DON'T BE CAUGHT BY SURPRISE: HOW TO BACKUP FILES TO GOOGLE DRIVE

Ever had to work while on the go? Or have you tried having to switch from your office desktop to a laptop to your phone?

If you have, you might’ve heard how Google Drive is one of the tech giant’s most useful tools. Whether you’re an individual or a business, using Google Drive for backups is invaluable. But if you aren’t adept at using this service, you might find it confusing.

Don’t feel discouraged just yet.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to backup files to Google Drive. These are common methods, both manual and automatic. Read on and find out more today.

How to Backup Files to Google Drive

Let’s start with the basics. Here are the steps to using Google drive for backups:

1. Download the Google Drive Application

The application is available for macOS and Windows. If you tried out other cloud storage apps before, Google Drive will function the same way. 

2. Launch the Application

Once you launch the app, you’ll get a prompt. Type your login information, which means inputting your Google account details. After you’re done, the Google Drive application will take care of the rest.

It will start adding a folder to your hard drive and copy all your Google Drive’s online documents to your computer. The PC keeps the documents in sync with your Google Drive, whether you change the documents using your computer or other devices.

With your Google Drive files stored within your computer, you won’t need to log in to your Google Drive using a browser. Instead, look for the Google Drive folder on your computer hard drive and access the documents from there.

3. Back-Up Your Files

The good news is that backing up your files to Google Drive is as simple as dragging and dropping files to your Google Drive folder. But doing this needs some manual effort since you must remember to do it regularly.

A good practice is to move your documents to the Google Drive folder. Make it your default saving destination, like a new My Documents folder. That ensures you won’t forget backing up your files online.

How to Back Up Your Google Drive

These methods are for backing up your Google Drive, adding an extra layer of protection for your files. Use them when appropriate since some need payments. Here are some you should consider:

Backup and Sync Client by Google

This Google-based app enables your local drive to synchronize with your Google Drive. This ensures that all files added to your Google Drive will also be on your computer’s hard drive. With this, all the changes made in your Google Drive files will also reflect on your computer.
For example, if you delete a file in your Google Drive, the system also deletes it from your hard drive. It’s a good way to backup files to Google Drive, as long as you have a designated folder. If you want to keep some files separate, you can place them in a different hard drive or device.

Pros

Using Google Drive Backup and Sync means full automation, meaning all files and edits done on your Google Drive will reflect on your computer and vice versa. With this, you can access your main computer files regardless of the device you use.

Cons

While your files have a Google Drive backup, they still take up space on your hard drive. With that, be picky of the files you’ll save. Also, you need to save important files on other devices since the sync works both ways.

How to Set Up Backup and Sync

To use this feature, download the application from Google. After installation, launch it, and use your Google account to sign in. This will enable you to set synchronization options to fit your situation.

For local drive files, this application allows you to choose the folders you want to back up. If you want your Google Drive to have a backup in your local hard drive, go to the sync settings. Pick the folders you want or copy all files before pressing Start.
Depending on the volume of data, it can take a while.

Use Google Takeout

Google Takeout’s design allows you to create one-time copies of the information stored in your Google account. This covers a wide variety of services, such as Gmail, Contacts, Google Drive, and more. With this, you can have an additional layer of backups after saving your data on Google Drive.

Pros

Google Takeout supports all services related to Google. It’s also versatile since you can send the data to other cloud storage platforms. Otherwise, you can download all these data on your desktop.

Cons

The one-time save feature has no automatic options for backing up. If you aren’t conscientious in saving with this service, you can still lose your files.

Use Google Vault

This is an online archive and eDiscovery service. IT administrators often use this to keep their G Suite users’ data. It will back up and save files, regardless of any modifications done to it initially. That makes Google Vault an archiver, not a backup service, making its features unique.

Pros

Google Vault needs no installation and can keep data for long periods. It also has unlimited storage, meaning it’s ideal for business usage.

Cons

​Since it’s an archiver, Google Vault can’t restore data using Google Drive. It’s only good as a reference point in the future. If something happens to your files, they won’t get restored quickly.

Also, this feature is exclusive to G Suite Business, Education, or Enterprise package subscribers. It’s expensive since the basic package is $60 a year while its Enterprise counterpart is at $300.

Backup Your Google Drive Today!

These are some methods showing how to backup files to Google Drive. Use these to ensure that your files’ safety, in case your computer gets damaged. If you want to maximize this, use the other methods to make more backups of the files stored in your Google Drive.

Did you find this guide informative? If so, we encourage you to read our other posts and learn more valuable tips and tricks. It will help make your life easier when dealing with computers.

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