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DaxxonSawyer's avatar
DaxxonSawyer
Iron Contributor
Dec 18, 2025

What is the best PC backup software for Windows 11/10?

Hi everyone, hope to tap into the collective wisdom here.

I've put off a proper backup solution for my Windows 11 machine, and I know I play with fire. Every "top 10" list feels like an ad, and I just want real-user opinions. I’m not a pro, so something reliable and user-friendly is key. I look for something that can handle both a solid system image (for a full disaster recovery) and regular file backups.

Free is great, but I’m willing to pay a reasonable one-time fee for a "set it and forget it" tool that just works. What is the best PC backup software for Windows in 2026? Any horror stories to avoid? Major thanks for any help you can offer.

7 Replies

  • TylerWallace's avatar
    TylerWallace
    Bronze Contributor

    Don't buy any unfamiliar PC backup software online without caution. They might be invalid. Buy directly from the developer if you go this route.

  • Zachariahh's avatar
    Zachariahh
    Iron Contributor

    Using the Linux Power in Windows, specifically through Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), can be a powerful and flexible way to back up your PC, especially if you're comfortable with Linux command-line tools. It provides access to a wide range of Linux utilities that can enhance your backup strategies as you are finding a best PC backup software.

    Here's a simple explanation:

    Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL): This feature enables you to install and run Linux command-line tools directly on Windows 10 or 11. With WSL, you can use powerful Linux backup utilities like rsync, tar, or dd to create backups of your files or entire system.

    Why use Linux tools as PC backup Software? Linux command-line tools are often lightweight, flexible, and scriptable, making them excellent for automating backups. For instance, rsync can efficiently synchronize or back up files to local or remote locations, only copying changed data to save time and space.

    How to do it: You install WSL from Windows features, choose a Linux distribution (like Ubuntu), and then run Linux commands to back up your files. You can set up scripts to automate the process, creating a reliable and customizable backup system.

    Additional options: You can also use Linux-based live CDs or bootable USBs for PC backups, or employ network-based Linux tools for remote backups.

  • CalebStone's avatar
    CalebStone
    Silver Contributor

    FreeFileSync is a free, open-source file synchronization and PC backup software that works well on Windows 11 and 10. It's designed to help you efficiently back up and synchronize your files and folders between your PC and external drives, network locations, or other directories.

    How to use the PC backup Software:

    1. Download and install FreeFileSync.
    2. Create a synchronization job:
        Select your source folders (e.g., Documents, Desktop, important data).
        Select your backup destination (external drive, network share, etc.).
       Choose sync mode:
       Mirror (to keep destination identical to source).
       Update (to copy new/changed files without deleting).
    3. Configure your job:
       Save the batch job for automation.
       Set filters if needed (exclude certain files/folders).
    4. Schedule your backup:
      Use Windows Task Scheduler to run the saved batch jobs automatically at desired intervals.

    Limitations:

    Not suitable for creating full system images or backing up Windows OS itself.

    You need to manually select folders to backup or set up scheduled tasks.

    Does not replace system restore features.

  • Julioil's avatar
    Julioil
    Iron Contributor

    What is the best PC backup software for Windows 11 2026? Using wbAdmin for backing up your PC is a solid option, especially if you want to create full system backups or disaster recovery images via command-line. It's a built-in Windows tool designed for reliable system backups and restore operations.

    What is wbAdmin?
    wbAdmin is a command-line utility available on Windows (Pro, Enterprise, and Server editions).
    It allows you to perform full backups of your operating system, system state, and data.
    It supports scheduling backups and storing images on external drives, network shares, or dedicated backup locations.

    How to Use wbAdmin:
    Here’s a simple example to start a system backup without any PC backup software:

    wbadmin start backup -backupTarget:E: -include:C: -allCritical -quiet

    backupTarget: The drive or network share where the backup will be stored.

    include: The drive(s) or volume(s) to include in the backup.

    -allCritical: Includes critical volumes needed for a system restore.

    -quiet: Runs without prompts.

  • Dropbox is a popular cloud storage service that can be used as a free PC backup software for Windows 11/10. It allows you to automatically sync and store your important files and folders in the cloud, making them accessible from any device with internet access. Here's how it works in simple terms:

    1. Free Storage Space: Dropbox offers a free plan with a limited amount of storage (usually 2 GB), which is enough for backing up essential documents, photos, and smaller files.

    2. Automatic Syncing: You can choose specific folders on your PC to sync with Dropbox. Once set up, any files you save or update in these folders are automatically uploaded to the cloud.

    3. Easy Access: Files stored in Dropbox can be accessed from the Dropbox app on your PC, or via their website, so you can retrieve your backups anytime, anywhere.

    4. File Versioning: Dropbox keeps previous versions of your files for a certain period, so you can recover earlier versions if needed.

    5. Security: Files are encrypted and protected, giving you peace of mind about your data safety.

    While Dropbox is excellent for backing up important files and documents, if you're looking for a more comprehensive backup solution (like system images or full PC backups), you might need additional backup tools or paid plans. But for everyday file backup and easy access, Dropbox is a reliable and user-friendly free PC backup software.

  • QuinnBailey's avatar
    QuinnBailey
    Iron Contributor

    Using OneDrive or Google Drive as part of your backup strategy on Windows is a practical approach for safeguarding important files, but they are not traditional PC backup software. Here’s a breakdown of how they fit into your backup plan and what to consider:

    Best Practices When Using Cloud Storage as Backup:

    1. Keep critical files in the sync folder: Regularly save important documents, spreadsheets, and media files there.
    2. Use version history: Take advantage of the versioning feature to recover previous versions if needed.
    3. Combine with local backups: Use a dedicated PC backup software for system images and full disk backups.
    4. Manual backups: Periodically copy essential files to external drives or other cloud services for extra redundancy.

     

    If your goal is to protect critical data and ensure access from anywhere, then OneDrive or Google Drive is a good, free, easy-to-use option—just remember to supplement it with full system backups for total protection.

  • Rakkxunsuop's avatar
    Rakkxunsuop
    Iron Contributor

    If you are interested in PC backup software. Windows built-in backup features are a good free option for backing up your PC on Windows 10 and Windows 11. Here are the main options:

    1. File History:  
        Automatically backs up your personal files (documents, pictures, videos, etc.) to an external drive or network location.
        Easy to set up via Settings > Update & Security > Backup > Add a drive.
        You can restore previous versions of files directly from File Explorer.

    2. Backup and Restore (Windows 7):  
        Available in Windows 10 and Windows 11 for creating system images and backing up files.
        To access it, go to Control Panel > System and Security > Backup and Restore (Windows 7).
        It allows creating full system images and restoring your entire system if needed.

    3. System Image Backup:  
        Creates an exact snapshot of your entire drive, including Windows, installed programs, and files.
        Can be accessed via Control Panel > Backup and Restore (Windows 7) > Create a system image.
        Use this for full system recovery.

    Somthings about  the PC backup software:

    Not a complete solution – File History only backs up user files, not applications or system files (unless you use the older system image tool).
    System Image Backups (via Backup and Restore) are infrequently updated – Microsoft hasn’t significantly updated it since Windows 7. It may not be optimized for modern hardware/UEFI systems.

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