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Why is IDrive Backup So Slow? 7 Fixes to Speed Up Your Backups

Struggling with why is IDrive backup so slow? This guide explains common causes like bandwidth limits and provides fixes for IDrive slow backup issues. Improve upload speeds with these expert tips.

August 4, 2025

Content at a Glance:

Why is IDrive Backup So Slow?

 

Has anyone else experienced a dramatic slowdown in their IDrive backups? I backup once a day.

I logged into the IDrive web page today. It took A LONG TIME for it to display all of the devices, I am backing up to IDrive. I finally gave up waiting.  Then came back 15 minutes later, by then all of my devices had displayed.

I ran Speedtest on my PC, the network is fine.

I updated the current version of IDrive today. We'll see if that makes a difference.

- Question from backupforum.progforums.com

If you just like the above user who is stuck in the IDrive backup slow situation, you will find reasons and solutions in this post to fix it quickly.

IDrive

In this article, we'll break down exactly why IDrive backup very slow happens, what you can do to speed things up, and how to troubleshoot when IDrive doesn’t seem to detect your files at all.

Reasons for IDrive Backup So Slow

Why is IDrive backup so slow? You can check the main reasons in the following:

⭕ You’re uploading large files. If you’re uploading large files to the IDrive server, it will upload slowly due to the file size limit of, 4GB. ⭕ Unstable Internet connection. Cloud backups rely heavily on upload speed, and if your connection is weak or shared with multiple devices, IDrive will struggle. Switch to a stable internet connection. ⭕ ISP throttling. Some providers slow down upload speeds during peak hours. ⭕ Background apps: Streaming, downloads, and other cloud services can hog bandwidth. ⭕ First IDrive backup is very slow because it backs up everything.

7 Solutions to Fix "Why is IDrive Backup So Slow"

Here are different solutions for you to speed up the IDrive backup, let’s get started.

Way 1. Check Your Internet Connection

Please ensure your Internet connection is stable, or you have to switch to another stable connection. Reboot your optical modem and router might be fix it.

Way 2. Close Other Apps to Speed Up IDrive Backup

To back up files to IDrive, you can close other apps to let IDrive backup faster. Go to the system tray, and right-click the app, then choose Quit or something like that to close it.

Way 3. Wait for Some Time

Sometimes, it backs up files to IDrive normally but it seems like backup slow especially when uploading large files to IDrive. Besides, the IDrive frist backup is really slow because it backs up everything on your computer. You can wait for some time to check if it’s successful. Or you can try other ways to fix it.

Way 4. Split Large Files into Small Pieces

To back up files faster, you can split large files into small chunks to upload, then it should be faster than ever. However, it’s not easy to manage files on the IDrive server.

Way 5. Disable "Optimize CPU Resources" in IDrive App

Some users reported that disabling "Optimize CPU resources" from the IDrive (macOS and Windows) app works.

Here are the simple steps to disable Optimize CPU resources:

1. Opening the IDrive app from the tray icon, input the MFA code.

2. You can see “Settings”.

3. Choose “General” > “More”.

4. Uncheck the very first option “Optimize CPU resources”.

Optimize CPU Resources

After disabling Optimize CPU Resources, you can find your IDrive backup is faster than before.

Way 6. Scheduling Backups During Off-Peak Hours

If your ISP throttles speeds at certain times, set IDrive to run backups late at night or early morning.

Way 7. Contact IDrive Support

You can contact the IDrive support by submitting a ticket, then wait for the response and find the solutions to fix it. It’s the last resolution for that.

Troubleshooting IDrive “No Files to Backup” Errors

Few things are more frustrating than seeing "IDrive there are no files to backup" when you know there should be. Here’s why it happens:

  • Incorrect folder selection: Maybe you didn’t include the right directories.
  • File filters: IDrive might exclude certain file types by default.
  • Permission issues: The app may not have access to your files.

Fix: Double-check backup settings, reset permissions, or reinstall IDrive.

Further Reading: Backup IDrive Files in Advance

After fixing the IDrive backup so slow problem, you can manage all your IDrive files easily. However, everything should be backed up in case of data loss. Therefore, you can take a backup for IDrive files with a powerful online storage manager, MultCloud. Why use it to back up files? Check the following advantages:

MultCloud is a professional cloud data migration tool, which allows you to migrate files from one cloud to another directly without downloading.
You can back up IDrive files to another cloud and keep file versions, and restore files in time if the files get lost or corrupted.
It supports 40+ mainstream clouds, including Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, MEGA, MediaFire, pCloud, Wasabi, ownCloud, IDrive, iCloud Drive, iCloud Photos, Amazon S3, SharePoint Online, Google Workspace, Google Photos, NAS, FTP/SFTP, WebDAV, and many more.
It deployes 256-bit AES encryption and a standard OAuth authorization system to safeguard your files.

So, how to backup IDrives files to Synology NAS easily with MultCloud, check the following steps:

1. Please log in to your MultCloud account after registering.

2. Click Add Cloud and IDrive e2 subsequently, and follow the guide to grant access to MultCloud. Then add your Synology NAS by hitting NAS.

Add IDrive e2 and NAS

3. Select Cloud Backup, hit FILES TO BACKUP to select IDrive e2 files, and hit WHERE TO SAVE BACKUP to select a location in Synology NAS.

Backup IDrive e2 to Synology NAS

4. Configure settings in Options and Schedule, then hit Backup Now to backup IDrive e2 files to Synology NAS directly.

Tips:

  • You can set up Email and Filter in Options to run the task as you want.
  • Configuring Schedule allows you to back up files from IDrive e2 daily, weekly, or monthly.
  • Unlock to enjoy all premium features, including filter, schedule, faster backup speed, and many more.
  • Smart Share: Share cloud files via public, private, or source mode.
  • One-key Move: Quick data transfer, sync, and backup among clouds.
  • Email Archive: Protect emails to other clouds or local disks.
  • Remote upload: Effectively save web files to clouds via URL.
  • Save Webpages as PDF/PNG: Keep them locally or online.
  • Instagram Download: Archive Instagram materials locally or online.
  • Easy: Access and manage all clouds in one place with one login.
  • Extensive: 30+ clouds and on-premise services are supported.

FAQ: Why Is IDrive Backup So Slow?

Q: Why does IDrive take so long to back up files?

A: IDrive slow backup usually happens due to slow internet, system limitations, or incorrect settings. Try optimizing your network and closing background apps.

Q: Does IDrive throttle upload speeds?

A: No, but your ISP might. If your IDrive upload speed slow is consistent, test at different times.

Q: How can I make IDrive backups faster?

A: Use a wired connection, update the app, and schedule backups during off-peak hours to avoid IDrive backup very slow issues.

Q: Why does IDrive say "there are no files to backup"?

A: This IDrive there are no files to backup error usually means incorrect folder selection or permission issues. Recheck your settings.

Q: Is IDrive slower than other cloud backups?

A: It depends on your setup, but why is IDrive so slow for some users often comes down to network or hardware differences.

Q: Can too many files cause IDrive to slow down?

A: Absolutely. Backing up thousands of small files or massive media files can make IDrive slow backup worse. Prioritize essential files first.

The Verdict

Now that you know why is IDrive backup so slow, you can take steps to fix it. Besides, backing up files in IDrive is necessary for all of us in case of data loss. So, backup, sync, or transfer files from one cloud to another with MultCloud is a great choice.

MultCloud also helps you to migrate files from one Google Drive to another account, remote upload files to Google Drive, archive Outlook emails from one person, and many more.

Quickly transfer, sync or backup files from one cloud to another.

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