Windows 11: Backup and Restore

Windows 11 settings allow users to backup their most important files. The operating system stores this copy on an online server. This server is called Microsoft OneDrive. Anyone with a Microsoft account can store 5 GB of data online for free. Users with an Office 365 subscription have access to more online storage space. A prerequisite for using this automatic backup feature is that the user is signed in to Windows 11 with a Microsoft account. Check that as follows:

• Click on the Start.
• click on Institutions.
• click on Accounts.
• click on Your info. Under ‘Account Settings’, make sure you’re signed in with a Microsoft account. If not, do so anyway.

Since Windows 11, Microsoft has been trying to entice its users to create online backups in OneDrive. That’s safe and the files are also available on any Windows device. If you have both a laptop and a computer, the same data from the backup will be stored on it. On a Windows 11 computer, back up the most important folders automatically online. That’s how it works:

• click on Start.
• click on Institutions.
• click on Accounts.
• click on Windows backup.
• Click behind ‘Sync OneDrive folder’ on Set up synchronization.
• Select the folders you want to back up.
• click on Start backup.
• Click on the cross at the top right to close the window.

In Windows 11 it is also possible to automatically save backups of the most important folders on a USB stick or external hard drive. You set it up once and from now on your files will be automatically backed up as soon as the configured storage medium is connected. Since the introduction of Windows 11, this feature has been somewhat hidden. It can no longer be found in the regular settings. Make a backup by following the steps below:

• Plug a USB stick or external hard drive into the computer’s USB port.
• click on Start.
• In the search field, type ‘File History’.
• In the search results list, click File history.
• The Control Panel appears with the backup feature. Do you see the correct USB stick or external hard drive? click on Switch.
• Click on the left side Advanced settings. Decide how often you want to back up.
• click on Saving Changes.

After these one-time settings, Windows will automatically perform the backup tasks. Now the question is: do you leave the external hard drive or USB stick connected to the computer or not? If you are concerned about viruses and/or ransomware, you may decide to disconnect. In such a case, Windows will only make a backup when you reconnect the disk/USB stick. So you have to think about that yourself.

Want to restore the files you backed up? Then do the following:

• click on Start.
• In the search field, type ‘backup’.
• In the search results list, click Restore files from backup.
• Select the files you want to recover.
• Press the button Restore to original location. That’s the green round button at the bottom of the screen.