OneDrive File Issues

Fix OneDrive Missing Back Up Device Folders on iPad and iPhone

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is unable to find the 'Back up device folders' option in the iOS OneDrive app, a feature that is normally available on Android to sync folders such as Downloads, Twitter, and Instagram.

Product: Microsoft OneDrive
Device & OS: iOS / iPadOS
Scenario: Attempting to automatically back up specific device folders from an iPad or iPhone to OneDrive.
Observed behavior: The device folder backup option is completely missing in the iOS version of the OneDrive app.

Before you start

Ensure you have the latest version of the OneDrive app installed on your Apple device and verify that your Microsoft account has sufficient cloud storage available for manual uploads.

Solution 1Recommended

Manually Upload Files via the OneDrive App

Since iOS prevents automatic folder syncing in the background, you must manually upload the required files directly into the OneDrive app.

Apple's iOS ecosystem employs strict file-system and privacy restrictions known as sandboxing. This prevents third-party apps like OneDrive from automatically scanning or syncing random device folders in the background. Consequently, the automatic folder backup feature available on Android is not present on iPhones or iPads.

Open the OneDrive app

Launch the Microsoft OneDrive app on your iPad or iPhone and sign into your account.

Initiate an upload

Navigate to the folder within OneDrive where you want to store the files, then tap the '+' (plus) icon located at the top right of the screen.

Select your files

Tap 'Upload' from the dropdown menu, choose 'Files' or 'Photos' depending on your content, and select the specific items you wish to back up.

Solution 2

Move Files Using the Apple Files App

Use the native iOS Files app integration to easily copy or move multiple files from your iPad's local storage directly to OneDrive.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Will Microsoft add automatic device folder backups to OneDrive for iOS in the future?

Currently, it is highly unlikely due to Apple's strict file system sandboxing. iOS prevents third-party apps from freely accessing local storage folders in the background to ensure strict user privacy.

Can OneDrive still automatically back up my photos on an iPad?

Yes. While specific app folders cannot be synced, OneDrive offers a 'Camera Upload' feature. You can enable this in the OneDrive app settings to automatically back up your main Camera Roll.

How can I make my iPad downloads save directly to OneDrive?

You can change the default download location for Safari. Go to your iPad's Settings > Safari > Downloads, and select a folder within your integrated OneDrive instead of the local 'On My iPad' storage.

Document & File Issues