Cloud storage has become an essential tool for smartphone users to back up their data and access files across devices. According to a 2021 report by Grand View Research, the global cloud storage market is expected to reach $297.54 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 24.7% from 2021 to 2028. For Samsung Galaxy users, the go-to cloud storage solution is OneDrive, thanks to a strategic partnership between Samsung and Microsoft. But what exactly is Samsung OneDrive, how does it work, and why should you use it? In this ultimate guide, we‘ll cover everything you need to know to become a Samsung OneDrive expert and make the most of this powerful tool on your Galaxy device.
Understanding the Samsung-Microsoft Partnership
In August 2019, Samsung and Microsoft announced a long-term partnership to bring seamless integration between Galaxy devices and Microsoft productivity apps and services, including OneDrive. As part of this collaboration, the companies have worked together to pre-install OneDrive on Samsung smartphones and tablets, provide bonus OneDrive storage promotions for Galaxy users, and enable tighter integration between OneDrive and Samsung apps like Gallery and My Files.
For example, Galaxy S21 and S22 buyers can currently claim an extra 100 GB of OneDrive storage for free for 6 months, on top of the standard 5 GB that comes with every OneDrive account. Similar promotions have been offered for other Samsung devices like the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Tab S7. This partnership benefits both companies by driving adoption of Galaxy devices and Microsoft services while providing a more seamless experience for users.
Why You Need Cloud Storage
Before diving into the specifics of Samsung OneDrive, let‘s discuss why cloud storage is so important for smartphone users. According to a 2022 survey by security firm Acronis, 65% of consumers now store more than half of their data on mobile devices rather than computers. At the same time, data loss is a growing concern, with 42% of companies experiencing data loss from employee phones and 33% from employee tablets in the past year alone.
Backing up your Galaxy device with a cloud storage service like OneDrive protects you from losing important data due to a lost, stolen, or damaged device. It also makes your files easily accessible from any device, so you can view a photo from your phone on your laptop or edit a document on your tablet and have the changes synced to your phone. With remote work becoming more common, the ability to access files from anywhere is more important than ever.
OneDrive Plans and Pricing
So how much does Samsung OneDrive cost? The good news is that every OneDrive user gets 5 GB of storage for free just for creating a Microsoft account. However, that space can fill up quickly, especially if you store a lot of photos and videos. Here‘s a breakdown of the OneDrive consumer pricing tiers:
| Plan | Storage | Price | Microsoft 365 Apps Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| OneDrive Basic | 5 GB | Free | No |
| OneDrive Standalone 100 GB | 100 GB | $1.99/month | No |
| Microsoft 365 Personal | 1 TB | $6.99/month or $69.99/year | Yes |
| Microsoft 365 Family | 6 TB (1 TB each for 6 users) | $9.99/month or $99.99/year | Yes |
As you can see, the Microsoft 365 plans offer the best value for most users, especially if you also want access to premium Office apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. The Family plan in particular is a great deal if you have multiple people in your household who need cloud storage and Office apps.
To put these prices in perspective, here‘s how OneDrive stacks up against other popular cloud storage services:
| Service | Free Storage | 100 GB | 1 TB | 2 TB | Monthly Price for 1 TB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OneDrive | 5 GB | $1.99 | $6.99 | n/a | $6.99 (with Office apps) |
| Google Drive | 15 GB | $1.99 | $9.99 | $19.99 | $9.99 |
| Dropbox | 2 GB | $9.99 | $11.99 | $19.99 | $11.99 |
| iCloud | 5 GB | $0.99 | $9.99 | n/a | $9.99 |
| Box | 10 GB | n/a | $10 | $20 | $10 |
As you can see, OneDrive offers the most storage for the price, especially when bundled with Microsoft 365. Google Drive and iCloud are decent alternatives if you primarily use Google or Apple services, while Dropbox and Box are more expensive and geared towards business users.
How to Use OneDrive on Your Samsung Phone
Now that you understand the basics of Samsung OneDrive, let‘s go through how to actually use it on your Galaxy device.
Set Up OneDrive
- Open the OneDrive app on your phone (install it from the Galaxy Store or Google Play Store if you don‘t have it yet)
- Tap "Sign in" and enter your Microsoft account credentials (or create a new account if you don‘t have one)
- Grant OneDrive permissions to access your files, location, etc.
- Choose whether to enable camera uploads, which will automatically sync photos and videos to OneDrive
- Select any files or folders you want to download for offline access
That‘s it! Your OneDrive is now set up and ready to use on your Samsung device.
