Setting up automatic backups

Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: Setting up automatic backups. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

Common Causes

Why backups matter

• Protects from hardware failure
• Protects from accidental deletion
• Protects from ransomware
• Quick recovery when needed

Option 1: OneDrive backup (easiest)

Set up OneDrive

1. If OneDrive is not installed, download it from onedrive.com.
2. Sign in with your Microsoft account. If you experience syncing problems, see the OneDrive not syncing article.
3. Choose which folders to sync.

Make files backup automatically

1. Right‑click the OneDrive icon in the taskbar.
2. Select Settings ► Backup tab.
3. Click Manage backup.
4. Turn on backup for the following folders:
   • Desktop
   • Documents
   • Pictures
5. Click Start backup.

Option 2: Windows File History

Turn on File History

1. Connect an external drive that will be used for backups.
2. Press Win + I to open Settings, then go to System ► Storage. For detailed guidance on updating Windows, see How to update Windows.
3. Click Advanced storage settings.
4. Select Backup options ► Drive for File History.
5. Choose your external drive from the list.
6. Toggle File History to On.

Restore files

1. Navigate to the folder that previously contained the missing file.
2. Click the Home tab ► History.
3. Browse the available previous versions.
4. Select the version you wish to recover.
5. Click the green Restore button.

Option 3: Full system backup (image backup)

Create a system image

1. Press Win + I ► System ► Storage.
2. Click Advanced storage settings ► Backup options.
3. Select Go to Backup and Restore (Windows 7).
4. In the left pane, click Create a system image.
5. Follow the wizard, choosing an external drive with sufficient free space.

Restore from system image

1. Boot the computer using Windows installation media (USB or DVD).
2. Choose Repair your computer ► Troubleshoot ► System Image Recovery.
3. Follow the prompts to restore the selected system image.

Option 4: Manual backup (simple)

Quick manual copy

1. Connect an external drive.
2. Press Win + E to open File Explorer.
3. Navigate to This PC ► Documents (or any other folder you wish to back up).
4. Select the folders/files you want to copy (use Ctrl+click for multiple selections).
5. Right‑click and choose Copy.
6. Open the external drive and choose Paste.

For detailed guidance on backing up photos to an external drive, see the How to backup photos to external drive article.

What to back up

• Documents folder
• Pictures folder
• Desktop files
• Important work files

Recommended strategy

1. Use OneDrive for always‑on cloud backup of desktop, documents and pictures.
2. Enable File History on an external drive for continuous versioned backups.
3. Maintain a separate external drive for large files and periodic full system images.

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