Save photos and videos to OneDrive automatically

If you have OneDrive on your PC, and you connect a phone, camera, or other device, you might be asked if you want to add your photos and videos from that device to OneDrive. Here are answers to some common questions about this:

Which photos and videos will be added to OneDrive?

All the photos and videos from the device that's currently connected will be added. New photos and videos will also be automatically added from removable devices you connect in the future. Photos include these common image formats:

• JPEG, JPG, TIF, TIFF, GIF, PNG, RAW

Photos in these formats will also be added: BMP, DIB, JFIF, JPE, JXR, EDP, PANO, ARW, CR2, CRW, ERF, KDC, MRW, NEF, NRW, ORF, PEF, RAF, RW2, RWL, SR2, SRW

Videos include these common formats:

• AVI, MOV, WMV, ASF, MP4

Videos in these formats will also be added: 3G2, 3GP, 3GP2, 3GPP, M2T, M2TS, M4V, MP4V, MTS, WM, LRV

Which removable devices does this work with?

It works with cameras, phones, CompactFlash (CF) cards, Secure Digital (SD) cards, miniSD cards, USB flash drives, and other removable devices, but only when all the files on the device are photos and videos. So if you use a device like a USB flash drive to move and share groups of files that aren't all photos, the photos won't be added to OneDrive.

Will the photos and videos still be imported to my PC?

Yes, they'll just import to a different place on your PC, the "OneDrive/Pictures/Camera imports" folder. Get there in File Explorer by opening "OneDrive" in the left pane. Because your photos and videos are imported to your PC and not just uploaded to your OneDrive storage, you can still work with them when you're offline. Programs you use to edit photos and videos might not display files in your OneDrive folder by default, so you might need to follow the steps in those programs to include this folder.

How much does it cost to store files in OneDrive?

You get free storage with OneDrive and can buy more storage if you need it - go to OneDrive Plans. Most people are surprised by how much they can fit in their free OneDrive storage. If you use a metered Internet connection, data rates will apply.

Will my photos and videos upload right away?

Yes, if you're connected to the Internet, they'll begin uploading as soon as they're copied to the OneDrive folder on your PC. To control when your files upload, you can temporarily turn off your network connection when you connect devices and while you make any changes (like deleting photos and videos you don't want to keep).

What if I'm already uploading my camera roll to OneDrive?

If your phone or tablet is set to upload your camera roll to OneDrive, you don't need to also add those photos and videos to OneDrive from your PC. If you do, you'll have two copies in different folders. Download the app for your device.

Are there any photos or videos I can't save to OneDrive?

Files can't be more than 10 GB in size. Some kinds of content are also prohibited. For more info, check the code of conduct. For work-related files, we recommend using OneDrive for Business.

When I add photos and videos to OneDrive, how can I get to them?

You can get to them by going to the OneDrive website from any device with a web browser that's connected to the Internet. You can also get to them by using the OneDrive app on a device with an Internet connection. Get OneDrive apps.

Will my photos and videos be deleted on the device after they're imported?

No. OneDrive stores copies of the pictures, and doesn't touch the versions on your device. However, if you don't want to keep them on your device, you can delete them using File Explorer.

If I no longer want to automatically add photos and videos to OneDrive, how can I turn off this setting?

To change this setting, search your PC for "AutoPlay settings."

Need more help?

Get help by emailing the OneDrive support team. In a OneDrive mobile app, shake the device to get help or share feedback on OneDrive.

See more support pages for OneDrive.