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While backing up your digital assets may not be the most exciting task in the world, it is an important one. With the rise of cloud storage and affordable hardware, there’s no excuse to put off protecting your files.
This guide will walk you through several methods to backup your data for free.
Why should you backup your files?
Imagine losing all your photos, documents and files in one instant due to hard drive failure, ransomware attack or theft. The fear and loss can be overwhelming, but it is preventable.
By setting up a backup system, you can ensure that your data is safe no matter what happens to your device.
What is a backup?
A backup is a copy of your data that is stored separately from your original files. This could be on another device, such as an external hard drive, or in the cloud.
However, it’s critical to understand that simply saving files to a cloud service like Google Drive or Dropbox isn’t always a backup. Deleting a file from your synced folder may also delete it from the cloud.
For true backup protection, make sure your files are stored in a way that doesn’t reflect deletions.
How to backup your data for free
Free cloud storage options
There are several free cloud storage services you can use to backup important files:
- Google Drive: Offers 15 GB of free storage, shared with Gmail and Google Photos.
- Dropbox: Provides 2 GB of free space, which can be increased via referrals and other methods.
- Microsoft OneDrive: Offers 5 GB of free storage, which can be expanded via subscriptions.
Cloud services allow you to automatically sync files from your devices. If you want more options, we’ve reviewed and ranked the best free cloud storage and the best cloud storage services.
Once you’ve chosen a cloud service that meets your storage needs, follow the steps below to set up your backup:
- Download and install the app on your devices.
- Choose important folders (e.g. Documents, Photos) that you want to back up. On phones, this often includes the camera roll.
- Make sure that removing your device does not delete any files from the cloud, if the service allows this setting.
If you’re unsure about this solution, follow the guide on how secure cloud storage is, where we explain how it works and what measures are in place to ensure your files are kept safe.
Free local storage options
For those with limited cloud storage, local backups are a good alternative. Here are some recommended options:
- External USB drive: Use a USB drive to copy files manually. This method requires you to back up regularly, but it is effective and protects against ransomware attacks because the drive is not always connected.
- Built-in tools: Use built-in tools like File History on Windows or Time Machine on Mac to automate backups to an external drive.
- Network storage (NAS): A NAS device connects to your router, making it accessible to all devices in your home for automatic backups.
If you’re interested, we’ve put together a roundup of the best NAS drives and the best portable hard drive and SSD for backing up your videos, photos, music and files.
You can also install special backup software that will automate the process (but you will still need to plug in your USB drive).
How to backup your entire PC or laptop
The first two methods we described will back up some files, but they won’t be enough to get your PC or laptop running again after a hard drive (or SSD) failure, or if Windows stops working altogether (as is occasionally the case). ).
Backing up all the files on your hard drive is also called a ‘disk image’ and requires specialist software to do this. However, this does not have to be expensive, as there are free and paid versions available.
Again, you’ll find options in our separate roundup of the best backup software, as most of these apps offer both file/folder and full PC backup options.
How to backup your phone
If you own an Android phone, Google offers 15 GB of free storage, shared with Gmail and Drive. Most Android phones will automatically back up photos, contacts, and app data if you enable it in the settings.
If you use an iPhone, Apple offers 5 GB of free iCloud storage. If you want to back up more data, you may need to purchase additional storage space. For free backups, you can manually save photos and files to your computer or another cloud service.
You can also read our guides on how to backup Android and how to backup iPhone for more information.
Which backup method is best?
There is no one-size-fits-all solution, but combining methods is essential. For example, use a cloud service for easy access and an external drive for full system backups.
When backing up, consider file versioning, which allows you to revert to older versions of a document if necessary. Also understand the difference between incremental and full backups: Incremental backups store only new and changed files, saving time and space.
Check how easily files can be restored from backups, as some methods are more flexible than others. It’s worth taking the time to create proper backups as this can prevent significant data loss in the event of device failure or theft.