How to Restore Files from Windows Backup in Windows 10

information   Information
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.

After you have set up Windows Backup and created backups, you will be able to restore files from these backups.

This tutorial will show you how to restore files from a Windows Backup in Windows 10.

You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to restore files from a Windows Backup.

Note   Note
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.
Restore Windows Backup in Windows 10-backup_set.png



Here's How:

1. Do step 2 (backup drive) or step 3 (Settings) below for how you want to restore your files from a Windows Backup.


 2. To Restore Files Directly from Backup Drive

A) Open the drive (ex: "E") that you saved your Windows Backup to, and click/tap on the item named with the same computer name (ex: "BRINK-W10PC") you created the backup on. (see screenshot below)
Note   Note
You can also right click or press and hold on this item, and click/tap on Restore Options.


Restore Windows Backup in Windows 10-windows_backup-restore_from_drive-1.png

B) Click/tap on either the Restore my files from this backup or Restore files for all users of this computer option you want to do, and go to step 4 below. (see screenshot below)

Restore Windows Backup in Windows 10-windows_backup-restore_from_drive-2.png


 3. To Restore Files from "Backup and Restore (Windows 7)" Settings

A) 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)
Note   Note
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.


Restore Windows Backup in Windows 10-windows_backup-settings.png

B) Click/tap on a Restore option you want to do below. (see screenshot below)
  • Click/tap on either the Restore my files button or Restore all users' files link to restore files backed up on the current location, and go to step 4 below.
  • Click/tap on the Select another backup to restore files from link, and continue on to step 3C below.

Restore Windows Backup in Windows 10-windows_backup-restore-1.png

C) Select the backup location you want to restore files from, click/tap on Next, and go to step 4 below. (see screenshot below)

Restore Windows Backup in Windows 10-windows_backup-restore-3.png
Note   Note
If you wanted to select a network location, then:

1) Click/tap on the Browse network location button. (see screenshot above)

2) Click/tap on Browse, browse to and select the network location (ex: "\\BRINK-ROUTER\MyBook"), click/tap on OK in "Browse For Folder", and click/tap on OK in "Restore Files (Advanced)". (see screenshot below)
Restore Windows Backup in Windows 10-windows_backup-restore-4b.png

4. Click/tap on the Choose a different date link. (see screenshot below)

Restore Windows Backup in Windows 10-windows_backup-restore-5.png

5. Select to Show backups from when (ex: "All") you want, select a Date and time backup period you want to restore from, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

Restore Windows Backup in Windows 10-windows_backup-restore-6.png

6. Do step 7 (Search), step 8 (Browse for files), and/or step 9 (Browse for folders) below for how you want to add files and folders to the restore list. When finished, go to step 10 below.


 7. To Search Backup for Files to Restore

A) Click/tap on the Search button.

Restore Windows Backup in Windows 10-search-1.png

B) Type what you want to search for in this backup, click/tap on the Search button, check the boxes of files you want to add to the restore list, click/tap on OK, and go to step 6 above. (see screenshot below)

Restore Windows Backup in Windows 10-search-2.png


 8. To Browse Backup for Files to Restore

A) Click/tap on the Browse for files button.

Restore Windows Backup in Windows 10-browse_for_files-1.png

B) Browse to and open the folder in the backup you want, select one or more files you want to add to the restore list, click/tap on Add files, and go to step 6 above. (see screenshot below)

Restore Windows Backup in Windows 10-browse_for_files-2.png


 9. To Browse Backup for Folders to Restore

A) Click/tap on the Browse for folders button.

Restore Windows Backup in Windows 10-browse_for_folders-1.png

B) Browse to and open the folder in the backup you want, select one or more folders you want to add to the restore list, click/tap on Add files, and go to step 6 above. (see screenshot below)

Restore Windows Backup in Windows 10-browse_for_folders-2.png


10. If you would like to remove any files and folders from the restore list, then you could select one or more items, and click/tap on the Remove button. (see screenshot below)
Note   Note
Clicking/tapping on the Remove all button will remove all added files and folders from the restore list.


Restore Windows Backup in Windows 10-remove.png

11. When you are ready to restore the files and folders added to the list, click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)

Restore Windows Backup in Windows 10-windows_backup-restore-7.png

12. Do step 13 (original location) or step 14 (specified location) below for where you want to restore your files.


 13. To Restore Files and Folders in the Original Location

A) Select (dot) In the original location, click/tap on Restore, and go to step 15 below.

Restore Windows Backup in Windows 10-windows_backup-restore-8.png


 14. To Restore Files and Folders in a Specified Location

A) Select (dot) In the following location, and click/tap on the Browse button. (see screenshots below)

B) Browse to and select the location (ex: "Desktop") you want to restore to, and click/tap on OK.

C) Check or uncheck to Restore the files to their original subfolders at this location (ex: "Desktop") for what you want.

D) Click/tap on Restore, and go to step 15 below.

Restore Windows Backup in Windows 10-windows_backup-restore-9.png

15. Windows Backup will now start restoring the files. (see screenshot below)

Restore Windows Backup in Windows 10-windows_backup-restore-10.png

16. If there is already a file with the same name in the location (ex: "Desktop") you are restoring to, you will be prompted to click/tap on Copy and Replace, Don't copy, or Copy, but keep both files for what you want to do. (see screenshot below)

Restore Windows Backup in Windows 10-windows_backup-restore-11.png

17. When your files have been restored, click/tap on Finish to close this window. (see screenshot below)
Note   Note
You can click/tap on the View restored files link to open the location (ex: "Desktop") where the files were restore to.
Restore Windows Backup in Windows 10-windows_backup-restore-13.png


Restore Windows Backup in Windows 10-windows_backup-restore-12.png


That's it,
Shawn


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