Windows 10 is a great operating system with advanced security features and lots of security measures. However, we cannot rule out the possibility of system failure in any electronic device. There may be hardware or software issues that can completely disable the system. In such cases, taking a backup is highly recommended and even more so considering that Windows has been prone to system failures and BSOD errors in the past. While resetting Windows 10 can fix some of these problems, in most cases you will continue to lose your data. To avoid such unforeseen failures, we should take a backup of Windows 10 and store it on a separate memory device such as an external hard drive. We did extensive research for this article and found some great native and third-party tools to create a Windows 10 backup. Anyway, without further ado, let’s get started with the guide.
Creating a Backup of Windows 10 Devices in 2020
In this article, we will discuss both native and third-party solutions for creating a backup of your Windows 10 machines so you don’t lose your data.
Local Method
Microsoft provides three ways to create a Windows 10 backup. The easiest method is File History, which lets you back up your important files to a separate storage device. The second way is to create a complete system image that will help you recover your computer from hardware failures or operating system damage. The third is a cloud-based backup via OneDrive. After briefly mentioning the different methods, let’s dive deep and learn all the methods in detail.
Backup Windows 10 Using File History
Using the File History feature, we can create exact copies of the drivers and save them on a separate memory device. remember this process only backs up your files, not the Windows operating system. If you want to create a full backup of Windows 10 with system files, skip to the next section. You will also need an additional memory storage device to store the backup. You can use a portable hard disk or pen drive to store the backup.
1. First connect your external storage device. Now open Windows Settings by pressing the “Windows” and “I” keys simultaneously. Here, Open “Update and Security”.
2. After that, Switch to the “Backup” tab in the left pane. Under “Back Up Using File History”, click “Add a driver”.
3. Here you will find the removable memory storage device. Click on it and you are all set to automatically backup your files.
4. On the next page, you can customize various settings such as which folders are backed up and backup frequency.
Create a Full Windows 10 Backup with Backup & Restore
You can create a full backup of Windows 10 with the Backup and Restore feature. It allows you to create an exact copy of your hard disk, including the operating system.. In case of hardware failures or operating system problems in the future, a full system image can help restore your computer to working condition with all your personal files intact. Interestingly, Backup and Restore was first released with Windows 7, but is not currently in active development. The same functionality was shipped with Windows 10 without major changes. Now having said all that, let’s start with the steps.
1. Open Control Panel and Click on “Backup and Restore (Windows 7)” It’s under System and Security.
2. Here, Click “Create System Image”.
3. Now select the drive where you want to save the entire system image and click the “Next” button. It is recommended to save on a separate memory device. To save your PC from unforeseen damage.
4. Then you can select additional drives to include in the system image.. After that, click on “Start Backup”. This much. The backup process will start in the background and you will be notified when it is complete.
Back Up with OneDrive
If you want backup all your important files and folders to the cloud then you can use OneDrive. It comes pre-installed on Windows 10 so you don’t have to install it manually. Here’s how you can use it to seamlessly sync your files to the cloud.
one. Press the “Windows” button once and type OneDrive. You will find the app at the top of the search result. Click on it.
2. Here, sign in to your Microsoft Account. If you don’t have a Microsoft Account, go to here and create one.
3. After that, You will find the OneDrive folder in your “User” folder. Here you can move any file or folder and it will sync to OneDrive instantly. If you want to access files in the cloud, you can do so by following connection. You’re done.
Third Party Tools
In this section, we will learn about some great third-party apps that can create complete Windows 10 backups in a few clicks. We will talk about two great apps that can create a complete system image and a separate app for backing up your files to the cloud. Having said that, let’s start with the first application.
Macrium Reflects Free
Macrium Reflect is the best way to clone your hard drive to an external memory device. It works very similar to the Backup and Restore feature, but provides a lot of customization and features. The big part is that you can create a single system image that can be mounted to a pen drive or hard disk as bootable media. Basically, you will be able to clone your system to other computers in a few clicks. Let’s go through the steps now.
