Confirm which partitions you want to include (by default, the system drives are pre-selected). Click .
Move your entire digital life to a new computer easily.
Best for: Restoring the entire PC, including apps, settings, and files, in the event of a drive failure. windows 11 backup to external drive updated
Keep files safe from accidental deletion or drive corruption.
Users found that on the external drive temporarily fixes detection issues in the new backup UI — but Microsoft has not officially acknowledged this bug. Confirm which partitions you want to include (by
Option 1: Full System Image Backup (Recommended for total recovery)
For users who only want to back up specific files and folders without using any automated tool, manual copying remains a straightforward option. While not automated, this method gives you complete control over exactly what is copied. Best for: Restoring the entire PC, including apps,
| Method | Best for | What it backs up | |--------|----------|------------------| | | Documents, photos, music, videos | Selected user folders (Documents, Pictures, Desktop, etc.) | | Backup and Restore (Windows 7) | Full system image | Entire system drive, including Windows, apps, settings |