A good Windows 11 backup before a major update has two parts: a copy of your personal files somewhere other than the PC, and a way to return the system itself to its pre-update state. Windows 11 includes tools for both, the Windows Backup app, File History and point-in-time restore, so most people need no extra software.
| Tool | What it protects | Where the copy lives | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows Backup app | Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Videos, Music, app list, settings, Wi-Fi and passwords | OneDrive and your Microsoft account | Moving to a new PC or reinstalling |
| File History | Libraries and Desktop, with older versions of each file | External drive or network share | Offline file copies and version recovery |
| Point-in-time restore | The whole Windows drive: OS, apps, settings and local files | Same drive (restore points) | Undoing a bad update within 72 hours |
| System image (legacy) | Full copy of the Windows drive | External drive | Bare-metal recovery, with caveats |
| Recovery drive | Tools to reinstall Windows | USB stick | PC that will not start at all |
Why should I back up Windows 11 before a major update?
Feature updates replace large parts of Windows, and although most finish without trouble, a failed install, an incompatible driver or a power cut mid-update can leave a PC that will not boot or has lost settings. A recent backup turns that from a lost day into a short restore, and protects files that would otherwise exist only on one drive.
This matters now because Windows 11 26H2 is rolling out through Windows Update and 24H2 Home and Pro have stopped receiving patches. Our guide to Windows 11 24H2 end of support and the move to 26H2 explains the timing.
Cause and effect: 26H2 removes default trust for old cross-signed kernel drivers. A PC that depends on a legacy printer, audio or VPN driver may lose that device after the update, and a system-level restore point is what lets you roll back cleanly while you find a newer driver.
How do I back up my files with the Windows Backup app?
Sign in to Windows with a Microsoft account, open the Windows Backup app from Start, switch on the folders you want to protect under Folders, choose which settings to remember, and select Back up. Your folders sync to OneDrive, while apps, preferences, Wi-Fi networks and passwords are saved to your Microsoft account.
- Check Settings > Accounts > Your info shows a Microsoft account (work or school accounts are not supported).
- Open Start, type
backupand select Windows Backup. - Under Folders, turn on Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Videos and Music as needed.
- Expand the settings sections and tick what you want to keep, such as apps, accessibility, personalisation and credentials.
- Select Back up, then confirm status in Settings > Accounts > Windows backup.
A free Microsoft account includes only 5 GB of OneDrive storage, which fills quickly with photos and video. Microsoft's Back up your Windows PC page notes that folder sync stops when storage runs out, so check your quota before relying on it. Edge favourites are not included; turn on Edge sync for those.
How do I back up files to an external drive with File History?
Connect an external drive, open Control Panel > System and Security > Save backup copies of your files with File History, and select Turn on. File History then copies your libraries and Desktop to that drive and keeps earlier versions, so you can recover a file as it was yesterday or last week, entirely offline.
- Plug in a USB drive with enough free space for your personal files.
- Open Control Panel and go to System and Security > File History.
- If the wrong drive is selected, choose Select drive and pick the external drive.
- Select Turn on, then Run now to make a first copy before updating.
Folders outside your libraries are not included automatically. Right-click such a folder, choose Show more options > Include in library, and File History will pick it up. Microsoft's File History guide covers restoring individual files with Restore previous versions.
If the drive is new, our guide to formatting a USB drive in Windows 11 shows how to prepare it with NTFS.
What is point-in-time restore and should I turn it on?
Point-in-time restore is a recovery feature that saves restore points of the entire Windows drive, including the operating system, apps, settings and local files, about every 24 hours and keeps them for up to 72 hours. If an update goes wrong, you roll the whole PC back from the Windows Recovery Environment in minutes rather than reinstalling.
It is on by default for unmanaged Windows 11 Home and Pro PCs with a system volume of 200 GB or more, and limited to 2% of the disk. To check, open Settings > System > Recovery > Point-in-time restore > View or edit and confirm the toggle is on. Microsoft's point-in-time restore article lists the full requirements.
Advanced nuance: a restore rolls back everything on the Windows drive, including files you saved after the restore point and recent security updates. Files in OneDrive and data on other drives are untouched. That is why point-in-time restore complements a file backup rather than replacing it.
Should I create a system image in Windows 11?
A system image is a full copy of the Windows drive that can be restored to a replacement disk. Windows 11 still offers it through Control Panel > System and Security > Backup and Restore (Windows 7) > Create a system image, but it is a legacy tool Microsoft has not developed for years, so treat it as a secondary safety net.
If you make one, use an external drive with at least as much free space as the used space on your Windows drive, and test that the drive can be read before you need it. Third-party imaging tools are an alternative for people who want scheduled, verified images.
What we commonly see: people who rely solely on a system image discover at restore time that it is months old or that the external drive has failed. A fresh File History copy plus point-in-time restore covers most update problems with less effort.
How do I make sure I can recover if Windows will not start?
