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How to Sync Documents Across Multiple Computers Using OneDrive
Question details
The user wants to know how to organize and sync documents across three different computers using Microsoft OneDrive while maintaining a separate USB drive backup.
- Product
- Microsoft OneDrive
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Setting up file synchronization across multiple personal computers for seamless access and distinct external backup management.
- Observed behavior
- The user aims to achieve a state where local documents seamlessly mirror across three computers via cloud sync, but external USB storage remains independent.
Ensure you are signed in to the exact same Microsoft account on all three computers and have sufficient OneDrive cloud storage space to accommodate your combined files.
Enable OneDrive Folder Backup on Each Computer
Use OneDrive's built-in Sync and Backup feature to mirror your Documents folder across all connected devices.
By enabling the folder backup feature in OneDrive, any file saved to your standard Documents folder will automatically upload to the cloud and download to the corresponding folder on your other linked computers.
Click the OneDrive cloud icon located in the system tray (taskbar) of your first computer, select the gear icon, and click 'Settings'.
In the settings window, select 'Sync and Backup' from the left-hand menu, then click the 'Manage Backup' button.
Toggle the switch for the 'Documents' folder to turn it on, and click 'Save changes' or 'Start backup' to initiate the synchronization.
Log into the same Microsoft account on your second and third computers, and repeat these exact steps to link their Documents folders to the same cloud directory.
Sync Your Documents Across All Computers with WPS Office
WPS Office offers a robust built-in cloud service (WPS Cloud) that effortlessly syncs your documents, spreadsheets, and presentations across multiple PCs, Macs, and mobile devices without requiring third-party sync apps.
- 1. Install WPS Office: Download and install WPS Office on all three of your computers.
- 2. Sign In to Your Account: Launch the application and log into the exact same WPS account on every computer.
- 3. Save to WPS Cloud: When creating or editing a document, choose 'WPS Cloud' as your save destination instead of your local hard drive.
- 4. Access Files Anywhere: Open the 'WPS Cloud' tab from the WPS Office home screen on any of your devices to instantly access and continue working on your synced files.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why aren't my files appearing on the second and third computers?
Ensure that you are logged into the same Microsoft account on all devices, that you have an active internet connection, and that the OneDrive application is running in the background on each computer.
Can I set OneDrive to automatically sync my USB flash drive?
No, OneDrive does not support direct automatic syncing of removable USB drives. You must manually copy the files from your USB drive to a synced OneDrive folder on your local computer.
Will syncing files across three computers use up all my local hard drive space?
Not necessarily. By enabling the 'Files On-Demand' feature in OneDrive settings, your synced files will be visible on all computers but will only consume local hard drive space when you specifically open them or mark them as 'Always keep on this device'.
What happens if I delete a synced file on one computer?
If you delete a synced file from your Documents or OneDrive folder on one computer, it will be automatically deleted from the cloud and removed from your other two computers.
