How To Back Up Your Data For Free: Photos, Documents & More

Backing up your digital assets may not be the most exciting task, but it is crucial. With the availability of cloud storage and affordable hardware, there is no reason to delay protecting your files.

This guide will take you through various methods to back up your data for free.

Why should you back up your files?

Imagine losing all your photos, documents, and files in an instant due to a hard drive failure, ransomware attack, or theft. The anxiety and loss can be overwhelming, but this is preventable.

By establishing a backup system, you can ensure that your data is secure, regardless of what happens to your device.

What is a backup?

A backup is a duplicate of your data stored separately from your original files. This can be on another device, such as an external hard drive, or in the cloud.

It is important to note that simply storing files in a cloud service like Google Drive or Dropbox may not always constitute a backup. If you delete a file from your synced folder, it may also be deleted from the cloud.

For true backup protection, ensure your files are stored in a way that does not mirror deletions.

How to back up your data for free

Free cloud storage options

There are several free cloud storage services you can utilize for backing up important files:

• Google Drive: Offers 15GB of free storage, shared with Gmail and Google Photos.
• Dropbox: Provides 2GB of free space, which can be increased through referrals and other methods.
• Microsoft OneDrive: Offers 5GB of free storage, expandable through subscriptions.

Cloud services enable you to automatically sync files from your devices. If you require more options, we have reviewed and ranked the best free cloud storage and the best cloud storage services.

If you have selected a cloud service that meets your storage requirements, follow the steps below to set up your backup:

1. Download and install the app on your devices.
2. Select important folders (e.g., Documents, Photos) to back up. On phones, this often includes the camera roll.
3. Ensure that deletions from your device do not remove files from the cloud, if the service allows this setting.

If you are unsure about this solution, follow our guide on how safe cloud storage is, where we explain how it works and the measures put in place to ensure the safety and security of your files.

Free local storage options

For those with limited cloud storage, local backups are a good alternative. Here are some recommended options:

1. External USB drive: Use a USB drive to manually copy files. This method requires you to remember to back up regularly, but it is effective and protects against ransomware attacks since the drive is not always connected.
2. Built-in tools: Utilize built-in tools like ‘File History’ in Windows or ‘Time Machine’ on Mac to automate backups to an external drive.
3. Network attached storage (NAS): A NAS device connects to your router, making it accessible to all devices in your home for automatic backups.

If you are interested, we have compiled roundups of the best NAS drives and the best portable hard drive & SSD for backing up your videos, photos, music, and files.

Alternatively, install dedicated backup software that will automate the process (but you will still need to plug in your USB drive).

How to back up your entire PC or laptop

The first two methods we have outlined will back up specific files, but they may not be sufficient to restore your PC or laptop after a hard drive (or SSD) failure or if Windows completely stops working.

Creating a backup of all the files on your hard drive is also known as a ‘disk image,’ and you will need specialized software to do this. Fortunately, there are free and paid versions available that are not expensive. You can find options in our separate roundup of the best backup software, as most of these applications offer both file/folder and full PC backup options.

How to back up your phone

If you own an Android phone, Google offers 15GB of free storage shared with Gmail and Drive. Most Android phones automatically back up photos, contacts, and app data if you enable this in settings.

If you use an iPhone, Apple provides 5GB of free iCloud storage. To back up more data, you may need to purchase additional storage. 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 back up Android and how to back up an iPhone for more details.

Which backup method is best?

There is no one-size-fits-all solution, but combining methods is crucial. 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 only save 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. Taking the time to establish proper backups is worthwhile, as it can prevent significant data loss in the event of device failure or theft.