Your Windows operating system is more than just the building blocks of your PC ’s drug user experience — it ’s a trove of wanted memories , captured in videos , photographs , and songs . You probably have year of files that paint a picture of you , yours , and your style of life , so the last matter you ’d want to happen is for these meaningful moments to disappear .
This is why it ’s significant to learn how to create aWindows 11backup . And as luck would have it , we know a affair or two about carry out this chore .
Whether you ’ve never made a Windows backup in your life sentence , or you ask a fast refresher on a few part of the process , our footmark - by - measure guide has got you covered .
Windows 11 Backup and Restore
The easiest way to back up Windows 11 is with the Backup and Restore lineament of the operating arrangement . This feature is exit over from Windows 7 and still works just fine in backing up individual files and folders . you may find it in the classic Control Panel . Here ’s how to get started .
footfall 1 : spread your Start Menu and Search forControl Panel
Step 2 : In theSearch Control PanelBox , explore forBackup and Restoreand click the top result forBackup and Restore ( Windows 7 )
Step 4 : Once the support is utter , you could polish off the backup movement from your computer . At any sentence , you could restitute single file from the movement by plugging it in , going back to the same options page , and choosing theSelect another backup to restore file fromoption .
Windows 11 System Image
System Image Backup is a more in - depth solution to back up your entire PC . With it , you’re able to save an precise copy of your system and then regenerate it in the consequence your PC crashes or is buggy . This type of backup will admit all your program and apps in addition to your files .
Step 3 : Click theCreate a System Imagelink in the sidebar .
footstep 4 : In the magician that pop up , choose theOn a hard diskoption . Then , from there , press your external disk drive or solid - commonwealth drive that you ’ve plugged into your PC . You also can prefer a videodisc if you want , though a disk is the best option since it hold more storage . We have a dedicated guide coveringhow to burn CDs and DVDs on Windows 11 .
Step 5 : Click theNextbutton , and select all drives you want to include in the fill-in . Then , chooseStart backupwhen you ’re quick to backup . This full reliever could take a while , and , if you ’re using a traditional spinning hard driving force as your computer backup method , it might take even longer .
stone’s throw 6 : If you get a prompting about a system repair saucer , clickNo . You wo n’t need this for a system image backup if you already have a USB drive or CD with Windows installation file . Otherwise , clickYes .
Step 7 : Once the backup is over , you may restore from this system image at any time from theRepair your computeroption from theWindows 11 installer . Just choose theTroubleshootoption , and then choosesystem image recuperation . From there , you may chooseuse the latest system imageand follow the steps on your screen door .
Why should I create a Windows 11 backup?
It may seem like a nuisance , but as a PC possessor , make an OS patronage is one of the voguish matter you may do for your system . Not only will it preserve a number of preferences , customizations , and layout element of your Windows UI , but your backup acts as a retrievable snapshot of your microcomputer , up to the point you ’ve created the backup ( or whatever date range you take for the backup ) .
So even if the variation of Windows 11 lam on your PC decides to become vicious and erase all your pic , videos , music , and other important filing cabinet , your backup will permit you to get them back .
What are the best HDDs and SSDs for backing up Windows 11?
expect what company makes thebest external drivesis a great deal like asking who makes the best TVs , figurer , phones , tablets , etc . With so many brands to select from , reckon out what drive to buy for your Windows 11 backup can certainly be daunting . But ground on our experience and expertness , there ’s unquestionably a few names we can recommend .
For HDDs , you ca n’t go untimely with products from Western Digital and SanDisk . For SSDs , we ’re fond to example from Samsung , Crucial , and Lexa . Each of these companies produces outside drive that are elementary to use , build to last , and pitch exceeding transferral speeds .
Can I store a Windows 11 backup in cloud storage?
That all depends on the swarm store platform you ’re using . Generally speaking , most of these tools will allow you to store OS backups and other crucial single file you ’d like to keep dependable .
If you ’d like to keep things within the Microsoft ecosystem , OneDriveis a great platform to use . you may even set up automated backups for your most important file and subject matter , so you wo n’t have to worry about doing so manually .
