How to Back up your Computer Data to the Cloud, by Britec09 on YouTube. 7 min 8 s.
- Video length
- 7 min 8 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Go to the Sync website and create a free account with your email address and a strong password. Confirm the signup email if one arrives.
Download the Sync desktop app for your system. It runs on Windows XP through 10 and on Mac OS X 10.5.2 or later.
Run the installer and open the app. Sign in with the account you just made.
Pick the folders you want to protect, such as Documents, Pictures and Desktop. Avoid backing up the whole drive on the free 5GB plan.
Start the upload and let it finish. Keep the computer on and connected until the app shows the files as synced.
Open the Sync web dashboard or a second device and check that a few files appear. This confirms the backup actually worked.
Turn on the app at startup so new and changed files keep backing up without you remembering to open it.
Test a restore by downloading one file from the cloud to a different folder. Knowing the restore works matters as much as the backup.
Tips and common mistakes
The free plan gives 5GB, so back up your most important folders first and add more later.
A backup you never test is not a real backup, so restore a file every few months.
Keep the app running in the background or new files will not upload.
Store your account password safely. End-to-end encryption means the company cannot reset your files for you.
Questions
Does this back up my whole computer?
No. You choose which folders to sync, and the free 5GB limit means you should start with documents and photos rather than the entire drive.
Can I get my files back if my hard drive fails?
Yes, as long as the files finished uploading. Install the app on a new machine, sign in and download the folders you need.
Is my data private?
Sync says it uses zero-knowledge, end-to-end encryption, so the company cannot read your files or file metadata. Keep your password safe because they cannot recover it.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
