Top 5 Best Backup Software for External Hard Drive (2022 Rankings)
Why Is External Hard Drive Backup Sofware Necessary?
External hard drives have gained popularity due to their portability and high storage capacities, making them a convenient option for backing up important data. Some external hard drives, such as the Seagate One Plus and Seagate Expansion series, come with a built-in backup function, allowing users to automatically create a copy of their files and photos, even if their computer crashes or is hacked. This feature provides added peace of mind and ensures that valuable data is safe and secure.
While some external hard drives come with a built-in backup function, it's not as comprehensive as using external hard drive backup software. The latter offers advanced backup options like full, incremental, and differential backups, as well as scheduled backups, which can't be matched by the built-in backup feature on external hard drives. Additionally, external hard drive backup software provides better management of backed-up data, making it a more reliable and efficient option for data protection.
Best Backup Software for External Hard Drive on PC [5 Picks]
Computer users can easily back up an external hard drive using a backup tool, which can be assisted by backup software to create a backup of the external hard disk. The top five external hard drive backup tools are available for use.
- Top 1. Qiling Backup Home
- Top 2. Paragon Backup & Recover Advanced
- Top 3. Acronis True Image
- Top 4. Handy Backup
- Top 5. iBeesoft DBackup
Top 1. Qiling Backup Home
Qiling Backup Home is an all-in-one backup tool that allows you to make file-level and full system image backups to various sources. It enables you to back up files, systems, disks, and more, making it ideal for protecting external disk data. The tool also supports full, incremental, and differential backups, and allows you to save backups to different locations. Additionally, it comes with 250GB of free cloud storage and offers solutions for both personal and business entities, including easy backup of Outlook emails.
Available platforms: Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP, Mac
Highlighted features:
- It can clone a hard drive and clone a hard drive to an SSD.
- Available for both Windows and Mac operating systems.
- Automatically Backup to USB Drive When Plugged in.
Disadvantage: It does not have an anti-ransomware function.
Guide: how to back up an external drive with a disk backup tool
You can perform the following steps to back up your external hard disk.
Step 1. Start with clicking the Disk/partition backup button.
Step 2. You can use Acronis True Image to back up a whole disk or a certain partition. Choose the one you need.
Step 3. Select the destination where you want to save the backup.
Step 4. You can back up a disk or partition to either a local drive or a Network-Attached Storage (NAS) device, giving you options for where to save the backup.
Step 5. After the backup process is completed, your tasks will be displayed at the left. You can click on any task to further manage your backup, such as recovering it or creating an incremental backup.
Top 2. Paragon Backup & Recover Advanced
Paragon Backup & Recover Advanced offers a simple backup solution for computer users, ideal for those seeking reliable backup software for external hard drives, allowing for specific backup intervals. It provides easy guidance for creating content backups, can recover data from damaged media, and displays what content is being backed up and where it's stored, making it a comprehensive backup tool.
Available platforms: from Windows 10 to Windows 7
Highlighted features:
- Simplified interface.
- Lots of advanced backup options.
- Support many file formats and include powerful disk-management tools.
Disadvantage: No continuous backup options for folders.
Top 3. Acronis True Image
Acronis True Image is a backup solution that offers a range of features, including full-featured backup, cloning, and mirroring capabilities. It allows you to send backups to both a local drive and cloud storage simultaneously, and also supports incremental, full, and differential backups. Additionally, it has anti-ransomware protection that can detect and reverse unauthorized encryption of the disk, and can even help create a smartphone backup.
Available platforms: Windows 10/8.1/8/7
Highlighted features:
- Encrypted storage and Acronis cloud storage.
- Backup to a local drive and cloud storage simultaneously.
- Anti-ransomware protection.
Disadvantage: Expensive.
Top 4. Handy Backup
Handy Backup is an easy-A backup utility that automatically backs up all important documents and applications, this software is an automatic external hard drive backup solution. It offers a comprehensive backup and recovery system, designed to automate server backup, restoration, activity logging, data encryption, and more, ensuring fast and secure backups regardless of the hard drive slot used. Users can customize backup operations by specifying differential backup types, providing control and flexibility in the backup process.
Available platforms: Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista
Highlighted features:
- The software can schedule automatic backups to run at specified times by creating a corresponding task as a Windows service.
- It can support many formats.
- It has high-To keep data safe from malicious elements, a simple yet effective level of cyphering can be employed. This involves using a combination of encryption and secure storage to protect sensitive information.
Disadvantage: Confusing interface.
Top 5. iBeesoft DBackup
Acronis True Image is a powerful backup program that allows users to create image files of their hard drive, partitions, or operating system with scheduling and differential/incremental backup options. It also features cloning, enabling users to clone a hard drive or partition and migrate their data, including the entire system, hard drive, partition, memory cards, and other devices. This all-in-one backup program offers flexibility and efficiency in backing up and cloning content.
Available platforms: Windows 10/7/8/XP/Vista
Highlighted features:
- The software offers three backup modes: file backup, drive backup, and system backup, providing users with flexibility and options for their specific backup needs.
- A backup plan can be set up to automatically back up files from external hard drives, built-in disks, and other storage devices.
- The software can clone a hard drive (HDD) to a solid-state drive (SSD), a USB drive, an external hard drive, or other storage devices, allowing users to transfer data from one storage device to another.
Disadvantage: Compatibility may be an issue for a few users.
Highly Recommended Backup Software for External Storage Devices
Creating a backup of an external drive helps use the content to restore a computer or laptop. Five external hard drive backup software options are available, with Qiling Backup Home standing out for its ease of use, affordability, and user-friendly interface. It offers a free version as well as premium options for free, home, or business users, making it a convenient choice for backing up all kinds of external hard drives.
Qiling Backup is a good choice for making an external hard drive backup, allowing you to easily create a backup of your important files and data.
FAQs
1. How do I backup everything on my computer to an external hard drive?
To back up to an external drive or network location, go to Start, then Settings, then Update & Security, then Backup, and finally Add a drive, selecting an external drive for storing your backups.
2. Is Windows backup good enough?
In general, some built-In Windows, backup solutions may be sufficient if the files are not crucial to you. However, if your data is vital, consider using professional backup software like Qiling Backup to safeguard your Windows system.
3. Is it OK to leave external hard drive plugged in?
Plugging an external hard drive in all the time can cause wear and tear, leading to a shorter lifespan, so it's a good idea to unplug it when not in use.
4. Can you back up an external hard drive to the cloud?
To back up an external hard drive to the cloud, connect the external drive to your computer and use cloud backup software to browse, select, and upload files from the external drive to the cloud.
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