OneDrive sync and backup

How your File Explorer works with your OneDrive (Microsoft) account: When your Windows PC is signed into OneDrive with your Microsoft account, files stored on your OneDrive servers (in Data Centres) are synced to the computer’s hard disk. When connected to the internet and in OneDrive in File Explorer, every new file or folder that you add is automatically uploaded to the remote OneDrive server. This way your files (letters, photos etc.) are always backed up and can be easily added to a new Windows PC. Also you can access your folders and files from any browser (Chrome or Edge) when you sign into OneDrive at onedrive.com

What is OneDrive?: OneDrive is a file hosting service operated by Microsoft which enables registered users (Microsoft account holders) to share and syncronise their files.

Keep all files on the PC and sync new ones to the OneDrive servers (to download the folders and files backed up to OneDrive servers and sync new files from the PC to the servers ‘Backup’ must be turned ON and ‘Files On-Demand’ turned OFF): Click on OneDrive cloud icon in notification area then click on Settings ❯ Sync and backup ❯ then first ‘Manage backup’ and see what is backed up before agreeing to it, then ‘Advanced settings’, and turn OFF Files On-Demand (assuming there is enough space on the hard disk to accept all the files)

Save space on the PC and download files from OneDrive servers as you use them: Click on OneDrive cloud icon in notification area then click on Settings ❯ Sync and backup ❯ Advanced settings, and turn ON Files On-Demand

OneDrive linked account – check the Microsoft account that is linked to OneDrive: Click on OneDrive cloud icon in notification area then click on Settings ❯ Account and see the name of the account at the top

Account – Choose folders to sync: Click on OneDrive cloud icon in notification area then click on Settings ❯ Account ❯ Choose folders and select the folders to sync

View OneDrive storage in browser: Click on OneDrive cloud icon in notification area then click on ‘View online’ to open the default browser with www.onedrive.com and check which folders and files are stored on the OneDrive servers for the linked Microsoft account