Recommended Free Tools
For a few OneDrive items, download them from OneDrive on the web, then copy them to your external hard drive. For a large collection, use the OneDrive sync app and copy files from File Explorer or Finder after they are downloaded to your computer. Verify the external copy before deleting anything from OneDrive: moving a file out of the synced OneDrive folder can remove it from the cloud as well.
Choose the right method
| Situation | Recommended method | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| A few files or folders | Download from OneDrive on the web, then copy to the external drive. | Multiple selected items download together as a ZIP that you must extract. |
| Many files or folders | Use the OneDrive sync app, then copy from File Explorer on Windows or Finder on Mac. | Files marked online-only must be downloaded before copying; changes in the synced folder can affect OneDrive. |
Microsoft documents both downloading selected items and working with synced files. Its download instructions cover the browser route, while its OneDrive file-storage guidance explains how synced files appear in the computer’s file manager.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Download a few files or folders from OneDrive
- Connect the external hard drive and confirm it appears in your computer’s file manager.
- Open OneDrive in a web browser and select the files or folders you want. Choose Download; Microsoft says the command appears after items are selected. If you want to avoid syncing the downloaded copy back to OneDrive, save it to a folder outside the OneDrive folder.
- If you selected more than one item, locate the downloaded ZIP file and extract it. Copy the extracted files or folders—not just the ZIP, unless you specifically want to keep an archive—to the external drive.
- Open the external drive and check that the copied files and folders are present and accessible.
- Eject the drive using your computer’s safe-removal option before unplugging it.
Microsoft documents the multi-item ZIP behavior in its OneDrive and SharePoint download guidance; its external-storage instructions recommend checking a copy before removing the device.
Copy a large OneDrive collection with the sync app
- Make sure the OneDrive sync app is running and the files you need are included in the folders synced to this computer.
- In File Explorer on Windows or Finder on Mac, open the OneDrive folder and locate the files to copy.
- If a file is online-only, use its OneDrive context menu to select Always keep on this device, then wait for its contents to download. In Windows, Microsoft also documents a download-all option in its Files On-Demand guidance.
- Copy the downloaded files or folders to the external drive. Use copy-and-paste or the file manager’s copy operation; do not drag files out of the OneDrive folder if you intend to keep them in OneDrive.
- Wait for the copy to finish, inspect the destination on the external drive, and eject the drive before disconnecting it.
Files On-Demand can show a file in the OneDrive folder without storing its contents on the computer. A placeholder is not a complete local copy to transfer, so download the items first. Also, moving items outside the synced OneDrive folder is not merely a way to make an external copy: Microsoft says that move downloads the items to the new location and removes them from OneDrive.
#1 Best Overall
- Easily store and access 2TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Keep the cloud copy until you have verified the external one
A downloaded or copied file on the external drive is a separate local copy. By contrast, moving or deleting an item inside the synced OneDrive folder can be reflected in OneDrive. For a backup, copy files to the external drive, verify that the copy opens, and only then decide whether you also want to delete the cloud version. Microsoft describes the relationship between synced-folder changes and OneDrive in its file-storage guidance and the Files On-Demand article.
Check these OneDrive download limits and exceptions
- Microsoft documents a 250 GB file-size limit, a 10,000-file limit, and a 10,000-file folder limit for OneDrive downloads. For the specified compressed-download scenario, it documents a 10 GB limit per ZIP and a 20 GB overall limit.
- OneNote notebooks cannot be downloaded as ordinary files. A downloaded folder containing a notebook may instead include a text file explaining the error.
- In specified cases, files protected by sensitivity labels or information rights management (IRM) that are over 4 MB may be excluded from ZIP downloads. Try downloading affected files individually.
- Microsoft’s instructions say files cannot be downloaded directly from the Shared view. Open the file and save a copy to a chosen location. For a shared folder you use regularly, Microsoft suggests adding it to your OneDrive and syncing it.
These restrictions and exceptions are set out in Microsoft’s download guidance. They matter most when a large or shared collection is involved.
Rank #2
- Easily store and access 5TB of content on the go with the Seagate portable drive, a USB external hard Drive
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Copying files is different from moving the OneDrive sync folder
Copying a backup to an external drive does not require relocating the live OneDrive sync folder. Microsoft’s separate instructions for installing OneDrive on an external drive address the sync-folder location, and state that removable USB drives are not supported for that location. That is distinct from copying downloaded OneDrive files onto a removable drive.
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOutdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchOneDrive folder selection also cannot include locations outside OneDrive, such as an external USB drive; Microsoft explains this in its folder-sync selection instructions.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- [Upgraded Version] - This external hard drive features a mirrored logo stripe combined with a striped anti-slip design, and the rounded corners of the casing make it easier to grip. The stripes also have a heat dissipation function, ensuring stable and fast data transfer.
- 【Ultra-thin and quiet】 - The motherboard adopts JMicron 578 noise-free solution, giving you a quiet working environment. Lightweight and portable size designed to fit in your pocket for easy portability.
- 【Ultra-Fast Data Transfers】 - Pairing this external hard drive with JMicron 578 solution USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 interfaces enables blazing-fast data transfer. It boasts theoretical read speeds of up to 125MB/s and write speeds of up to 103MB/s.
- 【Plug and Play】 - With no software to install, just plug it in and the drive is ready to use.The hard disk chip is wrapped with an aluminum anti-interference layer to increase heat dissipation and protect data.
- 【What You Get】 - 1 x Portable Hard Drive, 1 x USB 3.0 Cable, 1 x User Manual, Gift-type shell packaging ,Three-year manufacturer's warranty and free technical support services.
Rank #4
- Easily store and access 4TB of content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive.Specific uses: Personal
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Rank #3
- Easily store and access 1TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive.Specific uses: Personal
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop. Reformatting may be required for Mac
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
