Windows backup

Creates a full-image backup but only allows recovering the full image. Microsoft recommends that you use the Windows 11 recovery system to create a recovery drive, so if you run into problems with your OS later, you can reinstall Windows 11 using the recovery drive.

  1. Go to "Control Panel" → "System and Security" → "Backup and Restore (Windows 11)"
  2. Select "Set up backup" under the "Backup" section
  3. If asked, enter your admin passcode
  4. Select "Backup Drive" → click "Next"
  5. Select "Let Windows Choose" → click "Next" (this will back up user-associated files — Desktop files, Libraries, and default Windows 11 folders) or select the individual folders you want to backup
  6. Click "Save settings and run backup"

Lets you back up and recover selected files and folders. If you want the flexibility to recover a full-image and selected files/folders, you will need to use both Windows 11 options to recover your data adequately. The backup process via File History requires you to connect an external storage device to your computer.

The options below include how often to back up files via the File History feature, which files to back up, and the retention rate of saved backups.

  • By default, File History will back up your data every hour. You can change the setting in the interval from 10 minutes to 24 hours.
  • By default, File History will keep backups forever. You can change the setting in the interval from one month to two years.

You can inspect the complete list of default backup folders for File History. Then, you can add more options to the backup via the "Add Folder" option. You can also delete options from the backup list via the "Delete" option. When done with configuring the backup scheme, you can save the Windows settings and exit the menu → click "Back up now".

  1. Connect the external hard drive to your computer
  2. Navigate to "System" → "Storage" → "Advanced storage settings" → "Backup options"
  3. Select "Add a drive" (under "Backup using File History")
  4. Toggle the "On" switch under "Automatically back up my files"
  5. Choose "More options" to configure File History specifics
    • "Back up my files" option
    • "Keep my backups" option
    • "Back up these folders" option
  6. File History will now back up your data following your chosen schedule as long as the external hard drive is connected to your computer