/span><strong style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">system files<\/strong><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">, <\/span><strong style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">application data<\/strong><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"> or <\/span><strong style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">settings<\/strong><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"> and it lacks<\/span><strong style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"> point-in-time restore<\/strong><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"> capabilities, making it unsuitable as a standalone disaster recovery method.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p id=\"last\"><!-- CTA: MBS slide-in --><\/p>\n<div id=\"slidebox\"><a class=\"close\">\u00a0<\/a><!--HubSpot Call-to-Action Code --><span class=\"hs-cta-wrapper hs-cta-deferred\" id=\"hs-cta-wrapper-761dc0f3-19c9-403d-a99e-670c329ec4a1\" data-portal=\"5442029\" data-id=\"761dc0f3-19c9-403d-a99e-670c329ec4a1\"><span class=\"hs-cta-node hs-cta-761dc0f3-19c9-403d-a99e-670c329ec4a1\" id=\"hs-cta-761dc0f3-19c9-403d-a99e-670c329ec4a1\"><!--[if lte IE 8]><div id=\"hs-cta-ie-element\"><\/div><![endif]--><a href=\"https:\/\/cta-redirect.hubspot.com\/cta\/redirect\/5442029\/761dc0f3-19c9-403d-a99e-670c329ec4a1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"hs-cta-img\" id=\"hs-cta-img-761dc0f3-19c9-403d-a99e-670c329ec4a1\" style=\"border-width:0px;\" src=\"https:\/\/no-cache.hubspot.com\/cta\/default\/5442029\/761dc0f3-19c9-403d-a99e-670c329ec4a1.png\" alt=\"CTA\"><\/a><\/span><\/span><!-- end HubSpot Call-to-Action Code --><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<h2>Manual Backup Methods for OneDrive<\/h2>\n<p>Another approach to OneDrive backup is to back up data manually using basic data copying or file system tools. Here again, these methods can help to meet simple data protection requirements, but they fall far short of enterprise-scale OneDrive backup assurance.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>\n<h3>Download Files via Browser<\/h3>\n<p>This method involves navigating to the <a href=\"https:\/\/onedrive.live.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">OneDrive web interface<\/a>, selecting files or folders and clicking <strong>Download<\/strong> to save them locally. It\u2019s simple and <strong>doesn\u2019t require<\/strong> any additional tools or configuration. This approach is useful for <strong>quickly<\/strong> creating a backup snapshot of your files or archiving specific items.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-61096 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/how_to_backup_onedrive_download_files_via_browser-300x172.png\" alt=\"how-to-backup-onedrive-download-files-via-browser\" width=\"560\" height=\"321\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/how_to_backup_onedrive_download_files_via_browser-300x172.png 300w, https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/how_to_backup_onedrive_download_files_via_browser-624x358.png 624w, https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/how_to_backup_onedrive_download_files_via_browser.png 732w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>However, this method only captures a <strong>one-time snapshot<\/strong>, so it's not suitable for ongoing or automated backups. Users must manually repeat the process to ensure <strong>up-to-date backups<\/strong> and it can be time-consuming for large file sets. Additionally, file metadata such as <strong>sharing permissions<\/strong> and <strong>version history<\/strong> may not be preserved in the downloaded files.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-60600\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/OneDrive-web-interface-300x117.png\" alt=\"OneDrive web interface\" width=\"1054\" height=\"411\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/OneDrive-web-interface-300x117.png 300w, https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/OneDrive-web-interface-1024x400.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/OneDrive-web-interface-768x300.png 768w, https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/OneDrive-web-interface-1536x601.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/OneDrive-web-interface-2048x801.png 2048w, https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/OneDrive-web-interface-624x244.png 624w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1054px) 100vw, 1054px\" \/><\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Use PowerShell to Export Files<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">PowerShell scripts, often using the Microsoft Graph API or PnP PowerShell, allow users to automate OneDrive file exports. These scripts can loop through folders, download content and even schedule regular backups through Windows Task Scheduler. This method offers flexibility and scalability for tech-savvy users or admins managing multiple accounts.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-61100 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/how_to_backup_onedrive_powershell-300x198.png\" alt=\"how-to-backup-onedrive-powershell\" width=\"561\" height=\"370\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/how_to_backup_onedrive_powershell-300x198.png 300w, https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/how_to_backup_onedrive_powershell-624x413.png 624w, https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/how_to_backup_onedrive_powershell.png 732w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 561px) 100vw, 561px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Despite its power, this method comes with <strong>limitations<\/strong>. Setting it up requires familiarity with scripting, authentication and Microsoft 365 APIs. Moreover, many scripts <strong>don\u2019t fully<\/strong> capture metadata, version history or permission settings and API limits may throttle large transfers. It works best as part of a broader backup strategy rather than serving as a standalone solution.