Want to Backup OneDrive to External Drive: Easy Method
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Written By
Aradhya Jain -
Approved By
Shivam Rathore -
Updated on
November 21st, 2025 - Read Time
5 minutes
User Query: I want to backup OneDrive to external drive. What is the easiest and safest method?
Summary: Backing files from OneDrive to External Drive is one of the secure ways to protect your personal and work data. Many users rely on OneDrive for everyday storage. But what if something goes wrong? Keeping a local backup on an external hard drive ensures your important files always stay safe. In this blog, you will learn the easiest manual method and a professional DRS Softech OneDrive Migration Tool. Both methods are suitable if you are using Windows 10, Windows 11, or OneDrive for Business. No technical skills are required; just follow the steps as explained.
Why Should You Transfer Files from OneDrive to External Drive?
- To avoid data loss during sync issues, malware attacks, or accidental deletion.
- It helps you to free up online storage without losing old files.
- You can easily access files offline when there’s no internet connection.
- Moreover, keep a second secure copy of important photos, documents, or business files.
Manual Method to Backup OneDrive to External Drive
- Firstly, sign in to OneDrive on your PC.
- Now, make sure OneDrive has finished syncing.
- Then, open File Explorer. Click This PC.
- After that, click the OneDrive folder.
- Find the files or folders you want to back up.
- Next, right-click the selected files or folders and choose Copy.
- Plug your external drive (HDD/SSD/USB) into the computer.
- Further, open the external drive in File Explorer.
- Right-click inside the external drive window and choose Paste.
- Further, wait until the copying finishes.
- Check a few files on the external drive to make sure they opened correctly.
- Safely eject the external drive using the system tray Safely Remove option.
- In the end, store your external drive in a safe place.
Limitations: Manually Backup My Entire OneDrive to External Drive
- This process is very slow if your OneDrive contains a large amount of data.
- OneDrive must sync all data locally before you can back it up.
- Errors may occur during copy-paste, especially with large file sizes.
- Changes made later in OneDrive will not update in your backup.
- Also, you must repeat the entire process every time you want a new backup.
Hassle-Free Solution to Backup OneDrive to External Drive
To avoid all the limitations of the manual method, you can use the reliable DRS Softech OneDrive Backup Tool. This tool allows you to backup your emails from your Personal or Business Account. Designed with a simple and user-friendly interface, every user can easily use it without needing any technical skills. Apart from this, you can also remove Duplicates from OneDrive and offer several advanced features.
One-Time Service Option for Effortless OneDrive Backup
If you don’t want to install any software or handle the backup process yourself, DRS Softech also offers a One-Time Data Backup Service. This service is designed for users who prefer a quick, done-for-you solution without any technical steps. Our expert team will securely backup your entire OneDrive data to your external drive—without delays, errors, or data loss. You simply book the service, and our technicians handle everything from start to finish.
Simple Steps to Backup Data from OneDrive to External Drive
- Download and install the DRS Softech OneDrive Migration Tool.
- Choose the Personal and Business Account Type from the options.
- Then, Sign In with your OneDrive credentials and click Next.
- Preview and select the OneDrive emails to backup. Hit Next.
- After that, apply advanced features as per your needs.
- Lastly, choose Local Drive as the Destination Path and click Next.
Real-Life Scenario:
Eliza works in a small design studio and stores all her project files on OneDrive. One day, her OneDrive stopped syncing, and she couldn’t open some important folders. Worried she might lose her client work, she decided to back up everything to her external hard drive. By doing this, she kept a safe copy of all her designs and could continue working without fear of losing her data again.
Conclusion
In this technical blog post, we explored several methods to backup OneDrive to External Drive. The manual method is freely available. But it takes too much time and has several limitations. So, it’s highly recommended to use the professional tool. This tool supports batch backup with several advanced features. It ensures a 100% accurate result with a guarantee of no data is lost. Moreover, a free version of this tool is available to understand its features and performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ans: This usually happens when your OneDrive files are not fully downloaded to your PC. If the files show a cloud icon, they are still online-only. You must allow OneDrive to sync the files locally before copying them to an external drive.
Ans: No, the manual method requires OneDrive to download every file to your computer before you can copy it. However, using the DRS Softech OneDrive Backup Tool, you can back up your data directly without downloading everything first.
Ans: This happens when OneDrive is busy syncing, uploading, or fixing file conflicts. Until OneDrive finishes these actions, you cannot start the backup. Pausing and resuming sync or restarting your PC usually fixes the issue.
Ans: This error appears when your OneDrive data is larger than the available space on your external drive. For example, if your OneDrive is 200GB and your external drive is only 128GB, the backup will fail. Check the storage size before starting the process.