1. Download the free version of Macrium Reflect from: here. You can also choose the paid version which costs $69.95 for extra features. Again, the free version is pretty good and has all the necessary features Required for a full Windows 10 backup.
2. Run the installer and you will get loads of options. Keep it as is and click the “Download” button. The installer will start downloading the setup file. Also, click “Next” as needed.
3. You will need to register your email id and provide the key to continue the installation.
4. After the installation is complete, Macrium Reflect will open. Here, select the drives you want to back up and Click “View this disk”.
4. After that, Select the destination folder to save the Windows 10 backup image. Now, click “Next”.
5. Here, select the Template for your Backup Plan. Basically, it means how and when the backup schedule will happen. The best plan is “Differential Backup Kit” so select that and click “Next” button.
6. A summary of backup drivers, rules, and schedules will be displayed here. Click “Finish” and you are ready to backup Windows 10 without any hassle.
7. Save the backup file to a separate memory device or just select a separate removable media as the destination folder. It will save you a lot of trouble if the hardware breaks down in the future.
8. If you are replacing a new hard disk or moving to a new PC, I recommend going for the “Clone this disk” option. It will copy everything from the boot partition to the disk type. including operating system and personal files. However, you will need a separate hard drive to clone your system.
9. Macrium Reflect also provides scheduler, backup for specific folders, system image backup etc. Various features are available, including You can go through them and find the best way to create a full Windows 10 backup.
AOMEI Backup
AOMEI Backupper is another great utility for creating a complete Windows 10 backup. The USP of this app is its user-friendly interface. If you find Macrium Reflect overwhelming, you can go for AOMEI Backupper. It has almost all the features including disk, files, system and partition backup. Here’s how you can use it.
1. Download the free version of AOMEI Backupper from: here. If you want advanced features, you can also go for the pro version for $49.95.
2. Install and open the program. You will find these two options on the main screen. Click “Backup”.
3. Here, select the type of backup you want to make. If you want create a Windows 10 backup for the operating system onlySelect “System Backup” and click “Next”.
4. Here, select the destination folder where the backup file will be saved and click “Start Backup”. You can use both local and external drive To store the Windows 10 backup image.
5. You can choose “File Backup” when you want to backup certain folders. And choose “Disk Backup” for full hard disk backup. If you want automatically back up folders at specific time and then choose “File Sync”. Finally, if you want to keep the Master Bootloader with the recovery partition, choose the “Partition backup” option. This will allow you to backup the recovery OS mostly on laptops.
6. So you can create a Windows 10 backup image using AOMEI Backupper. Moreover if you are replacing new hard disk use “Clone” feature or switching to an SSD.
Backup and Sync from Google
While local backup is great, sometimes cloud storage solutions make things a lot easier when it comes to storing and finding our files. Backup & Sync by Google is a great option if you want to seamlessly back up important files to the cloud. you can use for instantly upload your files and folders to Google Drive. Here’s how you can use Backup and Sync in Windows 10.
1. First, download Backup and Sync from: here and run it. Now, log into your Google account.
2. From now on you select predefined folders to automatically back up. Click “Next” and you are all set to backup Windows 10 files.
3. A Google Drive folder is also created in your “User” folder. If you want to instantly backup a file to Google Drive, simply paste the file into the Google Drive folder. You can find all your synced files and folders here: google drive.
Take a Windows 10 Backup and Protect Yourself from Unpredictable Data Loss
Thus ends our article on how to create a full backup of Windows 10. As we can see, there are two great ways to create a backup in Windows 10. If you want to back up important files and drivers, File History can get the job done. However, if you are afraid that one day your computer will fail, you can create a full system image. It will help you in the long run. And if you are not satisfied with the native Windows tools, you can go for third-party applications. I recommend Macrium Reflect as it is a powerful application with multiple features. So it will be all of us. If you liked the article or want to share your favorite method to backup Windows 10, let us know in the comment section below.
