How to Set Up Windows Backup in Windows 10
The Backup and Restore (Windows 7) feature (aka: Windows Backup) was originally included in Windows 7. It was deprecated in Windows 8 and removed in in Windows 8.1, but has been included in Windows 10.
While you can use Backup and Restore (Windows 7) to restore any Windows 7 backups on your Windows 10 PC, you can also use it to back up and restore files on your Windows 10 PC.
Windows Backup will backup all files in the libraries, folders, and drives you choose or let Windows choose. You will have a choice to include a system image in the backup. You can also choose to have these items be backed up on a regular schedule.
It's always good to have a backup. Keep copies of your files on another drive in case something happens to the originals.
After you have set up Windows Backup, you can make changes to these settings as needed.
This tutorial will show you to set up Windows Backup to backup and restore files on your Windows 10 PC.
You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to setup and use Windows Backup.
Windows Backup event logs are stored in the .evtx file below. It will open in Event Viewer when double clicked/tapped on.
C:\Windows\System32\winevt\Logs\Microsoft-Windows-Backup.evtx
Backups are created in sets also known as backup periods.
When a backup is created the first time after you set up Windows Backup, Windows will create a full backup of all files in the folders you selected into the drive:\computer name\Backup Set YYYY-MM-DD HHMMSS\Backup Files YYYY-MM-DD HHMMSS folder location. The Backup Files YYYY-MM-DD HHMMSS folder contains Backup files #.zip folders that are your actual backed up files for that date and time period.
When you create a differential backup, it will create a new full backup saved into a new Backup Set YYYY-MM-DD HHMMSS folder.
When you create an incremental backup, it will create a backup all of the files that have changed since the last backup, and saved in a new Backup Files YYYY-MM-DD HHMMSS folder in the current Backup Set YYYY-MM-DD HHMMSS folder.
System Image Backup (SIB) Solution
We recommend that users use full-disk backup solutions from other vendors.
For example: How to Create and Restore a System Image Backup with Macrium Reflect
Here's How:
1 Open Settings, click/tap on the Update & security icon, click/tap on Backup on the left side, and click/tap on the Go to Backup and Restore (Windows 7) link under Looking for and older backup on the right side. (see screenshot below)
You can also open Backup and Restore (Windows 7) by opening the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the Backup and Restore (Windows 7) icon.
2 Click/tap on Set up backup. (see screenshot below)
3 Windows Backup will now start. (see screenshot below)
4 Do step 5 (local drive) or step 6 (network location) below for where you want to save your backup.
A) Select a drive (ex:"Test1 (E:)" ), click/tap on Next, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)
A) Click/tap on the Save on a network button. (see screenshot below)
B) Click/tap on Browse, browse to and select the network location (ex: "\\BRINK-ROUTER\MyBook"), and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
If you like, you could manually enter the network location path instead of browsing to and selecting it.
C) Enter your username and password credentials for this network location, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
D) Select this network location (ex: "\\BRINK-ROUTER\MyBook"), click/tap on Next, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)
7 Select (dot) Let me choose, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)
If you do not want to choose what to back up, then you could select (dot) Let Windows choose and go to step 9 below instead.
8 Select the check boxes of the items you want to include in the backup, select if you want to include a system image or not, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)
9 Click/tap on the Change schedule link. (see screenshot below)
10 Do step 11 (on) or step 12 (off) below for if you want to automatically run this backup on a schedule or not.
You will always be able to turn on or off the schedule as needed.
A) Check the Run backup on a schedule box. (see screenshot below)
B) Select How often, What day, and What time you want for the backup schedule.
C) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 13 below.
A) Uncheck the Run backup on a schedule box, click/tap on OK, and go to step 13 below. (see screenshot below)
13 When ready, click/tap on the Save settings and run backup button. (see screenshot below)
14 Windows Backup will now create a backup based on what you set above. (see screenshots below)
15 When the backup has finished, you will be able to click/tap on the Back up now button to manually create an incremental backup on demand whenever you want. (see screenshot below)
16 You can now close Backup and Restore (Windows 7) if you like.
That's it,
Shawn
Related Tutorials
- How to Enable or Disable User Files Backup in Windows Backup in Windows 10
- How to Create a Windows Backup in Windows 10
- How to Add or Remove a Windows Backup and Restore context menu in Windows 10
- How to Change Settings for Windows Backup in Windows 10
- How to Turn On or Off Windows Backup Schedule in Windows 10
- How to Manage Windows Backup Disk Space in Windows 10
- How to Restore Files from Windows Backup in Windows 10
- How to Reset Windows Backup to Default in Windows 10
- How to Turn On or Off File History in Windows 10
- How to Create a System Image in Windows 10