Back Up Photos and Videos
One of the most useful features of OneDrive is the ability to automatically back up your photos and videos as you take them. Here‘s how to enable camera uploads:
- Open the OneDrive app
- Tap the "Me" icon in the bottom right
- Tap "Settings" then "Camera upload"
- Toggle on "Upload photos and videos"
- Choose whether to upload over cellular data or only on Wi-Fi
- Select which folders to sync (e.g. Camera, Screenshots)
With camera uploads enabled, every photo and video you take will be backed up to the "Pictures" folder in OneDrive, so you never have to worry about losing them if something happens to your device. You can also manually add photos and videos to OneDrive:
- Open the OneDrive app and go to the folder where you want to add the file(s)
- Tap the "+" icon at the bottom
- Tap "Upload" and select the photo(s) or video(s) you want to add
Access and Edit Files
In addition to photos and videos, you can store any type of file in OneDrive, including documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. To add a file:
- Open OneDrive and navigate to the desired folder
- Tap the "+" icon and select "Upload"
- Choose the file(s) you want to upload from your device
To open and edit a file stored in OneDrive:
- Tap the file in the OneDrive app to open it
- If it‘s a Microsoft Office file, it will open in the corresponding app (e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Make any desired changes to the file
- Tap the back arrow to save and sync the changes to OneDrive
Any changes you make will be synced across all your devices, so you can start working on a file on your phone and pick up where you left off on your PC or tablet.
Another advantage of storing files in the cloud is the ability to easily share them with others. With OneDrive, you can generate a link to any file or folder and share it via email, text, or any other app. Here‘s how:
- Find the file or folder you want to share in the OneDrive app
- Tap the "…" menu next to it and select "Share"
- Choose whether to share a view-only or editable link
- Tap "Copy link" to get a shareable link or "Send link" to share directly via another app
You can manage access to shared files at any time from the "Shared" tab in OneDrive.
Optimize Storage
If you start running low on OneDrive space, there are a few ways you can free up storage:
- Delete old or unnecessary files and folders
- Move some files to your device storage if you don‘t need to access them from other devices
- Uninstall unused apps that are taking up OneDrive space
- Upgrade to a higher storage tier
To check your current OneDrive usage and manage storage:
- Open the OneDrive app
- Tap the "Me" icon and select "Settings"
- Tap "Account" to see your total and available storage
- Tap "Storage" to delete files and folders or change settings
OneDrive for Different Types of Users
While OneDrive is a great cloud storage solution for most Samsung users, the way you use it may vary depending on your needs and preferences. Here are some specific use cases and tips for different types of users:
Casual Users
If you mainly use your Galaxy phone for basic tasks like taking photos, browsing the web, and staying in touch with friends and family, OneDrive can serve as a simple way to keep your data backed up without much effort. Just enable camera uploads and maybe sync a few important files, and you‘ll have peace of mind that your data is safe in the cloud.
Power Users
If you‘re a heavy smartphone user who relies on your Galaxy device for work and play, OneDrive can be a powerful tool for staying productive and organized on the go. Take advantage of features like offline file access, document scanning, and PC folder syncing to access all your important files and get work done from anywhere. The Microsoft 365 plans are a particularly good value if you need access to premium Office apps.
Business Users
For business users, data security and collaboration are top priorities. OneDrive for Business offers advanced security features like data loss prevention, multi-factor authentication, and encryption, as well as tools for sharing and co-authoring files with colleagues. It also integrates with other Microsoft 365 services like Teams and SharePoint. If your company uses OneDrive for Business, be sure to follow any guidelines or best practices provided by your IT department.
Tips and Tricks
Here are a few expert tips to help you get the most out of Samsung OneDrive:
- Enable automatic photo backup to make sure you never lose a memory
- Use the "Files On-Demand" feature to access all your files without taking up device storage
- Create folders and subfolders to keep your files organized
- Use the "Scan" function to digitize physical documents, receipts, and whiteboard notes
- Share folders instead of individual files to collaborate more efficiently with others
- Take advantage of the Personal Vault feature for an extra layer of security on sensitive files
- If you accidentally delete a file, you can recover it from the Recycle Bin within 30 days
Conclusion
Samsung OneDrive is a powerful and intuitive cloud storage solution that integrates seamlessly with Galaxy devices. Whether you‘re a casual smartphone user or a mobile professional, OneDrive offers a range of features and benefits to help you back up, access, and share your files with ease.
The partnership between Samsung and Microsoft has made OneDrive the go-to choice for Galaxy users, with bonus storage promotions and deep integration with Samsung apps and services. And with affordable plans and advanced features, OneDrive compares favorably to other cloud storage options like Google Drive and Dropbox.
If you‘re a Samsung user, we highly recommend giving OneDrive a try, especially if you don‘t already have a reliable backup solution in place. The 5 GB of free storage means there‘s no risk or cost to get started, and you can easily upgrade to a paid plan if you need more space.
By following the tips and best practices outlined in this guide, you‘ll be able to make the most of Samsung OneDrive and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing your data is safe, secure, and accessible from anywhere. So what are you waiting for? Download OneDrive on your Galaxy device today and start backing up!
