Is Backup and Restore Available in Windows 11?
Yes — Backup and Restore is still available in Windows 11, even though it’s officially labeled as “Backup and Restore (Windows 7)”. This legacy tool has been carried forward from earlier versions of Windows because it remains reliable for creating full system image backups and restoring your computer in case of major issues. It allows you to:
- Create a system image of your entire Windows installation, including settings, apps, and personal files.
- Create scheduled backups to an external drive or network location.
- Restore files or the whole system from a previous image when Windows becomes unbootable or corrupted.
How to Use Backup and Restore in Windows 11
If you want to create a backup with Backup and Restore in Windows 11, follow these steps:
1. Press Windows + S and type Control Panel, then open it.
2. Go to System and Security > Backup and Restore (Windows 7).
3. In the pop-up window, click Set up backup on the right side.
4. Choose where you want to save your backup — typically an external hard drive or a network location. Click Next.
5. Select Let Windows choose and click Next. It will backup files saved in libraries and personal folders for all users as well as create a system image.
Note: If you prefer to pick specific folders and drives to be backed up, choose Let me choose.
6. Review your settings and click Save settings and run backup.
Note: By default, it will automatically backup files at every Sunday 7:00 PM. Click Change schedule if needed.
Restore Files Using Backup and Restore
If your files are lost or Windows becomes unstable, you can restore your data easily.
1. Go back to Control Panel > System and Security > Backup and Restore (Windows 7).
2. Click Restore my files or Restore all users’ files.
3. Browse for your backup location and follow the prompts to restore your files.
💡 How to restore a system image:
● Select Settings > System > Recovery.
● In the Advanced startup section, click Restart now to boot into WinRE.
● After booting into WinRE, choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > System Image Recovery. Follow the instructions to restore the entire image.
Hot: Best Backup and Restore Software for Windows 11
If you want more flexibility, reliability, and better control than what Windows’ built-in tools offer, AOMEI Backupper Standard is one of the top choices. It’s the best free system/disk image software for Windows 11.
🎯 Flexible Backup: You can back up your Windows 11 system drive (OS + settings + apps) as well as individual disks, partitions, or just important files/folders.
🎯 Incremental Backup: Capture only changed files/data after the first full backup to save storage space and speed up backups.
🎯 Automatic Backup: You can set schedules (daily, weekly, monthly) to automate backups so you don’t have to start them manually.
🎯 Versatile Destinations: Save backups to local drives, external disks, USB drives, NAS, even folders shared over network.
Download AOMEI Backupper and install it on your PC now!
Then follow the steps below to backup files in Windows 11 with AOMEI Backupper:
1. Open AOMEI Backupper and click Backup > File Backup.
2. Click Select Source > Add File or Add Folder, then select the files or folders to be backed up.
3. Choose a destination location for your backup.
4. Enable Schedule as necessary and click Start Backup to execute this backup task.
Restore Files Using AOMEI Backupper
If your files are lost or damaged, go to Home > Restore > select the file backup task and follow the wizard to complete the recovery process.
Bonus: Other Built-in Windows 11 Backup Options
Besides the traditional Backup and Restore (Windows 7) feature, Windows 11 includes several other built-in tools designed to help you protect your data in different ways. Each option serves a specific purpose. Let’s have a look.
|
File History |
OneDrive |
System Restore |
Recovery Drive |
What It Does |
Automatically backs up personal files to another drive or network. |
Syncs key folders to the cloud for access from any device. |
Creates restore points to roll back system settings and drivers when needed. |
Makes a bootable USB drive with recovery tools for emergency repair. |
Best For |
Everyday file protection and quick recovery of deleted files |
Cloud-based file safety and cross-device access |
Fixing issues caused by updates, drivers, or software installs |
Restoring or reinstalling Windows when the system won’t start |
Limitations |
Doesn’t back up apps, Windows settings, or system files |
Limited by OneDrive storage capacity (5 GB free) |
Doesn’t back up personal data or user files |
Requires a USB drive; excludes personal files |
To Sum Up
Now you know how to use Windows 11 Backup and Restore to protect your Windows 11 OS and files. While Windows’ built-in Backup and Restore tool works, it lacks flexibility and advanced features.
That’s where AOMEI Backupper Standard shines as an all-in-one, free backup solution. It offers system, disk, partition, and file backups, supports incremental scheduling, and even includes bootable recovery options. You can also use it to do automatic sync. Try it now to discover more!
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