As the owner of several Windows computers, it can sometimes be difficult to keep your experience the same from one computer to the next. Especially if you decide to do it manually. Fortunately, Microsoft offers an option to sync the settings.
You can synchronize different parts and aspects of Windows 10 and Windows 11. Think of the chosen theme, certain passwords, the language preference and other things. The big advantage of this synchronization is that those settings are all in the cloud. If something goes wrong with your system, or you buy a new computer, you get those things back too.
Before we explain how to set your sync options, it’s helpful to know that you need a Microsoft account. With that account you have to log in to the computers whose settings you want to equalize. If you don’t have a Microsoft account yet (however, the chance is small), you can do so via arrange this page.
Sync Windows 10 Settings
First, let’s look at the sync settings for Windows 10. To do this, go to Settings > Accounts > Sync your settings. The option is on by default, but you can turn it off here if you really don’t like it.
You can disable everything or just some parts. Since we want to sync the options between Windows devices, let’s leave everything on for this article. Then you know for sure that you take everything with you.
You will find several things here. Theme, Passwords, Language Preferences and Other Windows Settings. By theme, Microsoft means your chosen background, colors and your screensaver. The saved passwords are the passwords you use for Windows apps and certain websites. The language preferences speak for themselves; then we keep the somewhat vague sounding Other Windows Settings about. What are those?
Those settings relate to connected printers, installed applications, and the size and color of your mouse cursor. In short: settings and options that you definitely want to use on the new device, especially if you use it in the same environment.
Sync Windows 11 Settings
Windows 11 users will find the options related to synchronization elsewhere. You go to Settingsclick Accounts and then select the Windows backup option. Indicate that you want to save your preferences.
If you don’t want that, flip the slider again. You can also opt for a few components here, as described earlier. Unfortunately for Windows 11 users it is not possible to synchronize the theme options.
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