<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Manually Move or Copy Files to the OneDrive Folder<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Users can also drag and drop or copy files directly into their OneDrive folder in File Explorer. Once placed there, the <strong>files sync automatically<\/strong> to the cloud using the OneDrive client. This method is straightforward and effective for selective, user-driven backups, such as moving important work documents into cloud storage.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">However, this method relies entirely on user discipline and the local OneDrive client. There\u2019s no <strong>built-in automation<\/strong> or <strong>fail-safe<\/strong> and if the sync client is paused or fails, files might not actually be uploaded. Users often overlook files stored outside the OneDrive directory unless they intentionally move or copy them in.<\/span><\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Backup OneDrive to an External Drive via Sync Location Change<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>This more advanced method than \u201cOneDrive Sync to Local Devices\u201d involves unlinking your OneDrive account, then moving the OneDrive folder to an external drive and finally re-syncing OneDrive to use the new location. This effectively stores a live copy of your cloud files on an external disk, providing redundancy and freeing up internal storage.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-61097 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/how_to_backup_onedrive_on_external_device-300x269.png\" alt=\"how-to-backup-onedrive-on-external-device\" width=\"444\" height=\"398\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/how_to_backup_onedrive_on_external_device-300x269.png 300w, https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/how_to_backup_onedrive_on_external_device.png 608w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 444px) 100vw, 444px\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p>While it offers persistent external backups, this setup is sensitive to misconfiguration. Unplugging the external drive while OneDrive is syncing can cause errors or data loss. There's also the risk of hardware failure or theft of the physical device. Additionally, this method doesn\u2019t back up file versions or permissions \u2013 it mirrors only the current state of synced files.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2>OneDrive Backup with Third-Party Solutions<\/h2>\n<p>There\u2019s an alternative to attempting to back up OneDrive data manually (which is a slow and tedious process) or relying on native OneDrive and Microsoft 365 that are not designed for enterprise-scale backup. It\u2019s using a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/blog\/why-onedrive-needs-dedicated-backup-solution\/\">dedicated, third-party backup and recovery solution<\/a> for OneDrive, like MSP360 Managed Backup for Microsoft 365, that supports all features that were mentioned above.<\/p>\n<div class=\"call-to-action\">\n<div class=\"call-to-action__left\" style=\"width: 40%;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Why-You-Need-to-Back-Up-Microsoft-365-preview-2-3.png\" alt=\"Whitepaper Microsoft 365 icon\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"call-to-action__right\" style=\"width: 60%;\">\n<div class=\"call-to-action__title\">Why You Need to BackUp Microsoft 365 and How MSP360 Helps<\/div>\n<div class=\"call-to-action__text\">Discover the ins and outs of a cloud to cloud backup strategy using MSP360 Backup for Microsoft 365.<\/div>\n<!--HubSpot Call-to-Action Code --><span class=\"hs-cta-wrapper hs-cta-deferred\" id=\"hs-cta-wrapper-a03f1309-f6ae-439a-9be0-d11b29410547\" data-portal=\"5442029\" data-id=\"a03f1309-f6ae-439a-9be0-d11b29410547\"><span class=\"hs-cta-node hs-cta-a03f1309-f6ae-439a-9be0-d11b29410547\" id=\"hs-cta-a03f1309-f6ae-439a-9be0-d11b29410547\"><!--[if lte IE 8]><div id=\"hs-cta-ie-element\"><\/div><![endif]--><a href=\"https:\/\/cta-redirect.hubspot.com\/cta\/redirect\/5442029\/a03f1309-f6ae-439a-9be0-d11b29410547\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"hs-cta-img\" id=\"hs-cta-img-a03f1309-f6ae-439a-9be0-d11b29410547\" style=\"border-width:0px;\" src=\"https:\/\/no-cache.hubspot.com\/cta\/default\/5442029\/a03f1309-f6ae-439a-9be0-d11b29410547.png\" alt=\"CTA\"><\/a><\/span><\/span><!-- end HubSpot Call-to-Action Code -->\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Third-party solutions offer a host of data protection capabilities that are not available from OneDrive itself, such as:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>It is a cloud-to-cloud solution without the need for local devices<\/li>\n<li>The ability to back up all items of folders and files, including structures, sharing settings, and metadata.<\/li>\n<li>Point in Time restore option<\/li>\n<li>Encryption of data in transit and at rest to provide more robust security during backup operations.<\/li>\n<li>Audit logs and role-based access controls to secure back up data.<\/li>\n<li>Automated alerts &amp; failure email notifications<\/li>\n<li>API-level backup of OneDrive content<\/li>\n<li>File versioning<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-60782\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/backup_onedrive_2811-300x85.png\" alt=\"how-to-backup-onedrive-run-backup\" width=\"953\" height=\"270\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/backup_onedrive_2811-300x85.png 300w, https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/backup_onedrive_2811-1024x291.