Keeping your important files safe is essential in our digital world. Automatic backups to Google Drive offer a reliable solution for safeguarding your documents, photos, and other valuable data. In this guide, I'll walk you through setting up automatic folder backups to Google Drive on both PC and Android devices.

Regular backups protect you from data loss due to hardware failure, accidental deletions, or malware attacks. Google Drive provides 15GB of free storage and works across multiple platforms, making it an excellent choice for your backup needs.

Setting Up Automatic Backup on Windows PC

Windows users have several options for creating automatic backups to Google Drive. Let's explore the most effective methods.

Method 1: Using Google Drive for Desktop

Google Drive for Desktop (formerly Backup and Sync) is Google's official desktop client that makes backing up folders straightforward.

Step 1: Download and Install Google Drive for Desktop

• Visit the Google Drive download page
• Click "Download Drive for desktop"
• Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions
• Sign in with your Google account

Step 2: Configure Folder Backup

• After installation, Google Drive for Desktop appears in your system tray
• Click the Drive icon in the system tray
• Click on the gear icon and select "Preferences"
• Go to the "My Computer" tab
• Click "Add folder"
• Browse and select the folder you want to back up
• Choose whether to sync this folder to Google Drive or back up to Google Photos
• Click "Done"

Step 3: Verify Your Backup Settings

• Return to the Preferences window
• Check that your selected folders appear under "Folders from this computer"
• Ensure the sync status shows "Syncing"
• Visit drive.google.com to confirm your files are being uploaded

Once configured, Google Drive for Desktop will automatically sync changes from your selected folders to your Google Drive account. Any new files added to these folders will be backed up, and any modifications will be synchronized.

Method 2: Using Windows File History with Google Drive

Windows File History is a built-in backup tool that can work with Google Drive.

Step 1: Set Up Google Drive on Your PC

• Install Google Drive for Desktop as described in Method 1
• Make sure the Google Drive folder is accessible in File Explorer

Step 2: Configure File History

• Open Windows Settings (Windows key + I)
• Click on "Update & Security"
• Select "Backup" from the left menu
• Click "Add a drive" under "Back up using File History"
• Select your Google Drive folder

Step 3: Select Folders to Back Up

• Click "More options" under the File History section
• Under "Back up these folders," you'll see a list of folders Windows backs up by default
• To add a specific folder, click "Add a folder" and browse to select it
• To remove folders from the backup, select them and click "Remove"

Step 4: Set Backup Frequency

• In the same window, under "Backup my files," select how often you want backups to run
• Under "Keep my backups," choose how long to keep backed-up versions
• Click "Back up now" to start your first backup

Method 3: Using Third-Party Backup Software

Several third-party applications offer more advanced backup features with Google Drive integration.

Using Duplicati

Duplicati is a free, open-source backup solution that works well with Google Drive.

• Download and install Duplicati from their official website
• Open Duplicati and click "Add backup"
• Give your backup a name and description
• For storage type, select "Google Drive"
• Authenticate with your Google account
• Select the source folders you want to back up
• Set up a backup schedule
• Configure encryption settings if desired
• Click "Save" to create your backup job

Using Rclone

Rclone is a command-line program that syncs files to and from cloud storage services.

• Download and install Rclone from the official site
• Open Command Prompt or PowerShell
• Run rclone config to set up Google Drive as a remote
• Create a batch file with the rclone sync command
• Schedule this batch file using Windows Task Scheduler

Setting Up Automatic Backup on Android

Android users have multiple options for automatically backing up folders to Google Drive.

Method 1: Using the Google Drive App

The official Google Drive app offers a straightforward way to back up specific folders.

Step 1: Install Google Drive

• Open the Google Play Store
• Search for "Google Drive"
• Install the app if it's not already on your device
• Sign in with your Google account

Step 2: Set Up Auto Backup for Photos and Videos

• Open the Google Drive app
• Tap your profile picture in the top-right corner
• Select "Settings"
• Tap "Backup"
• Toggle on "Photos & videos" to automatically back up media files
• Choose backup quality (Original quality counts against your storage quota, while Storage saver offers unlimited free backup with slightly reduced quality)

Step 3: Back Up Specific Folders

• In the Google Drive app, tap the "+" button
• Select "Upload"
• Navigate to the folder you want to back up
• Long-press to select the folder
• Tap "Upload"

While the Google Drive app doesn't offer true automatic folder backup (except for photos and videos), you can set reminders to manually back up important folders regularly.

