How to Back Up iPhone to OneDrive? A Step-by-Step Guide

"As I use Office on a PC I have cloud storage in OneDrive. I want to back up my iPhone (not just photos) there rather than Apple's cloud. Surely this should be possible rather than paying for storage I don't need? How do I do it?"

- from Apple Community

As an iPhone user, you may want to back up your data regularly to prevent losing important files due to accidental deletion, device damage, iOS update, jailbreak, or other reasons. Although iCloud is a common choice for iPhone users, its storage space is limited, and there are certain restrictions when accessing it across platforms. As a result, many users choose to use OneDrive to store and back up their iPhone data. This article will explain how to back up iPhone data to OneDrive, including photos, videos, documents, and more.

Part 1. What Is OneDrive?

OneDrive is a cloud storage service that allows you to store and access your files online from any device.

It is offered by Microsoft as part of the Microsoft 365 suite of software or as a free standalone account with a generous amount of space. OneDrive also lets you share your files with others, collaborate on Office documents in real time, and keep your files protected and backed up. OneDrive integrates with Windows 10/11, making it easy to sync your files and settings across your devices. (OneDrive not syncing?)

Part 2. How to Back Up iPhone to OneDrive?

iPhone users can back up their data to OneDrive either by manual upload or automatic synchronization.

2.1 How to Manually Back Up iPhone to OneDrive

If you only want to back up specific files, such as documents, photos, videos, etc., you can manually upload them. The advantage of this method is that it allows you to selectively store data without taking up too much cloud storage space.

To manually back up your iPhone to OneDrive, follow these steps:

Step 1. Go to the App Store, download, and install the Microsoft OneDrive app.

Step 2. Open the OneDrive app and log in with your Microsoft account.

Step 3. On the OneDrive homepage, tap the "+" button at the bottom.

Step 4. Select the "Upload" option, then choose the type of file you want to upload (photos, videos, documents, etc.).

Step 5. After selecting the files, tap the "Upload" button and wait for the upload to complete.

2.2 How to Automatically Back Up iPhone Photos to OneDrive

If you want the photos and videos on your iPhone to be automatically backed up to OneDrive, you can enable the Camera Upload feature in OneDrive. This feature automatically detects newly taken photos and syncs them to OneDrive without the need for manual action. (iPhone photos disappeared from Camera Roll?)

To back up iPhone photos to OneDrive, follow these steps:

Step 1. Open the OneDrive app and log in to your account.

Step 2. Tap the profile icon in the top right corner, then select "Settings".

Step 3. Find the "Camera Upload" option and enable this feature.

Step 4. Set the upload conditions:

• Wi-Fi or cellular data: Choose to upload only over Wi-Fi to save data.
• Include videos: If you want to back up videos as well, enable the "Include videos" option.

Step 5. Once set up, OneDrive will automatically upload new photos and videos from your iPhone without any manual action.

Part 3. Best OneDrive Alternative to Back Up iPhone Data

Although OneDrive can store photos, videos, and documents, it cannot fully back up important iPhone data such as contacts, messages, etc. Therefore, if you need a more comprehensive iPhone backup solution, Coolmuster iOS Assistant is a better choice.

What can iOS Assistant do for you?

• Backup and restore everything on iPhone/iPad/iPod with one click.
• Transfer iOS files freely after your preview and selection.
• Fully manage iTunes backup files and iOS data on the computer.
• Freely edit, add, and delete data info saved on iOS devices directly on PC/Mac.
• Support contacts, messages, music, photos, videos, apps, and more.
• The latest iPhone 16 and iOS 18 are supported.

Free Download for PC

 

Free Download for Mac

Here is how to back up your iPhone to the computer using iOS Assistant:

Video Tutorial:

Bonus: Why Back Up iPhone to OneDrive Instead of iCloud?

Many users struggle with the choice between OneDrive and iCloud when selecting cloud storage. Why would OneDrive be a possible alternative to iCloud? Why use OneDrive instead of iCloud? Here are some advantages of OneDrive:

• Larger Free Storage Space: OneDrive offers 5GB of free storage, the same as iCloud, but can be extended to 1TB with Microsoft 365, whereas iCloud requires additional payment for extra storage.
• Cross-Platform Access: OneDrive is available on Windows, Mac, and Android, while iCloud is primarily designed for Apple devices.
• More Flexible Storage Management: OneDrive allows users to selectively back up files, whereas iCloud typically syncs all iPhone data.
• Better for Work Needs: OneDrive is deeply integrated with Microsoft Office, making it more suitable for work-related scenarios.

Conclusion

Through this article, you have learned how to back up iPhone to OneDrive, including manually uploading and automatically syncing photos. Additionally, if you need a more comprehensive iPhone backup solution, Coolmuster iOS Assistant is undoubtedly a better choice, as it can back up all iPhone data and conveniently manage and restore your data.

Related Articles:

Back Up iPhone to Google Drive & Restore Google Drive Backup to iPhone

2 Simple Ways to Back Up iPhone to Flash/USB/Thumb Drive [Reassuring Guide]

How to Migrate from Google Drive to OneDrive? A Comprehensive Guide

Top 7 iPhone Backup Software for Windows/Mac in 2025 [Free & Paid]