How to create an online drive on your Windows PC

David Adubiina -

If you’re frustrated with storage running out or worried about losing important files due to a malware attack on your local disk, you’re not alone! I’ve been in this situation countless times, and like many PC users, I knew I needed a better solution. Fortunately, one way to protect your data while keeping enough storage space free is by setting up an online drive.

With an online drive, you can back up essential files, access them from anywhere, and ensure they remain safe even if something happens to your PC. But how do you create one? In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to set up an online drive for your PC, ensuring your files are always secure and accessible.

Steps to Create an Online Drive

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We will be using Google drive as an example in this article

Step 1. Open Your Browser and Search for Google Drive or OneDrive

The first thing you want to do is to choose a cloud storage provider whether Google Drive or OneDrive then head over to your preferred browser and type "Google Drive for Desktop" or "OneDrive for Desktop" in the search bar.

Step 2. Select the First Search Result

Once the search results appear, click on the first official link that leads to either Google Drive’s or OneDrive’s download page.

3. Download Drive for Desktop

On the download page, click the "Download For Windows" button for your chosen cloud service.

Step 4. Install Drive for Desktop

After downloading, open the installation file and tap 'Install' to install the software on your PC.

Step 5. Set Up Your Local Disk Sync

Once installed, Launch the Drive app and sign in with your account.

Next, follow these steps:

  • Choose which folders you want to sync from your computer to the Drive and tap "Next"
  • You can choose to "Back up photos and videos to Google Photos" or choose to "Skip". After that, tap "Next" to finalize your set up.

After completing the setup, your PC will now sync files automatically to the cloud, keeping them secure and easily accessible from anywhere.

How to Access Your Synced Files On Windows PC

To access your files, follow these steps:

Step 1. Go to your File Explorer

Step 2. Tap on "This PC" and click on "Google Drive" beside your local disk to access your files.

Conclusion

Setting up an online drive for your PC is easier than you think, and trust me, once you do it, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner. No more stressing over lost files, storage space running out, or malware ruining your important documents. Whether you go with Google Drive or OneDrive, you now have a reliable way to keep your files safe and accessible anytime, anywhere.

Image credit: David Adubiina/Techloy.com