You’re a Windows 11 user and you would like to use Windows built-in backup feature to back up file to a local (not cloud) drive. You used to be able to do this with Window 7 and 10, but something changed with Windows 11. To prove my point, do this:
1. Accessing Windows Backup:
- Open the Start menu and search for “Windows Backup”.
- Select the “Windows Backup” app from the search results.
2. Backing up Folders:
- Expand the “Folders” section within the Windows Backup app.
- Toggle the switch to “On” for each folder (Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Videos, Music) that you want to back up to OneDrive.
3. Backing up Windows Settings:
- Expand the “Settings” section in Windows Backup.
- Toggle the switch to “On” for the specific settings you want to back up, including:
- Installed apps
- Accessibility, language preferences, and other settings like wallpaper and colors preferences
- Wi-Fi network and passwords
- Note: If these settings have been backed up before, they will show as “Backed up”, and the toggle switch will be unavailable.
4. Starting the Backup:
- Once you’ve selected your desired folders and settings, click on “Back up”.
5. Managing Backup Configuration:
- You can also manage Windows Backup configuration from Settings > Accounts > Windows backup.
6. Restoring from Backup:
- When you move to a new Windows 11 PC, you can restore content from your backed-up PCs by logging in with your Microsoft account.
So what’s going on here? There is no way to tell your PC to back up locally (by design) – at least not here. Microsoft wants to make things easy for you, and make a little money by selling you cloud storage. That’s the deal, pay Microsoft and they’ll take care of you. And for the most part, that’s not a bad thing. BUT I really want to back up my files locally, so how can I do that using Microsoft’s tools. Here’s how:
1. Connect your external drive:
- Ensure your external hard drive is connected to your Windows 11 PC and that it’s recognized by the system.
2. Open Control Panel:
- Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
- Type “control” and press Enter to open the Control Panel.
3. Navigate to Backup and Restore:
- Go to “System and Security” > “Backup and Restore (Windows 7)”.
From here you can set up your backup, and restore your files as needed.
Select ‘Set up backup’ and you’re on your way. Easy, but not entirely intuitive. I’m glad Microsoft didn’t completely do away with the local backup capability. I think many still find it to be a useful option…
