How to enable OneDrive's Folder Protection feature in Windows?

Microsoft started rolling out its 'Folder Protection' feature to OneDrive, which is also known as "Known Folder Move". This feature keeps your system safe and protected by automatically taking backup of important documents from user data folders like Desktop, Documents and Pictures.

If you are a Windows Insider, you might have already received this update in early July. For non-insiders, here's how to enable this protection.

Its now a vital role in modern computing era to keep your system safe and protected from viruses, malware, spywares and ransomware (like WannaCry/WannaCrypt, Petya/NotPetya etc.), which not only harms your system but also causes to corrupt your documents.

Starting with Windows 10 Creators Update, you can now optionally block installation of any software on a PC, if it's not secure and not trusted by the Windows Store. Similarly, the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update introduced Controlled folder access in Windows Defender, which monitors the changes that apps make to files in certain protected folders. If an app attempts to make a change to these files, and the app is blacklisted by the feature, you’ll get a notification about the attempt.

Microsoft not stopped at this point. They wanted to give you further protection to your data files, which generally resides in most of the users Desktop, Documents and Pictures folder. With the Known Folder Move feature in OneDrive client, you can be further protected from loosing your personal data. This new feature automatically takes backup of your known data folders and keep the files protected.

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How to enable OneDrive's folder protection feature in Windows?

Microsoft started rolling out this feature globally to general public, to give you extra protection to your files. You can enable the Folder Protection feature in Windows by performing the following steps:

1. Click on the OneDrive icon present in your system tray.
2. From the flyout menu, click More... | Settings.
3. Click on the 'Auto Save' tab.
4. Under the 'Protect your important folders' section, click the 'Update folders' button.
5. Select from the list of folders (Desktop, Pictures and Documents) that you wish to sync.
6. Now click on the 'Start Protection' button.

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