Windows 10 Backup Guide: Back Up Files With or Without an External Drive

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Protect your data with Windows Backup & File History
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Do you want to back up your Windows 10 computer so you don't lose any important files or folders? Luckily, there are easy ways that you can make backups, including using an external hard drive or a cloud-based backup service . This wikiHow guide will teach you how to back up a Windows 10 computer, including helpful tips from computer repair technician Spike Baron.

Easiest Way to Back Up Your Windows 10 Files

If you don't have an external drive to back up to, back up to the cloud. Open Windows Backup, select files to back up, and click Back Up to save the files to OneDrive. If you have an external drive, open File History , select your backup drive, then click Turn on .

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Backing Up to the Cloud

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  1. 1
    Open Windows Backup . Open this quickly by tapping the Win button, searching Windows Backup , and clicking the app result.
    • Use this method to create a backup without needing an external hard drive. All you need is an internet connection!
    • You can save up to 5GB of data to OneDrive for free. If you want to back up more data, you will need to buy more OneDrive storage space.
  2. 2
    Sign in if prompted. You'll need to sign in with your Microsoft account to continue.
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  3. 3
    Use the drop-down menus to decide which files to back up. Select Folders , Apps , Settings, and Credentials to choose which type of data to back up. Once you select these drop-down items, more options will appear with toggles so you can enable or disable them in the backup.
    • For example, if you don't want to include the "Pictures" folder in your backup, click the toggle beside it to turn it off.
    • If you don't see the toggles, click the OneDrive icon in your taskbar, click the gear icon, and select * Settings >* Manage backup**.
  4. 4
    Click Back up . It's in the lower right corner of your screen. This backs up your files to OneDrive. [1]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Backing Up to a Drive

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  1. According to Baron, Windows 10 has a backup file history that can automatically back up files to an external drive. [2] To start using it, plug the USB end of the external hard drive's cable into one of your computer's USB ports if you haven't done so already.
    • Avoid using a stick drive (also called a thumb drive), since they aren't really designed for backing up large amounts of data and can easily be lost or broken.
    • Do not unplug your external drive or turn off the computer while backing up—you'll lose your backup progress, and there's a high chance of corrupting the data on the external drive.
    EXPERT TIP

    Spike Baron

    Network Engineer & Desktop Support
    Spike Baron is a Network Engineer & Desktop Support Expert based in Los Angeles, California. He is the owner of Spike’s Computer Repair. With over 25 years of working experience in the tech industry, Spike specializes in PC and Mac computer repair, used computer sales, virus removal, data recovery, and hardware and software upgrades. He has worked as an IT Systems expert for numerous companies, including Huntington Health, Blackbox, Honda, and Manufacturers Bank. In his spare time, Spike also builds and restores computers. He has his CompTIA A+ certification for computer service technicians and is a Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert.
    Spike Baron
    Network Engineer & Desktop Support

    You can also use third-party backup software. An efficient way to back up your computer is to make an image file using cloning software like Macrium Reflect. This makes an image of your drive and saves it to an external USB drive. If you ever get into trouble, Macrium makes it easy to restore from your backup.

  2. 2
    Open File History . Do this quickly by pressing the Win key on your keyboard, typing in File History , and clicking on the Control panel app result.
  3. 3
    Click Select drive . Skip this step if your connected external drive is already showing up as the drive that files are copied to.
    • You can also use a network drive, which means you can copy files from your hard drive to another location that's connected to the same network.
  4. 4
    Click Advanced Settings . Here you can make more changes, like how frequently your computer backs up, and if backed-up items are saved or deleted on your computer.
    • Once you're done, click Save changes to close the "Advanced Settings" window.
  5. 5
    Click Turn on . This is under the "File history" section, and when it turns on, you'll see "File history is on."
    • Note that the first time you turn this on, the backup can take a while. Preceding backups won't take this long, as only different files are updated.
    • If you don't want to back up specific folders, go to Exclude folders > Add , and select a folder that you don't want to include in the backup.
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  • Question
    How can I back up files from an external file to another external file?
    Leet
    Community Answer
    You can copy and paste files to multiple locations in Windows 10. Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V are helpful keyboard shortcuts for copy and paste.
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  • Question
    Will this back up all files on my hard disk (including application files) such that I can fully restore my system if I need to (Mac Time Machine style)?
    Community Answer
    Yes, it's possible. If you are going to restore your computer, there are some options for backup. Just click on ''Restore/back up'' and choose back up the file, then follow instructions. It will create your backup. You can easily restore your computer and your data will remain saved.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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  • Question
    What if there is no "Add a drive" button?
    Community Answer
    Check very closely, the button is always there. But if it's not there, try restarting it or contacting the developers.
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      Warnings

      • Keep in mind that Microsoft will stop providing Windows 10 with free software updates, technical assistance, and security fixes in October 2025.
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      • Backups generally take up a lot of space, especially if you don't delete old backups.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/back-up-and-restore-with-windows-backup-87a81f8a-78fa-456e-b521-ac0560e32338#id0ebh=windows_10
      2. ↑ Spike Baron. Computer Repair Technician. Expert Interview

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Connect your external hard drive or USB drive to your computer.
      2. Open Start
      3. Click the settings gear.
      4. Click Update & security
      5. Click Backup
      6. Click + Add a drive
      7. Select your drive, then click More options
      8. Click Back up now

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