How to Backup and Restore in Windows 11

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This article provides a guide for students and new users on how to backup and restore important files and folders in Windows 11 using its built-in tool. It covers the importance of backing up essential items like documents, emails, and photos to avoid data loss. The tutorial details how to backup files to OneDrive online…

This post shows students and new users how to Backup and restore important files and folders in Windows 11

To back up your files in Windows 11, you simply make copies and store them somewhere safe. If you lose the original files on the computer, you can restore the missing files from the backed-up location.

One thing you can also do with Windows 11 is use its built-in Backup and restore tool to protect your important files.

Learning to back up and restore important files and folders in Windows 11 is crucial for protecting your data in case of unexpected events, such as hardware failures, malware attacks, or accidental deletion. By backing up your files, you can create copies of them and store them somewhere safe to restore them if the original files are lost or damaged.

This can save you much time and effort in recovering or recreating lost data from scratch. Having backups of your important files is always a good practice to prevent data loss.

Follow the steps below to get started backing up your files in Windows 11.

How to Back up Your Files

The easiest way to back up your files is to let Windows manage the Backup process. Several backup applications are available, but Windows 11 has a built-in tool.

Alternatively, you can manually copy the file to a backup location instead of using an application. However, allowing Windows to back up your important files automatically might be your best option.

What to Backup

Your priority should be to back up important files and those that would be difficult to replace. Your files, such as documents, emails, financial documents, family photos, and others, are irreplaceable.

Other less important data would be your profile, installed software, and system settings. You can replace them there, but you’ll have to spend time restoring things to their original state.

Backup files to OneDrive online

There are many ways to back up Windows. However, the easiest might be setting up and backing up to OneDrive online Storage. OneDrive lets you save and access your files and photos from any device, anywhere.

You will need a Microsoft account to set up OneDrive on your machine. Simply go to the link below to create a Microsoft Account.

Sign in – Microsoft OneDrive (live.com)

You can sign up for free and are given 5GB of free storage space. You can always upgrade to larger sizes when you need more storage space.

Once you’re signed up and ready, continue below to set up Windows backup.

Windows 11 has a centralized location for the majority of its settings. Everything can be done, from system configurations to creating new users and updating Windows from its System Settings pane.

To get to System Settings, you can use the Windows key + I shortcut or click on Start ==> Settings, as shown in the image below:

Alternatively, you can use the search box on the taskbar to search for Settings. Then select to open it.

Windows Settings pane should look similar to the image below. In Windows Settings, click System, then select Storage on the right pane of your screen, as shown in the image below.

On the System storage settings page, click on Advanced storage settings.

Under Advanced storage settings, select Backup options.

On the Backup options settings page, choose to back up files to OneDrive. Then click on the link that reads “Sign in to OneDrive.”

You’ll be prompted to enter your OneDrive account email address and password to sign in.

It would be best to continue with the setup wizard after logging into your OneDrive account correctly.

When you finish the setup wizard, you should see a similar screen below telling you that OneDrive is ready to use and the setup is complete.

Backup Windows 11 to External Drives

You can back up Windows to external drives and restore them if the original is lost, damaged, or deleted. Insert or connect the external drive to your computer.

In Windows Settings –> System –> Storage –> Advanced Backup options, select Back up using File History instead of going to OneDrive, as mentioned above.

Once you click the Add a Drive button, you’ll be prompted to select the external drive to back up to. Choose the drive you have connected to Windows.

When you select a drive, you’re set. Every hour, Windows backs up everything in your user folder (C: \Users\username).

To change which files get backed up or how often backups happen, go to More Options.

More options let you set up how and when files are backed up.

When you’re done, save and exit.

Conclusion:

This post showed you how to back up Windows 11. If you find any error above, please use the comment form below to report.

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18 responses to “How to Backup and Restore in Windows 11”

  1. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    The Backup from file history option doesn’t show in windows 11 build 22000.71
    You need to make some suggestions to do so.
    Good article

    1. LTC8K6 Avatar
      LTC8K6

      I typed “File History” in the search window, and it was there.

      1. kevo riel tarray Avatar
        kevo riel tarray

        thank you!

  2. Aditi Avatar
    Aditi

    Hi Richard,
    Nice Article!
    Which OS build are you using? In my case that Looking for older backup and windows 7 link is missing.

    1. Richard Zayzay Avatar
      Richard Zayzay

      I’m using Windows 11 Insider Preview.

  3. Heinz Avatar
    Heinz

    I also miss these options, I cannot access anymopre my backup settings, but the backup is obviously running

    Edition Windows 11 Home
    Version 21H2
    Installed on ‎30.‎7.‎21
    OS build 22000.100
    Serial number PF1XY79J
    Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 421.18901.0.3

    1. LTC8K6 Avatar
      LTC8K6

      Try searching fore File History.

      1. Davide Avatar
        Davide

        I can find File History, but I can not see the option where I can set up a new external device to save all my files.

  4. Ralph A Gardner Avatar
    Ralph A Gardner

    I don’t see File History in Windows 11 Insider Preview Home. I guess I will have to find some other software to make a backup.
    Experience: Windows 11 Home
    Version: 21H2
    OS Build: 22000.120
    Experience: Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22000.120.0

  5. Wilfried Wedemeyer Avatar
    Wilfried Wedemeyer

    The options shown to backup with file history to a drive of your choice are not shown in my preview version of Windows 11. Current version is 22000.132. Will these options be available in further updates?

  6. Roy A Ackerman Avatar
    Roy A Ackerman

    There is NO Back Up Using File History Option!

  7. FluxMode Avatar
    FluxMode

    The title is a bit misleading. It’s not really the backup type most ppl will be looking for.

    Based on the given “solution” you can simply copy the files to USB or External Drive or upload to cloud, the feature shown is pretty much useless unless you paid for OneDrive and you have a ton of space in there.

    What I did to backup:
    Search -> Control Panel -> “Backup and Restore (Windows 7)” under System and Security, idk why it says Win7 though, but it basically backed up my whole OS I suppose.

    Haven’t tried to Recover yet but I hope it will restore the Win 11 properly. Will reply to my own comment if it worked.

    Another option is to create .ISO of current OS build w/ all software, saved passwords and such but that could take 100GB+ USB Drive/Phone Memory ( if using phone as USB drive w/ DriveDroid app )

    The last and best solution is to Mirror the drive to another drive using Linux.

    1. SuzyQ Avatar
      SuzyQ

      That is what I did after the File History option went on and on to back up. When I had my W10 reinstalled I used the W7 back up app to reload my files and it went very well.

  8. rino Avatar
    rino

    for those who do not find the option, look in the search box – file history – a window opens with the files, on the right there is the icon for setting the option. It’s hidden but it’s still there.

  9. Mary Avatar
    Mary

    Great article, Richard. But, you need to proofread. Thanks!

  10. phil Avatar
    phil

    You say, “In Windows Settings –> System –> Storage –> Advanced Backup options, select Back up using File History instead of going to OneDrive as mentioned above.” But there is no “Advanced Backup” under Storage. None of this section is valid.

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