Windows Has A Secret Backup Tool - Here's How To Use It

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Windows has a concealed backup instrumentality – here's really to usage it
Lance Whitney / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

  • Windows has a hidden backup instrumentality successful Windows 10 and 11.
  • It tin prevention files to discs, drives, aliases web locations.
  • Deprecated by Microsoft, truthful expect occasional errors.

Regularly backing up your files is ever a bully idea, conscionable successful lawsuit immoderate important aliases irreplaceable ones spell missing. For that, you tin move to a assortment of programs. But Windows itself has a built-in backup instrumentality that's elemental and flexible. The drawback is that you astir apt don't moreover cognize it exists.

Named simply Windows Backup, this characteristic lets you take which folders and files to backmost up. You tin backmost up only prime files aliases each your Windows folders. You're expected to beryllium capable to see an full strategy image successful nan backup successful lawsuit you ever request to reconstruct Windows successful full. The limitation present is that you can't prevention nan strategy image connected removable media. But you tin ever usage nan system image tool to do this separately.

Also: Windows has a concealed betterment instrumentality - here's really to find it and usage it

Further, you're capable to prevention nan backup connected a recordable CD aliases DVD, an outer difficult drive, aliases a web location. You tin besides group nan backup to tally connected a regular basis. The instrumentality useful nan aforesaid successful Windows 10 and 11.

But arsenic always, location is simply a hiccup here. This type of Windows Backup has since been deprecated by Microsoft, which intends it's nary longer supported aliases updated. As a result, you could bump into issues and errors erstwhile utilizing nan tool.

In my experience, it mostly useful reliably. However, nan past fewer times I tried utilizing a web stock arsenic my backup destination, I received an correction that nan specified web location cannot beryllium used. Although I confirmed that nan web path, credentials, and different settings were correct, I continued to get nan aforesaid error. I've seen posts from different Windows users complaining of nan aforesaid problem. Your mileage whitethorn vary, but support this successful mind erstwhile choosing your backup destination.

Also: Your Windows 11 PC has a concealed emergency shutdown characteristic - here's really to usage it

To adhd to nan mystery, Microsoft offers a newer instrumentality besides known arsenic Windows Backup. (Yes, Microsoft loves to usage nan aforesaid names crossed different products to confuse people.) The newer Windows Backup is designed to backmost up and reconstruct definite files and settings. The main nonsubjective is to thief you move from 1 PC to another. In contrast, nan older bequest Windows Backup that I'm covering present operates much for illustration accepted backup software.

Both devices service their purpose. But here's really nan older, bequest Windows Backup useful and really to usage it to backmost up thing you want, to immoderate location you want.

First, you'll want to group up nan media for storing nan backup. For this, you tin take a CD aliases DVD, an outer USB drive, aliases a web share. I typically usage an outer drive. Make judge nan media is connected and has capable space. Depending connected nan number of files and nan size of nan backup, you'll want astatine slightest 16GB to 32GB of storage.

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Prepare your destination media
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
Launch Windows Backup
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET

If you wish to usage an outer USB drive, prime nan due 1 astatine nan adjacent screen. Click Next.

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Choose an outer drive
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET

If you want to effort to shop nan backup connected a web share, click nan fastener for "Save connected a network." Type nan sanction of your NAS aliases web thrust and click Browse. You'll beryllium prompted to participate your username and password for nan network. From nan dropdown menu, prime nan stock sanction and files successful which you want to prevention nan backup. Click OK. Enter your username and password successful nan Network credentials section. Click OK again to proceed.

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As I said before, trying to usage a web stock arsenic nan backup location triggers an correction connected my end. That's 1 logic I ever usage an outer thrust astatine this point.

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Choose a web location
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET

At nan adjacent screen, you tin opt to fto Windows prime which files to backmost up. In that case, nan backup will see nan folders and files successful your libraries, nan ones connected your desktop, and nan default locations nether your personification profile. Otherwise, you tin take which folders and files you want to backmost up. I typically prime nan action to fto maine choose. Make your action and click Next.

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Decide what to backmost up
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
Select nan folders to see successful nan backup
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET

At nan adjacent screen, group nan schedule astatine which you want nan backup to start. Click nan nexus for "Change schedule" and take really often nan backup should run, connected which day, and astatine what time. I typically group nan backup to footwear disconnected erstwhile a week connected a Friday afternoon. When ready, click OK.

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Schedule nan backup
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET

At nan regular screen, reappraisal nan folders to beryllium included and nan schedule. If you request to make immoderate changes, click nan backmost arrow astatine nan apical to return to immoderate erstwhile screens. Otherwise, click nan fastener for "Save settings and tally backup." The first surface will bespeak that your backup is successful progress. When that position disappears, nan backup is complete.

Also: Can't upgrade your Windows 10 PC? You person 5 options - and 2 months to decide

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Review nan settings
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET

Now let's recreation to nan future, astatine a constituent erstwhile nan backup has been moving regularly. Some of nan files included successful nan backup are now missing aliases corrupted, and you request to reconstruct them. Return to nan Backup and Restore (Windows 7) model and click nan fastener astatine nan bottommost for "Restore my files."

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Restore a record aliases files
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET

At nan adjacent screen, click Search if you cognize nan afloat aliases partial sanction of nan files you wish to restore. Otherwise, click "Browse for files" to browse among each nan backed-up files and prime circumstantial files, aliases "Browse for folders" to cheque retired each nan backed-up folders and prime a circumstantial folder. Drill down done nan backup until you find nan location of nan backed-up folders aliases files. Select nan files you want to reconstruct and click nan Add files button.

Also: How to clear nan cache connected your Windows 11 PC (and why it greatly improves performance)

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Look for nan files
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET

Back astatine nan regular screen, click Next. You're past asked whether you want to reconstruct nan files to nan original location aliases a different spot. If nan files are missing, you tin reconstruct them to nan original location. If they still beryllium but won't unfastened aliases are corrupted, you whitethorn want to reconstruct them to a different location. When ready, click Restore.

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Choose wherever to reconstruct nan files
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
Check nan restored files
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET

Though Windows Backup is deprecated and nary longer supported by Microsoft, it still works, astatine slightest nether astir conditions. For that reason, it's worthy utilizing if you request a useful built-in instrumentality to backmost up and reconstruct your astir important and irreplaceable files.

Also: Your complete Windows 11 upgrade guide: Everything to cognize - earlier you ditch Windows 10

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