How to backup computer on windows 10?

To prevent the loss of important data, backing up your Windows 10 operating system is crucial. Windows 10 comes with two built-in core backup tools that meet the needs of personal file backup and full system backup respectively.

How to backup computer on Windows 10 OS

File History is designed exclusively for backing up personal files such as documents, photos, and videos. It supports automatic, scheduled backups, but does not include applications or system settings, making it ideal for daily file protection.

• Press the shortcut key Windows + I to open Settings.

• Navigate to Update & Security > Backup.

• Click Add a drive, and select an external hard drive or a network location as your backup storage device.

• Once the drive is added, click More options. Here you can customize the backup frequency , the retention period for backups, and select the folders you want to back up.

• To restore files, return to this Backup settings page and click Restore files to choose a previous version for recovery.

If you need to back up everything on your computer, you can create a system image. In the event of a system crash or hardware failure, you can use this image to restore your entire system to its state at the time of the backup.

• Type Control Panel in the Start menu search bar and open it.

• Click System and Security > Backup and Restore.

• On the left-hand menu, click Create a system image.

• Choose a backup destination: you can select an external hard drive, a network location, or DVDs. It is recommended to use a high-capacity external hard drive first to avoid insufficient storage space.

• Select the drives to include in the backup. The system drive (usually the C: drive) is selected by default; there is no need to check additional data drives. If you need to back up data on other drives, you can do so separately using File History.

• Click Start backup and wait for the process to finish. The duration depends on the size of your system and the speed of your hardware, ranging from 1 hour to several hours. Do not shut down your computer or interrupt the process during this time.

Using these two tools, you can implement a flexible, layered backup strategy for your Windows 10 system: use File History daily to protect personal files, and create a full system image with System Image regularly. This dual protection safeguards your data and system security, preventing accidental data loss.