Method 2: Using Autosync for Google Drive

Autosync is a third-party app that provides true two-way synchronization between your Android device and Google Drive.

Step 1: Install Autosync

• Open Google Play Store
• Search for "Autosync for Google Drive"
• Install the app

Step 2: Connect to Google Drive

• Open Autosync
• Tap "SIGN IN"
• Select your Google account
• Grant the necessary permissions

Step 3: Create a Sync Folder Pair

• Tap the "+" button to create a new sync pair
• For "Local folder," tap "Browse" and select the folder you want to back up
• For "Remote folder," choose where in Google Drive you want to store the backup
• Under "Sync method," select "Upload only" for a one-way backup
• Tap "SAVE"

Step 4: Configure Sync Settings

• Tap the sync pair you just created
• Go to "Sync options"
• Set "Sync interval" to your preferred frequency (the free version limits this to every 12 hours)
• Enable "Sync on charging" and "Sync on WiFi only" to save battery and data
• Tap "SAVE"

The free version of Autosync has some limitations, including a 10MB file size limit and less frequent sync intervals. The paid version removes these restrictions.

Method 3: Using FolderSync

FolderSync is another powerful app for automated folder backup to cloud services.

Step 1: Install FolderSync

• Open Google Play Store
• Search for "FolderSync"
• Install the app

Step 2: Set Up Google Drive Account

• Open FolderSync
• Go to "Accounts" tab
• Tap the "+" button
• Select "Google Drive"
• Name your account
• Tap "Authorize" and sign in with your Google account
• Grant the necessary permissions

Step 3: Create a Folder Pair

• Go to the "Folderpairs" tab
• Tap the "+" button
• Name your folder pair
• Under "Sync type," select "To remote folder"
• For "Account," select your Google Drive account
• For "Remote folder," choose your destination in Google Drive
• For "Local folder," select the folder on your device you want to back up

Step 4: Configure Sync Settings

• Under "Sync options," configure:
  • Sync subfolders (enable this to include all subfolders)
  • File types to include/exclude
  • Scheduling options (set up automatic sync at specific intervals)
  • Conditions (like only syncing on WiFi or when charging)
• Tap "Save" to create the folder pair

FolderSync offers a free lite version with limited features and a paid version with full functionality.

Advanced Backup Strategies

For those who need more robust backup solutions, consider these advanced strategies.

Creating a Backup Rotation System

A backup rotation system helps maintain multiple backup versions while managing storage space efficiently.

Implementing the 3-2-1 Backup Rule

• Keep 3 copies of your important data
• Store them on 2 different media types
• Keep 1 copy offsite (Google Drive serves as your offsite backup)

Setting Up a Grandfather-Father-Son Rotation

This classic rotation scheme maintains daily, weekly, and monthly backups:

• Daily backups (Sons): Keep for one week
• Weekly backups (Fathers): Keep for one month
• Monthly backups (Grandfathers): Keep for one year

You can implement this using folder structures in Google Drive and scheduling different backup jobs.

Encrypting Your Backups

For sensitive data, encrypting your backups before uploading to Google Drive adds an extra layer of security.

Using VeraCrypt for Windows

• Download and install VeraCrypt
• Create an encrypted container
• Mount the container and copy your files into it
• Dismount the container
• Back up the container file to Google Drive

Using EDS Lite for Android

• Install EDS Lite from Google Play Store
• Create an encrypted container
• Add your files to the container
• Use Autosync or FolderSync to back up the container to Google Drive

Monitoring Your Backups

Regular monitoring ensures your backup system is working correctly.

