This short article will reveal you how to back up files on Windows 11 so that you can recuperate them in case of a data loss.
How Do I Back Up All My Files on My Computer?
There are three principal techniques to maintain your files and folders in Windows 11:
Back up with File HistoryBack up with third-party system image toolsBack approximately OneDrive
File History remains in the Control Panel. You can likewise back up to the cloud with OneDrive using the 5GB of totally free storage space readily available to every Windows user. The OneDrive folder syncing feature is readily available under Settings.
As the minimal complimentary cloud space is just helpful for partial backups of some files, it’s always better to utilize a mix of offline and online fallback sources.
Note:
There are several free backup software tools for Windows. Choose from them when you need more advanced backup and sync features like selective backup and sync.
How to Back Up Windows 11 Using File History
File History is the default backup and data healing option in Windows 11. It was presented in Windows 8 and permits you to take automatic and incremental backups of files and folders stored in the Library. Files are supported in an external drive or a networked folder.
Select Start (the Windows icon) in the taskbar.
In the search bar, enter Control Panel and choose the top outcome to open the panel.
Select System and Security.
Select File History. If File History is switched off, connect an external drive and refresh the window.
From the left pane, select Advanced settings.
In the Save Copies of Files drop-down list, set the schedule. The default is Every hour.
You can also set how long it will keep the backup version of the files. Select the dropdown for Keep saved versions and change it as per your needs. The default is Forever.
Go back to File History and select Exclude folders from the left pane. choose Add to list folders you don’t want to back up. Navigate to the folder in Explorer and select them for the list.
Return to the main File History screen. Select the Turn On button to enable File History. Windows starts backing up the files from Libraries, Contacts, and Favorites.
Allow it to continue. You can select Turn off to terminate the process if you want to for some reason.
To get rid of the backup created by File History, go to the hard disk drive used to back up files, then locate and delete the File History folder by hand. Alternatively, the Cleanup versions feature under Advanced settings will eliminate copies of your backup older than the time you have set it to save.
FAQHow do I use OneDrive in Windows 11?
To support files with Windows OneDrive, open File Explorer, right-click OneDrive in the left pane and select OneDrive > Settings. In the Accounts tab, choose Choose folders and select which folders you wish to support.
How do I restore my Windows 11 backup files?
To restore files with File History, link your external storage device and go to Control Panel > System and Security > File History, then select Restore Personal Files.
