Back up your PC with Windows Backup and File History

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 instead¹. Work or school Microsoft accounts won't work¹.

Windows Backup syncs your folders to OneDrive. A free Microsoft account comes with 5 GB of OneDrive storage, and you can buy more¹. Microsoft's pages cover Windows 11 and Windows 10, but support for Windows 10 ended on October 14, 2025¹.

For File History, connect an external drive or set up a network location first².

Steps

1. Open Windows Backup. Select Start, type backup, and select Windows Backup¹.
2. Choose your folders. Under Folders, turn on the switch for each folder you want synced to OneDrive: Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Videos and Music¹.
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 preferences¹.
4. Start the backup. Select Back up¹.
5. Connect a drive for File History. Plug in an external drive, or set up a network location².
6. Open File History. Open Control Panel. Under System and Security, select Save backup copies of your files with File History².
7. Turn on File History. Select Turn on². If the wrong drive is selected, choose Select drive, pick your drive in the Select a File History drive window, and select OK².
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 library².

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 backup¹.

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 one².

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 problems¹.

Your settings didn't back up. Personalization preferences are not backed up if you have too little OneDrive storage¹.

You can't use Windows Backup with your account. Work or school Microsoft accounts won't work¹. You can still keep copies of your files on an external drive with File History².

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 place².

A library file has no previous versions. Right-click the file in the folder where it is actually saved, not in the library².

Questions

Does Windows Backup save my files to an external drive?

No. Windows Backup syncs your folders to OneDrive¹. To keep copies on an external drive or a network location, use File History².

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 one¹.

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 more¹.

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 them².

9 Oct 2026: Published.