If you’re like most people, you don’t back up your files on a regular basis. It’s easy to forget when you’re not using your computer for a few hours, or when you have to remember so many other things. When files get lost, it can be quite the hassle to recover deleted files.

You never get to keep your data if you don’t back up

  • Automatic backups are a must-have for any Windows user who cares about protecting their data.

  • You never know when you’ll need it, but you’ll be glad you have it when such a time comes.

  • Knowing how to backup in Windows should be one of your top priorities and we share how you can go about it.

  • System recovery for a variety of physical or virtual platforms

  • Built-in antivirus and anti-ransomware

  • Central management platform for multiple devices

  • Make your own backup schedule

  • Monitor and detect disk issues and risks

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Automatic backups have saved many a day, but they’re not as common as you might think. If you have a Windows computer, then you’re probably aware of how important it is to have a good backup system in place.

Windows is a great operating system, but it’s not perfect. In fact, it’s one of the most vulnerable OSs out there. If you’re not backing up your data regularly, you’re taking a huge risk that could cost you dearly. Automatic backups are a great way to make sure you’ll never lose your data.

Thankfully, Windows has a built-in backup utility that makes it easy to create backups manually or on a schedule.

Where is Backup on Windows 11? 

Backup is an essential feature of any operating system. For Windows, it is a built-in tool. You can use it to back up your files and folders to another location. As Windows versions evolve, the feature may keep changing positions.

To locate the Backup feature in Windows 11, follow the steps below:

  • Hit the Windows key and select Settings.
  • Select Accounts on the left pane then click on Windows backup on the right pane.

Does Windows backup save all files?

Yes, Windows backup is able to save all files. It is a great tool for protecting your computer from data loss. The tool allows you to back up your data on an external drive or network location so that if your computer crashes or gets damaged, you’ll be able to restore everything just as it was before.

However, you should never rely on your Windows backup tool to back up all of your data. It’s always a good idea to have additional backup software for any eventuality.

Quick Tip:

Additional backup software is just like a safety net for critical data. A software we use and recommend is Acronis since it’s specialized in business data backup.

Acronis is a backup software that can protect your data against cyberattacks, system failure, or even simple human error. Don’t risk losing any data. Defend it and ensure business continuity with threat-agnostic anti-malware defense and endpoint protection management.

How do I automatically Backup files in Windows 11?

1. Use manual backup

Manual backups are one of the easiest ways to make sure that all of your files are safe and secure from harm.

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When using this method, all you have to do is copy all of your important documents and pictures onto another storage device such as a CD or DVD or drive so that if anything happens to your computer, they won’t be lost forever.

You can use a flash drive or hard drive for this purpose as well as any external storage device that supports USB 2 or higher speeds for faster transfers. Then if something happens, such as a virus or hard drive failure, you can use this copy to restore the original files.

2. Use File History

  • Hit the Windows key, type Control Panel in the search bar and click Open.
  • Select System and Security.
  • Navigate to File History.
  • Click on Select drive on the left pane.
  • Choose your preferred drive from the list and click OK.
  • Hit the Turn on button to activate the tool.
  • Now click on Run now to backup any files you have.

3. Use Windows backup

  • Hit the Windows key, type Control Panel in the search bar and click Open.
  • Select Backup and Restore (Windows 7) under System and Security.
  • Click the Set up backup button.
  • Select the Backup destination then click Next.
  • Select one of the two backup options then click Next.
  • Click on Change schedule and set up your preferred time then select Save settings and run backup.

4. Use OneDrive

  • Hit the Windows key and select Settings.
  • Select Accounts on the left pane then click on Windows backup on the right pane.
  • Click on Set up syncing/Manage sync settings.
  • Enter your credentials to login or Create account if you don’t have one.
  • Select a folder to backup then click on Start backup.

5. Use System Image

  • Hit the Windows key, type Control Panel in the search bar and click Open.
  • Select Backup and Restore (Windows 7) under System and Security.
  • Click on Create a system image on the left pane.
  • Select your hard disk and click Next.
  • Click Start backup.

How do I set up automatic backup on my external hard drive in Windows 11? 

File History is a feature that lets you automatically back up your files so that if anything goes wrong with them, you can restore them quickly and easily. 

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It works by creating copies of your documents and saving them in a separate location — typically your OneDrive folder or an external drive. You can choose how often File History should run (daily, weekly or monthly), and how many versions of each file it should keep.

To set up, follow the steps below:

  • Plug in your external hard drive to your PC.
  • Hit the Windows key and select Settings.
  • Select System then click on Storage.
  • Click on Advanced storage settings under Storage management.
  • Select Backup options.
  • Now click on the Add a drive option under Back up using File History.
  • Select your external drive and start the backup process.

And that’s how to automatically backup your files in Windows 11 using various methods. If you feel that you are running out of storage space, you can always delete app backup files which are usually just cache files.

Aside from different ways to backup your files, you may also benefit from our article on useful backup settings to get the most out of this feature.

Should you encounter the Windows 11 backup error, we also have a detailed guide on how you can bypass the issue.

Let us know in the comment section your preferred backup method and why.

If the advices above haven’t solved your issue, your PC may experience deeper Windows problems. We recommend downloading this PC Repair tool (rated Great on TrustPilot.com) to easily address them. After installation, simply click the Start Scan button and then press on Repair All.

Still having issues? Fix them with this tool:

  • backupWindows 11

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