Show On Windows 11, a full backup is among the best ways to protect your current setup and files against hardware failure, upgrade problems, malware attacks, file corruption, and more. In other words, if you don't have a proper backup, you are constantly at risk of losing your files, including pictures and documents, as well as custom configurations you may have spent many hours setting up. You can always use third-party local and cloud solutions, but Windows 11 still comes with the Backup and Restore feature that includes an option to create a system image of the entire system to an external storage. A system image also describes a full backup since it includes an identical copy of the Windows installation, plus your settings, apps, and, more importantly, your files. Typically, you will find this backup approach more suitable to roll back to a previous version if you see problems after upgrading to a new version of Windows or restoring the system after replacing the hard drive or critical failure. In this Windows 11 guide, we will walk you through the steps to create a full backup of all your custom settings, apps, files, and OS setup files using the Backup and Restore feature. How to create backup on Windows 11The Backup and Restore feature lets you create a system image of the entire system and files to an external hard drive or network folder location. However, this guide will look at the steps to create a backup to a USB storage (with enough space) since it's the most convenient process for most users. Important: Microsoft no longer maintains the backup feature, but you can still use it to create a temporary full backup while it's still available. To create a full backup on Windows 11, use these steps:
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Once you complete the steps, a backup of the entire system will be created with everything on the primary hard drive and other drives you may have selected. The tool uses the "Shadow Copy" feature backs up files even if they are open and apps are running, which means that you can continue to work during this process. After the backup is complete, disconnect and store the drive in a safe place. If you don't have enough space to backup your computer, there are a number of great external hard drives, but we recommend the Western Digital My Book because of its reliability and affordability. Also, it is not as fast as an SSD, but you can get one of these drives with up to 14TB of storage to create many backups.
Best Bulk Storage for backups (opens in new tab) Bulk storage The WD My Book might not be particularly fast or have the most compact design, but it does deliver massive and reliable storage for backups and other files at a great price. How to restore backup on Windows 11In the event of a hardware failure or if you're upgrading the system drive, you can use a previous backup to restore the device installation. Whenever you restore a backup, avoid interrupting the process as it will cause the backup to fail, and the computer will no longer boot. If you want to avoid problems, it's recommended to maintain the laptop connected to a power source and a desktop connected to an uninterruptible power supply (UPS). To restore a Windows 11 backup, connect the drive with the backup and a Windows 11 bootable USB flash drive, and use these steps:
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After you complete the steps, the recovery process will start, and the restoration time will depend on the amount of data and hardware configuration of the device. Once the backup has been applied, the device may likely be missing some updates, which means that it's a good idea to open Settings > Windows Update and click the Check for Updates button to update the system and drivers. While you can find many other alternative solutions, the are still benefits to using the System Image Backup feature on Windows 11. For example, when you have to back up the system before an upgrade to a new version. You need to make system changes, and you want to make sure you have a quick way to roll back. Or when you have to replace the main hard drive or need a quick way to transfer the installation and files without reinstallation. Also, it's always a good idea to periodically back up your computer to have a fresh copy to revert to if the unexpected happens, such as system or hardware failure, malware, ransomware, or hacker attacks. Just remember that this feature has been designed to recover the whole system, not individual files. If you want to back up your files, you should be using something like OneDrive or File History. Also, you have to be proactive in creating backups because you can only recover until the last backup. Anything after the backup won't be recoverable. More Windows resourcesFor more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:
Mauro Huculak is technical writer for WindowsCentral.com. His primary focus is to write comprehensive how-tos to help users get the most out of Windows 10 and its many related technologies. He has an IT background with professional certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, and CompTIA, and he's a recognized member of the Microsoft MVP community. Does Windows 11 have a backup program?To turn on Windows backup and choose your backup settings, select Start > Settings > Accounts > Windows backup.
How do I backup my PC to an external hard drive?Connect the external drive to your computer, then select the Start menu. In Windows 11, type file history and select File History. In Windows 10, type backup and select Backup settings. Select Add a drive to choose the external hard drive you want to use for your file history backups.
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