Automatically Backup a Folder to A Network Drive
To automatically back up folders to a network drive, consider using third-party software or the Windows built-in tool to create a backup plan. This way, you can easily restore your folders in case of unexpected computer issues. By setting up automatic backups, you can ensure that your important files are safely stored on a network drive, making it easy to recover them when needed.
What Is Network Drive?
A network drive is a storage device that can be connected to multiple computers in a local area network, allowing businesses or homes to share files with others.
Automatically backing up folders to a network drive offers numerous benefits. This process ensures that critical data is safely stored in a centralized location, reducing the risk of data loss due to hardware failure, software corruption, or other unforeseen events.
Why Automatically Backup a Folder to A Network Drive?
An automatic backup to the network drive can prevent us from forgetting backup tasks and reduce backup maintenance work, and automatically backing up a folder to a network drive can also bring many benefits, such as choosing a network drive mainly for its accessibility and reliability.
- Large capacity: network storage generally provides free memory.
- Shareability: It allows users to access other computers.
- Convenience: Files can be accessed anytime and anywhere.
- Storing files on network drives can help avoid issues caused by system crashes, as the files are not stored locally on the computer.
Setting up an automatic backup folder to a network drive is a sensible step that's easy to operate and won't waste much time. To achieve this on Windows 10, there are three quick ways to automatically back up a folder to a network drive, which I will introduce next.
How to Automatically Backup a Folder to A Network Drive
To set up automatic backup folders to network drives in Windows 10, there are at least three ways to automate this task.
- Third-party software: Qiling Backup Home
- Windows built-in tool: Backup and Restore
- File History Windows 10
The three methods allow you to set up a backup schedule and backup your folders to a network drive, but they have some differences beyond that.
| Comparison | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Content | Folder, disks, and system image | Files, folders, and system image | Files and folders |
| Security | Encrypt backup images | No protection | No protection |
| Backup method | Full, incremental, and differential backup | Full backup | Full and incremental |
Qiling Backup is the best choice for automatic backup as it meets more needs and is the top incremental backup software on Windows 10. It can back up more content and save space, increasing efficiency. Three automatic backup methods are available: Qiling Backup, Windows Backup, and File History. All three methods can meet the basic requirements for automatic backup, but Qiling Backup offers more benefits and is the best option.
Method 1: Use Qiling Backup to Automatically Backup a Folder to A Network Drive
Qiling Backup is a professional backup software that meets all your backup needs, allowing you to easily backup files and folders, hard drives, and even clone a PC to a new one, with storage options including local, NAS, and new PC.
- It supports the system and partition backup.
- A cloud backup service that securely stores your files, allowing you to back up your data safely and encrypt the files for added protection.
- The system has a backup filter that removes unnecessary content and saves space.
- It supports rapid system image recovery when the system crashes.
Qiling Backup supports various Windows versions, including Windows 11/10/8 and Windows Vista/XP. It's user-friendly and allows anyone to easily back up their folders with minimal effort, requiring only a few simple steps.
Step 1. To start backup, click the File backup button.
Step 2. On the left-hand side, you'll see a list of local and network files to be backed up, which can be expanded to select specific files within a directory.
Step 3. Follow the on-screen instructions to select the desired location for storing the backup.
Step 4. In the Backup Options, you can click Options to encrypt the backup with a password, and specify the backup schedule, among other customizable features.
And choose whether or not to start the backup at a certain event in Backup Scheme.
Step 5. Backups can be stored on a local disk, in Qiling's cloud service, or on a network attached storage device (NAS).
Step 6. Qiling Backup allows customers to back up data to either a third-party cloud drive or the company's own cloud storage.
To back up data to a third-party cloud drive, select Local Drive, scroll down to add Cloud Device, and enter your account information.
Step 7. To start a backup, select Proceed. Once initiated, the backup process will be displayed as a card on the left-hand panel, indicating its completion. To access and manage the backup job in more detail, click on it.
Method 2: Use File History to Automatically Backup a Folder to A Network Drive
File History is a Windows tool that automatically backs up files from your user folder, including desktop, documents, downloads, and pictures, and stores changed files on a designated network drive.
Step 1: Open Open "Settings" from the Start menu.
Step 2: Go to Update & security and choose "Backup."
Step 3: To add a network drive, click the "Add a network location" option.
Step 4: To enable automatic file backups, toggle the "Automatically back up my files" button to the "On" position, and then click on the "More options" button.
Step 5: Set the backup time and click "Back up now" to initiate an automatic backup process.
Method 3: Use Backup and Restore to Automatically Backup a Folder to A Network Drive
Backup and Restore in Windows 7 can also be used for automatic folder backup in Windows 10, allowing you to back up folders to a NAS server or other network drives. Unlike File History, it also provides the ability to restore files, making it a useful tool for users who need to recover lost data.
Step 1: Open the control panel and click "System and Security."
Step 2: Find "Backup and Restore."
Step 3: Click " Set up backup" on the right side.
Step 4: Choose "Save on a network" on the right corner.
Step 5: To add a network drive, click on "Browse" to select the network drive location, then enter the username and password, and click "OK" to authenticate and connect.
Step 6: Click "Next" and then select either "Let Windows choose" or create a custom backup.
Step 7: To set an automatic backup time, click on "Change schedule" and then click "Save settings and run backup."
Conclusion
If you're looking for a hassle-free way to automatically back up folders to a network drive, you have three options to consider. Alternatively, you might prefer to use Qiling Backup, a more comprehensive backup software that can simplify the process and save you time.
FAQs about Automatically Backup a Folder to A Network Drive
The above introduces the three most comprehensive ways to automatically back up your folders. And here are some frequently asked questions.
1. Does Windows 10 automatically backup files?
Windows 10 offers two automatic backup features: "File History" and "Backup and Restore." These features allow you to set a backup plan, automatically backing up your files.
2. How do I automatically backup files to my NAS?
You can automatically backup files to NAS using professional backup software or the built-in Windows Backup and Restore tool.
Step 1: Open "Control panel" and choose "System and Security."
Step 2: Select " Backup and Restore."
Step 3: Set a backup or create a system image.
3. Does Windows 10 have a file backup program?
In Windows 10, you can use either "File History" or "Backup and Restore" in the control panel to back up your files.
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