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Backing up your data is a crucial part of maintaining digital security, and IDrive provides an excellent solution for this. While cloud backups offer reliability and easy access to your files, having a local backup is equally important. It adds an extra layer of protection, offering faster recovery and offline access to your files. Setting up IDrive backup to a local drive on Windows 10 ensures that your data is safely stored in both cloud and local storage, allowing for peace of mind.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of setting up IDrive backup to a local drive on Windows 10 step-by-step, ensuring you can easily protect your files on both the cloud and your local drive.

Why Should You Set Up IDrive Backup to a Local Drive on Windows 10?

Before we dive into the steps, it's important to understand why having a local backup in addition to cloud storage is beneficial:

Faster Data Recovery: Accessing files from a local drive is usually much faster than downloading them from the cloud.
Offline Availability: Local backups are available without an internet connection, which is especially helpful in case of internet issues or large file retrieval.
Data Redundancy: If your cloud storage encounters an issue or you lose access, having a local backup ensures your data remains secure.
Enhanced Security: By keeping a local copy of your files, you can ensure that your backup is not subject to potential cloud service outages or security breaches.

Now that you understand the benefits, let's get into the steps for setting up IDrive backup to a local drive on Windows 10.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Set Up IDrive Backup to a Local Drive on Windows 10

Step 1: Download and Install IDrive

If you haven’t installed IDrive yet, the first step is to download and install the software. Follow these steps:

Visit the IDrive website: Go to the official IDrive site at.
Create an Account or Log In: If you’re a new user, sign up for an account. If you already have an account, just log in.
Download the Windows Version: Once logged in, navigate to the Downloads section and select the appropriate version for Windows 10. Click the Download button.
Install the Software: After the download completes, open the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to install the application on your Windows 10 machine.

Once installation is complete, you're ready to set up your backup.

Once IDrive is installed, open the software on your computer:

Launch IDrive: Double-click on the IDrive icon on your desktop or search for it in the Start Menu.
Log In: Enter your IDrive account credentials (your registered email address and password) to sign in.

Now that you're logged in, you can begin setting up your backup.

Step 3: Choose Files to Backup

IDrive lets you choose which files you want to back up, so you have control over your backup data. Here’s how to select your files:

Go to the Backup Tab: In the IDrive dashboard, click on the Backup tab to begin selecting the files you want to back up.
Select Files/Folders: Click on Select Files/Folders and browse your computer’s directories to choose the files and folders you want to include in the backup.
Custom Backup: You can choose specific files, directories, or perform a full system backup if you want to secure all of your data.

Once you've selected the files, it’s time to choose the backup destination, including your local drive.

Step 4: Set Up IDrive Backup to Local Drive on Windows 10

Here’s the key step: configuring IDrive backup to a local drive on Windows 10. Follow these instructions:

Access Backup Settings: Click on the Settings icon (often a gear symbol) located next to the Backup button.
Select Backup Location: In the settings window, look for the Backup Location option. You will be prompted to select where you want your backup to be stored.
Choose Local Drive: Select your local drive (such as the internal hard drive or an external drive) as the destination for your backup. You can choose to create a new folder for your IDrive backups to keep them organized.
Enable Both Cloud and Local Backup: Ensure that both Cloud Backup and Local Backup options are selected. This way, IDrive will back up your files to both the cloud and the local drive.

At this point, you've configured the software to back up your files to both cloud storage and your local drive.

Step 5: Schedule Your Backups

To ensure your files are regularly backed up to your local drive and the cloud, IDrive allows you to set a backup schedule. Here’s how:

Go to Backup Schedule Settings: In the Settings menu, navigate to the Backup Schedule tab.
Choose Backup Frequency: You can select a daily, weekly, or custom schedule, depending on how often you want your files backed up.
Enable Real-Time Backup: For continuous backup, turn on Real-Time Backup, which automatically backs up files as soon as they are modified or created.
Set the Time: You can specify the exact time and days for the backup to occur. Be sure your computer is on at those times to ensure a successful backup.

With the schedule set, IDrive will automatically back up your files to both the cloud and your local drive based on your chosen settings.

Step 6: Start the Backup Process

Once everything is configured, it’s time to start your first backup.

Click Start Backup: In the IDrive dashboard, click the Start Backup button to begin the backup process.
Monitor the Backup Progress: IDrive will begin backing up your selected files to both your cloud account and your local drive. You can monitor the progress in the Backup Status section. The time it takes will depend on the size of your files and your internet speed.

The first backup may take longer, but after that, incremental backups will be faster since only new or modified files will be backed up.

Step 7: Restoring Files from Local Backup

If you ever need to restore your files from your local backup, the process is simple:

Go to Restore Tab: In the IDrive dashboard, click on the Restore tab.
Select Files to Restore: Browse the list of backed-up files and select which ones you wish to restore.
Choose the Destination: You can choose to restore the files to their original location or specify a new folder for restoration.
Click Restore: Once you've selected your files and destination, click Restore to initiate the process.

IDrive will restore your files from the local backup, offering a faster and more reliable recovery solution.

Additional Tips for Setting Up IDrive Backup to Local Drive on Windows 10

External Drives: If you're backing up to an external hard drive, ensure it is connected whenever scheduled backups are set to occur. External drives can also be used for added storage capacity.
Backup Size Management: Ensure your local drive has enough space to accommodate your backups. If necessary, you can back up selective files or upgrade your storage.
Encrypt Your Data: For added security, IDrive offers 256-bit AES encryption for both cloud and local backups. Enable encryption to protect your data from unauthorized access.
Use Versioning: IDrive provides file versioning, which allows you to restore previous versions of files. This feature can be particularly useful if you need to recover from accidental changes or deletions.

Conclusion

Setting up IDrive backup to a local drive on Windows 10 is a smart way to ensure your data is doubly protected—both in the cloud and on your physical devices. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily configure IDrive to back up your important files and enjoy peace of mind knowing your data is secure, both offline and online.

How to Set Up IDrive Backup to a Local Drive on Windows 10: A Complete Guide