How to backup your PC automatically on Windows 11 and 10

On Windows 11 (or 10), creating frequent backups is one of the best strategies to protect your documents, pictures, videos, custom configurations, and system files against software problems, hardware failure, hackers, and malware (such as viruses and ransomware) attacks.

Although there are many third-party utilities that you can use, Windows ships with the legacy "Backup and Restore" tool, which allows you to create full backups automatically at regular intervals.

A full backup using this tool means that Windows 11 (or 10) will make a copy of everything on your computer, including installation files, settings, apps, and all your files stored in the primary drive, as well as those files stored in different locations. Then, when your device suddenly stops working, a critical error prevents the device from starting correctly, or files get damaged, you can use the "Backup and Restore" feature to recover individual files or the entire system as necessary.

In this how-to guide, I will walk you through the steps to set up full backups of your device automatically.

Important: The Backup and Restore feature is no longer maintained. You can still use it, but it may stop working in future releases. Also, as a deprecated feature, Microsoft can decide to remove this tool completely in future releases.

How to configure automatic backups on Windows

To configure automatic backups on Windows 11 (and 10), use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Control Panel and click the top result to open the app.
3. Click the "Backup and Restore" setting under the "System and Security" section.

3. Under the "Backup" section, click the "Set up backup" option on the right.

4. Select the external drive to store the backups.

6. Click the Next button.
7. Select the "Let me choose" option under the "What do you want to backup?" section.

• Quick tip: You can select the "Let Windows choose" option, but if you want to make sure that everything you want is getting backed up, the "Let me choose" is the option that you want to select.

8. Click the Next button.
9. Under the "Data Files" section, check all the items as necessary.
10. Under the "Computer" section, check the Local Disk (C:). 

• Quick note: If you have multiple drives, they will also appear in this list.

12. Check the "Include a system of drives: System Reserved, (C:)" option.

13. Click the Next button.
14. Click the Change schedule option.

15. Check the "Run backup on a schedule" option.
16. Specify the frequency, date, and time when Windows should backup the device.

• Quick tip: If you're working with essential data, such as work files, you should consider backing up using the "Daily" option.

17. Click the OK button.
18. Click the "Save settings and exit" button.

Once you complete the steps, an initial backup will be created, and incremental backups will be performed on the specified schedule.

While the backup is in process, you can click the "View details" button to see more information about the files being copied and an option to interrupt the process (if necessary). After the process is complete, in the "Backup" section, you can view the current size of the backup and drive location and the date and time of the next and previous backup.

How to manage backup settings on Windows

After setting up the automatic backup feature on Windows 11 (or on your Windows 10 device), you can manage many settings to prevent running out of space in the external drive and changing the schedule as necessary.

Free up backup space

To free up space on the external backup drive, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Control Panel and click the top result to open the app.
3. Click the "Backup and Restore" setting under the "System and Security" section.

4. Under the "Backup" section, click the Manage space option.

5. Click the View backups button under the "Data file backup" section.

6. Select the oldest backup from the list.

6. Click the Delete button.
7. Repeat steps 7 and 8 to delete additional backups as necessary.
8. Click the Close button.
9. Click the Change settings button under the "System image" section.

12. Select the "Keep only the latest system image and minimize space used by backup" option.

13. Click the OK button.
14. Click the Delete button.
15. Click the Close button.

After you complete the steps, the external drive should have more space to allocate future backups.

If you have a lot of data to protect and optimizing the backup drive storage doesn't make a difference, you should consider getting a larger external storage.

Change backup schedule

To set a different schedule to run backups automatically on Windows 11 (or 10), use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Control Panel and click the top result to open the app.
3. Click the "Backup and Restore" setting under the "System and Security" section.

4. Under the "Schedule" section, click the Change settings option.

5. Continue with the on-screen directions (without changing the settings) until you arrive on the "Review your backup settings" page.
6. Click the Change schedule option.

7. Specify a new schedule for the backup.

9. Click the OK button.
10. Click the "Save settings and exit" button.

Once you complete the steps, the system will run the backup automatically during the specified new schedule.

Create restore media

When the time comes to restore your computer from backup, you'll need a bootable media. Although the tool includes an option to create a disc to boot your device to restore a backup, newer devices no longer come with disc drives.

If you don't have a CD-ROM drive, you'll need to use the Media Creation Tool to create a USB bootable media, which you can use to access the recovery environment when your computer doesn't boot. (This is the link to download the tool for Windows 10, and this is the page to download the version of Windows 11.)