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/backup_onedrive_2811-768x218.png 768w, https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/backup_onedrive_2811-624x177.png 624w, https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/backup_onedrive_2811.png 1434w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 953px) 100vw, 953px\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/blog\/onedrive-backup-a-guide-for-msps-and-it-professionals\/\">To simplify OneDrive backup administration for MSPs and IT teams<\/a>, it offers:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/blog\/beyond-technology-how-immutable-backup-builds-trust-for-msps\/\">Immutable storage<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Automated data retention<\/li>\n<li>Multi-tenant dashboard<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"call-to-action__right\" style=\"width: 60%;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Going even further, MSP360 Managed backup for OneDrive enables instant backup of specific files and folders within OneDrive, giving businesses fine-grained control over when and <\/span><a style=\"font-size: 1rem;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/blog\/msp360-managed-backup-routines-steps-to-enhance-efficiency\/\">how they back up their data<\/a><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"further-reading \">Further reading<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/help.msp360.com\/cloudberry-backup-for-ms-office-365\/office-365\/backup\/onedrive-backup\">Read our complete step-by-step tutorial \u201cHow to backup OneDrive in MSP360\u201d to learn more.<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Conclusion<\/h2>\n<p>Fortunately, there are many ways to back up OneDrive data \u2013 although some are more efficient and scalable than others. Native OneDrive and Microsoft 365 backup capabilities, as well as manual backup using tools like PowerShell, can be helpful for small-scale back up needs or protecting individual files.<\/p>\n<p>For a truly comprehensive, efficient and secure OneDrive backup and recovery strategy, however, consider a solution like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/saas-backup\/m365\/onedrive-backup\/\">MSP360 Backup for OneDrive<\/a>. Not only is MSP360 easier to use at scale, but it also offers advanced features \u2013 like the option to store backups across multiple locations, advanced reporting and alerting and robust security controls \u2013 that are missing from other OneDrive backup solutions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"slidebox\"><!--HubSpot Call-to-Action Code --><span class=\"hs-cta-wrapper hs-cta-deferred\" id=\"hs-cta-wrapper-27f31bec-2432-424d-9274-55124dc57a9f\" data-portal=\"5442029\" data-id=\"27f31bec-2432-424d-9274-55124dc57a9f\"><span class=\"hs-cta-node hs-cta-27f31bec-2432-424d-9274-55124dc57a9f\" id=\"hs-cta-27f31bec-2432-424d-9274-55124dc57a9f\"><!--[if lte IE 8]><div id=\"hs-cta-ie-element\"><\/div><![endif]--><a href=\"https:\/\/cta-redirect.hubspot.com\/cta\/redirect\/5442029\/27f31bec-2432-424d-9274-55124dc57a9f\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"hs-cta-img\" id=\"hs-cta-img-27f31bec-2432-424d-9274-55124dc57a9f\" style=\"border-width:0px;\" src=\"https:\/\/no-cache.hubspot.com\/cta\/default\/5442029\/27f31bec-2432-424d-9274-55124dc57a9f.png\" alt=\"CTA\"><\/a><\/span><\/span><!-- end HubSpot Call-to-Action Code --><\/div>\n<div class=\"call-to-action\">\n<div class=\"call-to-action__left\" style=\"width: 40%;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/how_backup_outlook_emails_without-shadow.png\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"call-to-action__right\" style=\"width: 60%;\">\n<div class=\"call-to-action__title\">Protecting Your Org\u2019s Microsoft 365 Data: Why Microsoft Isn\u2019t Doing It for You<\/div>\n<div class=\"call-to-action__text\">Check out our whitepaper to learn why native tools like retention policies fall short, what the Shared Responsibility Model really means for your organization, and how to keep your data secure, available, and recoverable with a proper backup strategy.<\/div>\n<!--HubSpot Call-to-Action Code --><span class=\"hs-cta-wrapper hs-cta-deferred\" id=\"hs-cta-wrapper-27f31bec-2432-424d-9274-55124dc57a9f\" data-portal=\"5442029\" data-id=\"27f31bec-2432-424d-9274-55124dc57a9f\"><span class=\"hs-cta-node hs-cta-27f31bec-2432-424d-9274-55124dc57a9f\" id=\"hs-cta-27f31bec-2432-424d-9274-55124dc57a9f\"><!--[if lte IE 8]><div id=\"hs-cta-ie-element\"><\/div><![endif]--><a href=\"https:\/\/cta-redirect.hubspot.com\/cta\/redirect\/5442029\/27f31bec-2432-424d-9274-55124dc57a9f\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"hs-cta-img\" id=\"hs-cta-img-27f31bec-2432-424d-9274-55124dc57a9f\" style=\"border-width:0px;\" src=\"https:\/\/no-cache.hubspot.com\/cta\/default\/5442029\/27f31bec-2432-424d-9274-55124dc57a9f.png\" alt=\"CTA\"><\/a><\/span><\/span><!-- end HubSpot Call-to-Action Code -->\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This guide explains how to backup onedrive by comparing different approaches, including the native OneDrive backup service, manual methods, and dedicated third-party OneDrive backup solution.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":106,"featured_media":60605,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[883,877,1010,1003],"tags":[1015],"class_list":["post-60596","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-backup-and-dr-articles","category-blog-articles","category-msp360-m365-google-backup","category-onedrive-backup-guides","tag-onedrive-backup-best-practices"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60596","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/106"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=60596"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60596\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":61152,"href":"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60596\/revisions\/61152"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/60605"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=60596"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=60596"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=60596"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}