Set up PC folder backup

1. If you're prompted to back up your important folders (Desktop, Documents, and Pictures), select the prompt to start the folder backup wizard.
   

If you didn't see the prompt or you already closed the wizard, select the white or blue cloud icon in the Windows notification area, and then select  Help & Settings > Settings, then Backup > Manage backup.

2. In the Back up your folders dialog, make sure the folders that you want to back up are selected.
   

3. Select Start backup.
   
4. You can close the dialog box while your files sync to OneDrive. Or, to watch your files sync, select View upload progress. If you already closed the dialog, to open the OneDrive activity center, select the white or blue cloud in the notification area.
   

Access your backed-up folders on any device

When your files finish syncing to OneDrive, they're backed up and you can access them from anywhere in Documents, Desktop, or Pictures. When you back up your Desktop folder, the items on your desktop roam with you to your other PC desktops where you're running OneDrive.

If you're signed into the OneDrive sync app on your computer, you can use File Explorer to access your OneDrive. You can also use the OneDrive mobile app to access your folders on any device.

Change PC folder backup settings

If you want to stop or start backing up an important folder in OneDrive, you can update your folder selections in OneDrive Settings.

Important: When you stop backing up a folder, the files that were already backed up by OneDrive stay in OneDrive. If you no longer want those files in OneDrive, you'll need to move them to a local folder on your PC yourself. Any new files you add to that folder on your PC won't be backed up by OneDrive.

1. Open OneDrive Settings (select the white or blue cloud icon in your notification area, and then select  Help & Settings > Settings.)
   

2. In Settings, select Backup > Manage backup.
   
3. To stop backing up a folder, select Stop backup. To confirm that you want to stop backup in the Are you sure you want to stop folder backup dialog, select Stop backup.
   

4. To start backing up a folder, select any folder that doesn't say Files backed up, and then select Start backup.