Check Backup Status

• Regularly verify that your backups are completing successfully
• Check Google Drive to confirm new files are being uploaded
• Test restoring files occasionally to ensure the backup is usable

Set Up Notifications

• Configure your backup software to send notifications upon completion or failure
• Use Google Drive's notification settings to alert you about storage limits

Troubleshooting Common Backup Issues

Even the best backup systems can encounter problems. Here's how to address common issues:

Slow Upload Speeds

• Check your internet connection
• Try limiting the upload bandwidth in your backup software settings
• Break large folders into smaller backup jobs
• Schedule backups during off-peak hours

Sync Conflicts

• Ensure you're not editing files simultaneously on multiple devices
• Check for filename conflicts
• Review conflict resolution settings in your backup software

Storage Quota Issues

• Monitor your Google Drive storage usage
• Clean up unnecessary files regularly
• Consider upgrading to a paid Google One plan for more storage
• Use selective backup to include only essential files

Permission Errors

• Check that your backup software has the necessary permissions to access your files
• On Android, ensure the app has storage permissions
• Verify that your Google account has proper authentication with the backup tool

Managing Google Drive Storage

Effective storage management is crucial for maintaining your backup system.

Checking Your Storage Usage

• Visit drive.google.com and click on "Storage" in the left sidebar
• On Android, open the Google Drive app, tap your profile picture, and select "Storage"

Clearing Unnecessary Files

• Use the "Storage" view to identify large files
• Delete old versions of backed-up files you no longer need
• Empty the trash to permanently remove deleted files

Upgrading Storage

If you need more space, Google One plans offer expanded storage options:

• 100GB for $1.99/month
• 200GB for $2.99/month
• 2TB for $9.99/month
• Higher tiers available for more extensive needs

Comparing Backup Methods

Here's a quick comparison of the different backup methods discussed:

Method	Platform	Automatic?	Encryption	Cost	Ease of Use
Google Drive for Desktop	Windows	Yes	No (built-in)	Free	High
Windows File History	Windows	Yes	No	Free	Medium
Duplicati	Windows	Yes	Yes	Free	Medium
Rclone	Windows	Yes (with scheduling)	Yes	Free	Low (command-line)
Google Drive App	Android	Partial (photos/videos only)	No	Free	High
Autosync	Android	Yes	No	Free/Paid	Medium
FolderSync	Android	Yes	No	Free/Paid	Medium

Quick Tip to ensure your videos never go missing

Videos are precious memories and all of us never want to lose them to hard disk crashes or missing drives. PicBackMan is the easiest and simplest way to keep your videos safely backed up in one or more online accounts. 

Simply download PicBackMan (it's free!), register your account, connect to your online store and tell PicBackMan where your videos are - PicBackMan does the rest, automatically. It bulk uploads all videos and keeps looking for new ones and uploads those too. You don't have to ever touch it.

Conclusion

Setting up automatic folder backups to Google Drive is a smart way to protect your important data on both PC and Android devices. For Windows users, Google Drive for Desktop offers the simplest solution, while Android users might prefer Autosync or FolderSync for true automated backups.

Remember that a good backup strategy involves regular monitoring and maintenance. Check your backups periodically, manage your storage effectively, and consider implementing encryption for sensitive files.

By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can create a reliable backup system that safeguards your digital life against data loss. Start backing up today—you'll thank yourself later when you need to recover an important file!

Frequently Asked Questions

How much storage does Google Drive offer for free?

Google Drive provides 15GB of free storage shared across Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos. If you need more space, you can upgrade to a Google One subscription starting at $1.99/month for 100GB.

Will Google Drive automatically update backed-up files when I make changes?

Yes, when using Google Drive for Desktop on Windows or apps like Autosync on Android, changes to your files will be detected and synchronized automatically according to your sync settings. The frequency depends on your configuration.

Can I back up my entire computer to Google Drive?

While technically possible, backing up an entire computer to Google Drive isn't recommended due to storage limitations and the time required for initial backup. It's better to selectively back up important folders rather than the entire system.

What happens if I delete a file from my computer after it's backed up to Google Drive?

It depends on your backup method. With two-way sync, deleting a local file will also remove it from Google Drive. With one-way backup methods, the file remains in Google Drive even after deletion from your device, providing true backup functionality.

Is Google Drive secure enough for sensitive documents?

Google Drive uses strong encryption for files in transit and at rest on their servers. However, for highly sensitive documents, consider encrypting files before uploading them using tools like VeraCrypt for Windows or EDS Lite for Android to add an extra layer of protection.