How to create full backup of your Windows 11 PC

Windows 11 full backup Source: Windows Fundamental

On Windows 11, a full backup is amid the best means to protect your current setup and files against hardware failure, upgrade problems, malware attacks, file corruption, and more. In other words, if yous don't have a proper backup, yous are constantly at run a risk of losing your files, including pictures and documents, as well as custom configurations you may have spent many hours setting up.

You lot can always use third-party local and cloud solutions, but Windows xi notwithstanding comes with the Fill-in and Restore feature that includes an pick to create a system prototype of the unabridged organization to an external storage.

A system prototype also describes a total fill-in since information technology includes an identical re-create of the Windows installation, plus your settings, apps, and, more importantly, your files. Typically, you will detect this backup approach more suitable to roll back to a previous version if you see problems after upgrading to a new version of Windows or restoring the system after replacing the hard drive or critical failure.

In this Windows 11 guide, we will walk you through the steps to create a total backup of all your custom settings, apps, files, and OS setup files using the Backup and Restore feature.

How to create fill-in on Windows 11

The Backup and Restore feature lets y'all create a system image of the entire organization and files to an external hard drive or network binder location. However, this guide will look at the steps to create a backup to a USB storage (with enough space) since it'south the most convenient procedure for most users.

Of import: Microsoft no longer maintains the backup feature, just you tin can nonetheless use it to create a temporary full backup while it'due south still available.

To create a full backup on Windows eleven, use these steps:

Open Start.
Search for Control Panel and click the top result to open the app.
Click on Arrangement and Security.
Click the File History setting.

Source: Windows Central
Click the System Prototype Backup option from the lesser-left corner.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Create a system epitome option from the left navigation pane.

Source: Windows Central
Select the On a hard disk option.
Use the "On a hd" driblet-downwards menu and select the Windows 11 full backup destination.

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Click the Next button.
(Optional) Select any additional drive to include in the backup.
Click the Next button.
Click the Start backup button.

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Click the No button.

Quick note: Yous'll as well receive a prompt to create a system repair disc, but you can skip it. If you demand to roll back to a previous installation, you tin can use a USB installation media to access the recovery settings.
Click the Close push button.

Once you lot complete the steps, a fill-in of the entire system volition be created with everything on the primary hard bulldoze and other drives you may have selected.

The tool uses the "Shadow Copy" characteristic backs upwardly files even if they are open and apps are running, which ways that y'all can continue to work during this procedure. After the fill-in is complete, disconnect and shop the drive in a safe place.

If you don't have enough space to backup your calculator, in that location are a number of bang-up external hard drives, but we recommend the Western Digital My Book considering of its reliability and affordability. Also, information technology is non as fast as an SSD, merely you tin become one of these drives with up to 14TB of storage to create many backups.

Best Bulk Storage for backups

Western Digital My Book

Western Digital My Volume

Bulk storage

The WD My Book might not be particularly fast or have the most compact design, simply it does deliver massive and reliable storage for backups and other files at a great price.

How to restore fill-in on Windows 11

In the event of a hardware failure or if yous're upgrading the system drive, you can use a previous backup to restore the device installation.

Whenever you restore a backup, avert interrupting the process as it will cause the backup to fail, and the calculator will no longer kicking. If you want to avert problems, it's recommended to maintain the laptop connected to a power source and a desktop continued to an uninterruptible power supply (UPS).

To restore a Windows eleven backup, connect the drive with the backup and a Windows 11 bootable USB flash drive, and use these steps:

Start the computer.
On the USB bootable bulldoze startup prompt, press whatever fundamental to continue.

Quick tip: If the estimator does not start in the Windows Setup magician, you will need to admission the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) to change the kick society settings. However, since these steps are dissimilar per manufacturer and device model, it is recommended to check your manufacturer support website for more than specific details.
On the "Windows Setup" page, click the Next button.

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Click the Repair your computer selection from the bottom-left corner of the screen.

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Click the Troubleshoot option.
Click the Organisation Image Recovery option.

Source: Windows Central
Select the Windows eleven choice.
On the "Re-image your estimator" page, select the Use the latest available system image pick.

Source: Windows Central

Quick tip: Use the "Select a organization image" choice to restore an older version of the setup (if applicable).
Click the Next push button.
(Optional) Select the Format and repartition disks option before restoring the backup.

Quick tip: If you choose this choice, employ the Exclude disks selection to forbid formatting the secondary drives that may comprise data. Usually, you only want to use this pick on new drives.
(Optional) Check the But restore organization drivers option.
Click the Next push button.

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Click the Finish button.

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Click the Yes button.

After you consummate the steps, the recovery process volition start, and the restoration time will depend on the corporeality of data and hardware configuration of the device.

In one case the backup has been applied, the device may likely be missing some updates, which means that information technology's a good idea to open Settings > Windows Update and click the Check for Updates push to update the organization and drivers.

While you can find many other alternative solutions, the are nevertheless benefits to using the System Prototype Backup characteristic on Windows 11. For example, when yous accept to back up the system before an upgrade to a new version. You lot need to brand system changes, and you desire to make certain you accept a quick way to roll back. Or when you lot accept to replace the main hard drive or demand a quick way to transfer the installation and files without reinstallation.

Also, information technology'southward always a skilful idea to periodically back up your calculator to have a fresh copy to revert to if the unexpected happens, such as system or hardware failure, malware, ransomware, or hacker attacks.

Just call back that this feature has been designed to recover the whole organisation, not private files. If you want to support your files, y'all should exist using something like OneDrive or File History. Also, you have to exist proactive in creating backups considering you tin just recover until the last backup. Anything after the backup won't be recoverable.