In the case that you still have a disc drive, insert a writable blank disc and use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Control Panel and click the top result to open the app.
3. Click the "Backup and Restore" setting under the "System and Security" section.

4. Click the "Create a system repair disc" option from the left pane.

5. Click the Create disc button.

After you complete the steps, you can use the physical disc or USB bootable media to start your computer in the Advanced startup mode to recover your files.

How to restore backup on Windows

When the unexpected happens, you can use the "Backup and Restore" feature to restore files individually or recover your entire system and files.

Restore files from full backup

To restore one or multiple files, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Control Panel and click the top result to open the app.
3. Click the "Backup and Restore" setting under the "System and Security" section.

4. Click the "Restore my files" button under the "Restore" section.

5. Click the "Browse for files" button.

6. Select the files that to restore from the automatic backup.

7. Click the Add files button.
8. Click the "Browse for folders" button.
9. Select the folders to restore from the backup.

10. (Optional) If you don't know the location of the file, use the Search button to find it.
11. Click the Next button.

11. Select the "In the following location" option (recommended).
12. Click the Browse button.
13. Select the restore location.

14. Click the OK button.
15. Click the Restore button.
16. Click the Finish button.

Once you complete the steps, you can access the files and folders from the location you specified during the recovery process.

Restore computer from full backup

If your computer doesn't boot or you're replacing the main drive, it's possible to restore your device using the most recent backup. However, before you can proceed, you have to make sure the computer can start from USB (or CD-ROM drive), which means that you may need to change the boot order inside the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) or Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) on your device.

Usually, the process involves pressing one of the function keys (F1, F2, F3, F10, or F12), the "ESC," or "Delete" key as soon as the device starts. The only caveat is that the process often differs depending on the manufacturer and computer model. So check your device manufacturer's support website for more specific instructions.

While in the firmware interface, find the "Boot" section, configure the boot order to start from the USB bootable drive (or CD-ROM drive), and save the new changes.

To perform a system restore using a backup on Windows 11 (or 10), use these steps:

1. Start the PC with a bootable media drive.
2. Click the Next button.

3. Click the "Repair your computer" option at the bottom-left corner.

4. Click the Troubleshoot option.

• Quick tip: If you need to restore your device from backup, and you still have access to the desktop, you can access the Advanced startup settings from Settings > Update & Security > Recovery, and clicking the "Restart now" button from the "Advanced startup" section.

5. Click the "System Image Recovery" option.

6. Select the Windows version installed on the system as the target.
7. Select the "Use the latest available system image" option.

8. Click the Next button.
9. Select the "Format and repartition disks" option if you're restoring a full backup to your computer or replacing the hard drive.

• Important: If you have multiple drives with data that you don't want to erase, make sure to click the "Exclude disks" button to change the settings to prevent the process from wiping out those drives.

10. Click the Next button.
11. Click the Finish button.
12. Click the Yes button.

After you complete the steps, the recovery process will start, restoring everything since the last backup. The completion time will depend upon the data and hardware configuration.

If you work with files frequently and don't create backups daily, it's recommended to complement the backup with another kind of file backup. For instance, a OneDrive subscription lets you keep a more up-to-date copy of all your personal files in the cloud.

Backup and Restore vs. system image backup

In addition to the Backup and Restore tool, the operating system also includes the system image backup tool to create a full copy of your entire computer. However, there are a few key differences between these tools.

You will create automatic backups during a specified schedule and get more options when using Backup and Restore. For example, you can configure the data you want to protect, manage the storage, and restore one or multiple files and the entire device.

However, this solution also has at least a few things to consider. When doing backups automatically, it means that the backup drive has to be always connected to the computer, which could be a risk as if malware infects the device, it may also damage the backup.

In contrast, the system image backup feature allows you to create a full backup, but you must go through the process manually every time you want to protect your files and installation. Typically, this feature is more suited as a temporary backup when making significant system changes or replacing the hard drive.

One significant benefit is that, unlike the automatic option, you can always disconnect the backup drive and store it in a safe location, which can protect your data from malware, hackers, and natural disasters.

Like the automated process, system image backup has a few caveats. You can only restore files since the last time you ran the backup. As a result, if you're not proactive in creating backups, you could lose a lot of data during the restore process. Also, this feature is meant to restore your entire system, not individual files.

More resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources: 

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know