Create a recovery drive on a USB stick, save your BitLocker recovery key, and make sure the Windows Recovery Environment is working. Those three steps mean you can reach point-in-time restore, uninstall updates or reinstall Windows even when the PC no longer boots to the desktop. All of them take a few minutes before the update.
- Recovery drive: search Start for Recovery Drive, tick Back up system files to the recovery drive, and choose a USB stick you can erase.
- BitLocker key: if Device Encryption or BitLocker is on, confirm your recovery key is saved in your Microsoft account or printed. Restores often ask for it.
-
WinRE check: run
reagentc /infoin an administrator Terminal; the status should read Enabled.
If WinRE is disabled or missing, fix it first using our guide to the "Could not find the recovery environment" error. Our BitLocker guide for Windows 11 Pro shows where the recovery key is stored.
What is the best backup checklist before installing 26H2?
Before installing a feature update such as 26H2, back up personal files to an external drive or OneDrive, confirm point-in-time restore is on, save your BitLocker recovery key, free up disk space, and note your Windows activation status. Then install pending cumulative updates, restart, and only then start the feature update.
- Run File History or copy key folders to an external drive.
- Check Windows Backup has synced recently.
- Confirm point-in-time restore is enabled, or create a system image.
- Save the BitLocker recovery key and create a recovery drive.
- Free at least 20 GB on the Windows drive; our guide to freeing up disk space lists safe ways.
- Check Settings > System > Activation shows Windows is activated.
- Unplug non-essential USB devices and connect laptops to mains power.
Activation carries over through any Windows 11 feature update. If the Activation page shows an unactivated copy, sort that out first with a genuine Windows 11 Pro key, so a reinstall from your recovery drive does not leave you with an unlicensed PC.
How do I restore my PC if the update goes wrong?
Start with the least disruptive option. Within 72 hours, use point-in-time restore from the Windows Recovery Environment. Within 10 days of a feature update, Settings > System > Recovery > Go back returns to the previous version. If a monthly update caused it, uninstall that update. Reset or reinstall only as a last resort.
- Open Settings > System > Recovery > Advanced startup > Restart now (or boot from your recovery drive).
- Select Troubleshoot, then Point-in-time restore, or Advanced options > Uninstall Updates.
- Enter the BitLocker recovery key if prompted, choose a restore point and confirm.
- After the restore, run Windows Update to reinstall security fixes, then copy back any files saved since the restore point from your File History drive.
If the update itself keeps failing rather than breaking the PC, our Windows 11 update stuck or failed guide covers the usual fixes.
Frequently asked questions
Does a Windows 11 feature update delete my files?
Normally no. Feature updates such as 26H2 keep personal files, installed apps and most settings in place. Data loss usually comes from a failed installation, a disk fault or a rollback that removes recent changes, which is exactly why a separate copy of your files, on an external drive or OneDrive, is worth making first.
Is OneDrive enough as a Windows 11 backup?
OneDrive protects the folders you sync, but it is a sync service: deleting or corrupting a file on the PC is mirrored to the cloud, although OneDrive keeps a recycle bin and version history. Pair it with an occasional File History or manual copy to an external drive for a backup that sits outside your account.
How much space do I need for a Windows 11 backup?
For files, allow at least the size of your user folders plus room for older versions; a drive two to three times that size is comfortable for File History. A system image needs roughly the used space on your Windows drive. Point-in-time restore uses up to 2% of the system disk.
Does Windows Backup save my installed programs?
It saves a list of your apps and pins, not the programs themselves. When you restore on a reinstalled or new PC, Microsoft Store apps can reinstall from their pins, while desktop programs link to the developer's installer. Licence keys for paid software, including Office, should be recorded separately.
Can I back up Windows 11 without a Microsoft account?
Yes. File History, the legacy system image tool, point-in-time restore and recovery drives all work with a local account. Only the Windows Backup app requires a personal Microsoft account, because it stores your folders in OneDrive and your settings in the cloud.
Related guides
- Windows 11 24H2 end of support: move to 26H2
- Windows 11 update stuck or failed
- Create a Windows 11 bootable USB
- Free up disk space in Windows 11
Links in this guide
| Link | Type | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 11 24H2 end of support | Internal | Why the 26H2 update matters now |
| Back up your Windows PC | External | Microsoft's Windows Backup steps and limits |
| Backup and restore with File History | External | Microsoft's File History setup and restore guide |
| Format a USB drive | Internal | Prepare a backup drive |
| Point-in-time restore for Windows | External | Official defaults, retention and restore steps |
| Fix missing recovery environment | Internal | Makes WinRE restores possible |
| BitLocker in Windows 11 Pro | Internal | Where to find the recovery key |
| Free up disk space | Internal | Room for the update and restore points |
| Windows 11 Pro key | Internal | Activates Windows before a reinstall |
| Windows 11 update stuck or failed | Internal | Fixes when the update will not install |
| Create a bootable USB | Internal | Install media for a clean reinstall |