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How to Backup Data to Google Drive

Backing up Google Drive data is one of those things everyone knows they should do. Usually they do not get around to doing it. It feels easy to delay doing this Google Drive backup. Until something actually goes wrong with your Google Drive data.

A phone gets lost. A laptop stops working. Google Drive files disappear.. Suddenly you are sitting there thinking yeah, I should have backed up my Google Drive data.

It happens often than people admit when it comes to Google Drive backups.

The good news is Google Drive makes all of this simple for you to backup your data. You do not need any skills or tech knowledge to use Google Drive. A few minutes. You are basically set to backup your Google Drive data.

Lets keep it straightforward when using Google Drive.

So what is Google Drive?

Think of Google Drive like a storage box that lives online where you can store your Google Drive data.

Of keeping everything only on your phone or computer you store copies in Google Drive. So even if your device breaks or gets lost your Google Drive files are still there.

You also get 15 GB free with a Google account, which’s enough for a lot of everyday stuff like documents and photos that you can store in Google Drive. Not bad for something you do not pay for to use Google Drive.

Step 1: Open Google Drive and sign in

thing just go to Google Drive and log in with your Google account to start backing up your data.

Once you are in Google Drive you will land on your page. It might look a bit empty at first. That is normal when you start using Google Drive.

This is basically your Google Drive storage space. It fills up as you add Google Drive files.

Step 2: Upload Google Drive files

If you just want to backup a few things to Google Drive this is the easiest option to use Google Drive.

Click the “button, then choose either:

  • File upload for single Google Drive files
  • Folder upload for a group of Google Drive files

Then pick what you want to save to Google Drive. Photos, PDFs, videos, anything that you want to backup to Google Drive.

Upload it to Google Drive wait a bit and it is done. Your Google Drive files are now safely stored online in Google Drive. Simple, no setup needed to use Google Drive.

Step 3: Set up Google Drive backup

If you do not want to keep doing this manually to backup your Google Drive data there is a better way to use Google Drive.

Google has a tool called Drive for Desktop. You install it on your computer sign in to Google Drive and choose Google Drive folders you want to backup.

Things like:

  • Desktop
  • Documents
  • Pictures

After that it just runs in the background to backup your Google Drive data. You save a Google Drive file. It gets backed up automatically to Google Drive.

You of forget Google Drive is even there which is the point of using Google Drive.

Step 4: Backup your phone to Google Drive

Phones are where most of our important Google Drive data lives now so this matters when using Google Drive.

On Android Google services are already built in to Google Drive. You can sync things like contacts, photos and app Google Drive data easily.

For photos Google Photos is usually the option to backup to Google Drive. Turn on Google Drive backup once. Every picture you take gets saved automatically to Google Drive.

On iPhone you will need the Google Drive or Google Photos app,. It works pretty much the same after setup to backup your Google Drive data.

It takes a minutes to set up Google Drive then it just runs on its own to backup your data.

Step 5: Do not ignore Google Drive organization

At first it feels fine to dump everything into Google Drive.

After a while it turns into chaos when using Google Drive.

So yeah creating a few Google Drive folders helps a lot:

  • Work
  • Personal
  • Photos
  • Important Google Drive stuff

Does not have to be perfect when using Google Drive. Enough so you are not scrolling forever later trying to find one Google Drive file.

A thing people forget: Google Drive storage space

Google gives you 15 GB free to use Google Drive but it fills up faster than you think when storing Google Drive data.

Photos and videos are usually the reason when using Google Drive.

You can check your Google Drive storage in settings. If it starts getting full you can. Clean up old Google Drive files or upgrade your Google Drive plan if needed.

Nothing complicated, something to keep an eye on when using Google Drive.

Common Google Drive mistakes

A things people often mess up when using Google Drive:

  • Thinking Google Drive backup is on when it is not
  • Uploading once. Never updating Google Drive again
  • Forgetting to check if Google Drive files actually finished uploading
  • Not organizing Google Drive all

Nothing dramatic, but it can get annoying later when using Google Drive.

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