As many people are using wd smartware software, you may find it’s not working for Windows 10. So another alternative backup tool will be introduced here.
WD is the abbreviation of Western Digital and WD Smartware is a program to manage backups from computer to an external drive. It works like a console controlling how and when to do backup for WD external hard drives. You can set it to run a backup on a continuous basis, allowing real-time updating of files.
But since Windows 10 was released, quite a few users reported this tool not compatible with Windows 10 system, even months later. In fact, there also exists other limitations of WD SmartWare.
If you are searching a backup software that can realize not only file backup but also system backup and disk backup, I‘d like to introduce you an adequate alternative to WD Smartware for Windows 10.
AOMEI Backupper Standard is an all-in-one backup and recovery software. It’s handy to operate even for a computer noob. Compared with WD SmartWare,
Besides, it enables you to schedule automatic backup, perform full or incremental backup, set compression level, leave backup comment, etc. And not only WD external hard drive, you can save backups made by it to any storages can be detected by Windows, such as local disk, any brands or external drive, USB flash drive, NAS, cloud, etc.
Download the freeware and follow the guide below to try it out:
1. Connect your WD external drive and make sure it can be detected. Launch AOMEI Backupper. Go to Backup tab and choose File Backup for selective data backup.
There are also System Backup, Disk Backup and Partition Backup options for you to choose accordingly.
✎In addition to on-site backup, you can also use Cloud Backup to backup files or folders off site. It comes with a cloud drive AOMEI Cloud as well as 1TB of free storage, and you have 15 days of free access after registration.
2. Choose Add Folder or Add File. Then selected the connected WD drive as the target.
If you want to back up files on NAS or network, choose Share/NAS > Add Share or NAS Devices to add the path. As for files on cloud drive, just select the local folder of corresponding cloud service.
3. To create auto backup, click Schedule Backup to choose Daily/Weekly/Monthly, and configure specific time point or interval. By default, it will run a scheduled Incremental Backup (changeable in Backup Scheme tab).
4. Click Start Backup and wait for it to complete. That's all you need to do for auto PC backup to external drive. If you need to backup WD external hard drive to PC or other storages, just select the source and target path accordingly.
Generally speaking, AOMEI Backupper makes backup a breeze. Almost all tasks could be completed just by a few of clicks. By the way, more advanced features can be found in AOMEI Backupper Professional version, such as auto backup cleanup, password encryption, disk wipe, system migration, etc.
WD Smartware is a utility with the ability to schedule automated backups at periodic intervals which will take place without requiring user input. It may have once been a convenient WD backup solution, but as early as 2020, the support for WD Smartware has ended and is no longer covered under WD‘s software support lifecycle.
If you do not already have the software, or if you are using a relatively new operating system, then it's recommend to use AOMEI Backupper as alternative to WD Smartware software for Windows 10 or Windows 11. Not only backup and restore, AOMEI Backupper could also be used for disk migration with the Clone feature. It enables you to clone HDD to smaller SSD, SSD to another SSD, or even transfer only OS to new hard drive.