A Complete Guide to Migrating Your Photo Library from OneDrive to Ente Photos

Overview

Losing precious photos and videos is a fear many know too well. While local storage remains the gold standard for security—provided files are encrypted and you control access—it fails when you need to retrieve a specific memory while away from home. Big tech services like Google Photos and Microsoft OneDrive solve that problem, but at what cost? Microsoft’s aggressive integration of Copilot into its products raised red flags for me: it seemed only a matter of time before some AI-powered feature would start tampering with images and videos.

That’s why I began searching for a privacy-respecting alternative. I briefly considered Proton Drive (affiliate link) but wanted something outside the Proton ecosystem. That’s when I discovered Ente Photos—an open-source, end-to-end encrypted photo storage service launched in 2020. Its mission, as founder Vishnu Mohandas explained in a 2024 interview, is to help people preserve memories without having their data mined. Beyond photos, Ente offers Auth (a 2FA app) and Locker (secure document storage). After months of contemplation, I finally made the switch—and I’m not looking back.

This guide walks you through the entire migration process, from downloading your OneDrive files to settling into Ente Photos, including pitfalls to avoid.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have the following:

• A OneDrive account with photos and videos you want to move.
• Sufficient local storage space to temporarily hold your files (ideally an external hard drive).
• An Ente Photos account (free tier offers 10 GB; paid plans start at $2.99/month for 50 GB).
• Stable internet connection for downloading from OneDrive and uploading to Ente.
• Windows, macOS, or Linux computer with OneDrive desktop client installed.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Retrieve Your Files from OneDrive

The biggest bottleneck in this migration is downloading from OneDrive. The web version zips folders before download—impractical for 200 GB of data. Instead, use the OneDrive desktop client on Windows 11 (or your OS).

1. Install and sign in to the OneDrive desktop client.
2. In Settings, configure it to keep local copies of all files you want to migrate. Choose a folder location with enough free space (or attach an external drive).
3. Wait for the sync to complete. In my case, downloading 200 GB over a fiber connection took a few hours.
4. Once synced, move the photos and videos to a separate folder (e.g., D:\Photos_To_Ente). Reserve other file types for external backup if desired.

2. Create or Log In to Your Ente Account

1. Visit ente.io and sign up if you haven’t already. The free plan gives you 10 GB.
2. After verifying your email, log in to the web app or download the desktop client (available for Windows, macOS, Linux).
3. You’ll see Ente’s mascot, Ducky, welcoming you.

3. Select a Suitable Paid Plan

For most users, the free 10 GB is insufficient. I needed 200 GB, so I chose the 200 GB paid plan. Ente charges in USD/EUR globally; my local cost was ₹4,788 annually (conversion rates apply). Available plans:

• 50 GB: $2.99/month or $29.99/year
• 200 GB: $7.99/month or $79.99/year
• 1 TB: $24.99/month or $249.99/year

Upgrade inside your account settings. Note that Ente uses end-to-end encryption, so even the company cannot access your files.

4. Upload Your Photos and Videos

1. Open the Ente Photos desktop app and click Upload.
2. Select the folder containing your OneDrive exports. Ente preserves folder structures and metadata (dates, locations) if available.
3. Monitor the upload progress. For 200 GB, it might take several hours to days depending on your upload speed. You can pause and resume.
4. Once finished, verify that all files appear correctly in your Ente library.

Tip: To speed up uploading, consider using a wired Ethernet connection and avoid peak internet usage times.

5. Verify and Explore Ente’s Features

After migration, take advantage of what Ente offers:

• End-to-end encryption: Only you can access your photos.
• Automatic backup on mobile (Android/iOS).
• Shared albums you can securely collaborate on.
• Face recognition and object search (privacy-preserving, runs on device).
• Two-factor authentication via Ente Auth app (optional).

Delete the local copy of your files only after you’re confident everything migrated safely. I keep a backup on an external drive for extra peace of mind.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

• Using the web download: OneDrive’s web zipping is painfully slow for large libraries. Always use the desktop client with “keep local copy” enabled.
• Not checking metadata: Some files might lose creation dates during transfer. Use ExifTool to verify before uploading.
• Ignoring file types: OneDrive may contain non-photo files (documents, videos). Sort them beforehand to avoid uploading unnecessary data.
• Underestimating upload time: With a typical 10 Mbps upload speed, 200 GB can take over 40 hours. Plan accordingly or split the upload over several days.
• Skipping encryption: Ente encrypts files client-side, but if you have sensitive metadata (e.g., location history), it remains safe. Still, enable the “end-to-end encrypted backups” option in settings.
• Not reviewing the free tier: The 10 GB free plan fills quickly. Upgrade before you start uploading to avoid interruptions.

Summary

Moving 200 GB of photos from OneDrive to Ente Photos was smoother than expected after I avoided the web download trap. By using the OneDrive desktop client to keep local copies, selecting a suitable paid plan, and utilizing Ente’s encrypted upload, I now have a privacy-first photo library. The process requires patience—especially for uploads—but the result is worth it: your memories stay yours, not Big Tech’s data mine. If you’re tired of AI-powered features messing with your files, Ente Photos is a reliable, open-source alternative.