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How to Fix OneDrive Not Syncing Android SD Card Photo Folders
Question details
The user wants to back up photos from an Android SD card to OneDrive while preserving the original folder and album structure.
- Product
- OneDrive
- Device & OS
- Android
- Scenario
- Backing up image galleries and photo albums stored on an external SD card to OneDrive cloud storage.
- Observed behavior
- OneDrive's gallery sync only displays folders from internal memory. When photos from an SD card are backed up, they are flattened into a single OneDrive Pictures folder, losing all original folder and album structures.
Ensure your Android device is connected to a stable Wi-Fi network and verify that you have adequate storage space available in your Microsoft OneDrive account before proceeding with manual uploads.
Manually Recreate Folders and Upload via OneDrive App
Since OneDrive's automatic backup flattens SD card directories, manually creating folders and uploading files directly to them is the most reliable way to preserve your album structure.
OneDrive's automatic camera upload feature on Android does not map the folder directory of external SD cards. To keep your photos organized exactly as they are on your SD card, you must manually upload the files into corresponding folders within your OneDrive.
Launch the OneDrive app on your Android device and navigate to the 'Files' tab at the bottom of the screen.
Tap the '+' (plus) icon in the upper-right corner, select 'Create folder', and name it exactly after the album on your SD card.
Open the newly created folder, tap the '+' (plus) icon again, and select the 'Upload' option.
Navigate to your SD card using the file picker, select all the photos belonging to that specific album, and confirm to upload them directly into the folder.
Move SD Card Folders to Internal Phone Storage
If you have enough internal storage space on your phone, moving the albums from the SD card to internal storage allows OneDrive's gallery sync to automatically detect and back up the folders.
Manage Your Documents Efficiently with WPS Office
While managing your cloud storage and photo backups, you might also need a reliable tool for your documents. WPS Office is a lightweight, all-in-one alternative to Microsoft Office that offers seamless compatibility, saving you both money and device storage space.
- 1. Download the App: Visit the Google Play Store on your Android device and search for 'WPS Office'.
- 2. Install and Launch: Tap 'Install' and wait for the download to finish, then launch the application.
- 3. Sign In for Cloud Features: Create a free account or sign in with Google to unlock 1GB of free WPS Cloud storage for your files.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does OneDrive ignore my SD card folders on Android?
By design, the OneDrive Android app's automatic camera upload feature primarily scans the internal storage's DCIM and Pictures directories. It does not actively parse or preserve external SD card album structures for its automated folder backup feature.
Can I change the default OneDrive camera upload location?
No, you cannot change the destination folder for the automatic Camera Upload feature in OneDrive. All automatically backed up photos will default to the 'Pictures' or 'Camera Roll' folder in your OneDrive cloud root directory.
Is there a third-party way to auto-sync SD card folders to OneDrive?
Yes, since the native OneDrive app doesn't support auto-syncing specific SD card folders while keeping their structure, many users rely on third-party Android apps like 'FolderSync' or 'Autosync for OneDrive' to automate background transfers from an SD card to designated cloud folders.
