--- title: "Back up your PC with Windows Backup and File History" canonical: https://saasranked.com/guides/back-up-with-windows-backup/ applies_to: Windows 11, Windows 10 checked: 2026-10-09 (against Microsoft's documentation) updated: 2026-10-09 --- # Back up your PC with Windows Backup and File History - Windows Backup needs a Microsoft account. Work or school Microsoft accounts won't work [1]. - Windows Backup syncs folders to OneDrive, and a free Microsoft account comes with 5 GB of OneDrive storage [1]. - It covers the Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Videos and Music folders, plus installed apps and settings such as Wi-Fi networks and passwords [1]. - File History backs up your libraries and Desktop to an external drive or a network location [2]. - Restoring an older version with File History replaces the current file, and this can't be undone [2]. To back up a Windows PC, open the Windows Backup app, turn on the folders you want synced to OneDrive, choose your apps and settings, and select Back up [1]. It needs a personal Microsoft account [1]. For copies on an external drive, turn on File History in Control Panel. It backs up your libraries and Desktop [2]. ## Before you start Windows Backup needs a Microsoft account. If you sign in with a local account, go to **Settings** > **Accounts** > **Your info** and select **Sign in with a Microsoft account instead** [1]. Work or school Microsoft accounts won't work [1]. Windows Backup syncs your folders to OneDrive. A free Microsoft account comes with 5 GB of OneDrive storage, and you can buy more [1]. Microsoft's pages cover Windows 11 and Windows 10, but support for Windows 10 ended on October 14, 2025 [1]. For File History, connect an external drive or set up a network location first [2]. ## Steps 1. **Open Windows Backup.** Select **Start**, type *backup*, and select **Windows Backup** [1]. 2. **Choose your folders.** Under **Folders**, turn on the switch for each folder you want synced to OneDrive: Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Videos and Music [1]. 3. **Choose your apps and settings.** Turn on **Remember my apps** and **Remember my preferences**. These back up your installed apps and Windows settings, such as Wi-Fi networks and passwords, personalization and language preferences [1]. 4. **Start the backup.** Select **Back up** [1]. 5. **Connect a drive for File History.** Plug in an external drive, or set up a network location [2]. 6. **Open File History.** Open **Control Panel**. Under **System and Security**, select **Save backup copies of your files with File History** [2]. 7. **Turn on File History.** Select **Turn on** [2]. If the wrong drive is selected, choose **Select drive**, pick your drive in the **Select a File History drive** window, and select **OK** [2]. 8. **Add other folders (optional).** File History backs up your libraries and Desktop. To include another folder, right-click it, select **Show more options**, then **Include in library** [2]. ## Check it worked Open the Windows Backup app to see the current state of your backup. You can also check it in **Settings** > **Accounts** > **Windows backup** [1]. For File History, open File Explorer, right-click a backed-up folder and select **Restore previous versions**. The **Previous Versions** tab lists saved versions. Select **Open in File History** to preview one [2]. ## Common problems **Windows Backup fails with a OneDrive error.** Check that you're signed in to OneDrive and have enough storage. Also check that OneDrive has no other sync problems [1]. **Your settings didn't back up.** Personalization preferences are not backed up if you have too little OneDrive storage [1]. **You can't use Windows Backup with your account.** Work or school Microsoft accounts won't work [1]. You can still keep copies of your files on an external drive with File History [2]. **A restore overwrote a newer file.** Restoring replaces the current version, and this can't be undone. Next time, select **Restore to...** to save the old version in another place [2]. **A library file has no previous versions.** Right-click the file in the folder where it is actually saved, not in the library [2]. ## Questions **Does Windows Backup save my files to an external drive?** No. Windows Backup syncs your folders to OneDrive [1]. To keep copies on an external drive or a network location, use File History [2]. **How do I restore a Windows Backup on a new PC?** During setup on the new PC, sign in with the same Microsoft account, and Windows offers to restore your backup. If you backed up more than one PC, choose More options to pick one [1]. **What happens if my OneDrive storage is full?** Personalization preferences are not backed up if you have too little OneDrive storage. A free account has 5 GB, and you can buy more [1]. **Which folders does File History back up?** Your libraries, including Documents, Pictures, Videos and Music and any custom libraries, plus the Desktop. You can add other folders to a library to include them [2]. ## Sources 1. [Back up and restore with Windows Backup](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/back-up-your-windows-pc-87a81f8a-78fa-456e-b521-ac0560e32338), Microsoft Support, accessed 2026-10-09 2. [Backup and restore with File History](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/backup-and-restore-with-file-history-7bf065bf-f1ea-0a78-c1cf-7dcf51cc8bfc), Microsoft Support, accessed 2026-10-09 Checked against Microsoft's documentation on 9 Oct 2026.