Backing up Windows 11

Overview

Why are you doing this ?

I have lost count of the number of people why have asked me to repair or resuscitate a laptop or desktop running Windows because of some irreplaceable data. It would be cruel to say 'Wheres your latest backup?' to them because you just know that there isn't one. This happens on macOS too but less so these days because of the excellent and near invisible 'Time Machine' technology. So surely Windows 11 has decent backup tools now? I don't know the answer but since I've been using a Windows 11 laptop for a project I thought I'd better set it up.

TL:DR — Windows 11 comes with a decent set of tools for making backups. Backups are not things you need until the moment after you absolutely wish you had them. So do yourself an enormous favour and get an external drive bigger than the capacity of your computers internal drive. Plug it in, and set up the three backup tools that come with Windows 11 so that you have a safe and secure backup in case you lose or fry your computer. You'll need an external drive. I chose a Samsung T7 Portable SSD - 1 TB  and optionally an External USB DVD writer if your computer doesn't have one in order to create a System repair disc that can be booted to access system recovery options.

Backing up Windows 11

Windows 11, Backup and Restore

Control Panel, System and Security, Backup and Restore (Windows 7)

Search for 'Control Panel' and then choose 'System and Security

Then choose 'Back up and Restore (Windows 7). I don't know why it has Windows 7 in brackets. I guess its an old but still supported tool. Seems a bit counter intuitive but here we are.

Now you can see some back up options. I prefer the term 'backup' but Microsoft has both Back up and Back-up on this screen. 

Choose Create a system image

Select your nice new external drive. Ive partitioned it into two 500GB partitions, both in NTFS on the default settings.

Accept the defaults to to include the System Particion, Windows Recovery and your C: (System) drive. Microsoft use the term backup here after all!

Confirm your backup settings and click 'Start backup'

Let Windows do its work.

Windows 11, Windows is saving the backup

Windows 11, Backing up the EFI System Partition

Windows 11, Backing up (C:)

Windows 11, The backup completed successfully.

Windows 11, Create a system repair disc

Windows 11, Using the system repair disc

Windows 11, System repair disc complete

File History

File History saves copies of your files so you can get them back if they are lost or damaged

Select a drive for File History. I chose the other 500GB partition on my external SSD. Click 'Turn on'

Thats it. You are done!

Scheduled Windows Backup

Windows 11 can automatically backup your system, by default weekly, to an external drive

Now back in Back up and Restore (Windows 7) on Windows 11, choose Set up backup

Temp

Let Windows choose. On reflection this is the best choice as it saves everything you need.

Let Windows choose

Click Save settings and run backup

You can watch your backup run if you wish

And now its set you can be safer in the knowledge that it will run weekly provided your external drive is plugged in. Mines in a dock and so it usually will be fine.

References

See also:

• Back up and restore with Windows Backup Windows backup for Windows 11 backs up the settings you choose across all your Windows 11 devices that you've signed in to with your Microsoft account. Its completely different to Windows 11, Back up and Restore (Windows 7) which this article is about. Seems more confusing than it should be.