From OneDrive to Ente Photos: A Privacy-First Migration Story

Introduction: The Wake-Up Call for Photo Storage

Most people don't think about photo backups until they lose precious memories. While local storage offers maximum security—provided files are encrypted and you control access—it fails when you need to retrieve a file while away from home. Services like Google Photos and Microsoft OneDrive fill this gap, but their business models often involve mining your data. For a long time, I relied on OneDrive, but Microsoft's aggressive push of its Copilot AI across products made me worry: how long before a new feature would start tampering with my images and videos? That prompted me to seek a more privacy-respecting alternative, and after evaluating options, I landed on Ente Photos.

From OneDrive to Ente Photos: A Privacy-First Migration Story — Source: itsfoss.com

What Is Ente Photos?

Ente Photos is an open-source, end-to-end encrypted photo storage service launched in 2020. Its mission is to help people preserve memories with privacy, avoiding platforms that treat your data as a resource to be mined. Besides photos, Ente also offers Auth (a cross-platform two-factor authentication app that backs up 2FA secrets encrypted) and Locker (for storing sensitive documents securely). In 2024, I had the chance to speak with founder Vishnu Mohandas, who shared his vision of building a privacy-respecting alternative to Google Photos and iCloud Photos. Now, after actually making the switch, I can attest to why I'm not going back.

The Migration Journey: From OneDrive to Ente

Before I could enjoy Ente's privacy, I had to extract my files from OneDrive—and Microsoft doesn't make that easy. Downloading over 200 GB of photos and videos via the web version required zipping folders first, then waiting for a painfully slow single download. To speed things up, I installed the OneDrive client on Windows 11 and configured it to keep local copies. That got me the files in a few hours rather than days.

Once everything was on an external hard disk (with photos and videos separated), I logged into my existing Ente account. I chose the 200 GB paid plan, which costs ₹4,788 annually (priced in USD/EUR globally, so local rates vary). There's also a free tier offering 10 GB of storage—good for testing the waters.

Overcoming OneDrive's Slow Downloads

The web version's zip-and-download method was a bottleneck. Using the desktop client to sync files locally proved far more efficient. If you're planning a similar move, I recommend starting the download at a time when you won't need your computer for a few hours.

Ente's Pricing and Plans

Ente's paid plans start at around $1 per month for 10 GB, scaling up to 2 TB. The 200 GB plan I chose suits my needs, but you can always upgrade later. Payment methods include credit cards and some regional options.

Why Ente Stood Out

Several factors convinced me to stick with Ente: true end-to-end encryption (even Ente can't see your photos), an open-source codebase that anyone can audit, and a no-data-mining policy. The founder's commitment to privacy—not just as a selling point but as a core principle—gave me confidence. The fact that Ente also offers Auth and Locker shows they're serious about a full privacy ecosystem.

My Verdict: No Regrets

After months of using Ente Photos, I have no desire to return to OneDrive. The migration was a small hassle, but the peace of mind is worth it. If you're concerned about big tech companies exploiting your memories, I highly recommend evaluating Ente. Start with the free tier, test the upload speed and app experience, and see for yourself why privacy-first storage is the way forward.

Note: This article reflects my personal experience. Always back up your data before migrating.