This article includes 3 free and reliable options of the best backup and restore software for Windows 11, and you can learn how to do backup and restore in Windows 11 easily.
You cannot guarantee that your computer will always run smoothly, and it will inevitably encounter various problems, so reliable backup software is essential. In this guide, we'll explore why backup software is necessary and the top 3 best backup and restore software for Windows 11.
Data protection against system crash/hard drive failure/ransomware: Creating Windows 11 regular backups can ensure your data security, whenever problems happen like system crashes, disk corruption, virus attack, etc. Quick restore: With full system backups or data backups, you can get back the lost/corrupted data quickly and efficiently in the event of system crash or hardware failure. Prevent data loss during Windows updates: There are many cases in which Windows updates delete user files, backing up data in advance can prevent data accidental deletion.
Here are the top three free backup software for Windows 11. And you can learn how to perform Windows 11 backup and restore with these tools in detail.
Backup and Restore is a Windows native backup tool to create system images, introduced from Windows 7. You can use it to make a system image of the entire PC. However, it does not support you to backup individual files and it may require a system repair disc in case of failure. And it should be noted that Microsoft deprecated Backup and Restore in Windows 8.
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Pros |
Cons |
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Integration with Windows 11 OS Simple setup and scheduling options Straightforward interface |
Limited customization backup options Not support cloud backup |
>>How to backup Windows 11 using Backup and Restore
Open Control Panel, select System and Security, and click on Backup and Restore (Windows 7). Then, click on Create a system image on the left, and choose a storage location, and follow the on-screen instruction to start the backup.
>>How to restore Windows 11 backup from Backup and Restore
Go to Settings > System > Recovery on Windows 11, and click on Restart Now under Recovery options to restore Windows from a system image.
Microsoft introduced File History from Windows 8, which can help you create a complete copy of your files stored in Libraries, including Documents, Music, Pictures, Videos and Desktop folders and offline OneDrive files available on your PC. You can use this Windows backup software free to create data backup to storage devices like USB drive, flash drive, network location, etc.
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Pros |
Cons |
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Automatic file backup Integration with OneDrive for cloud backup Built-in to Windows 11 |
Limited to backing up user-defined folders |
>>How to backup Windows 11 files using File History
Open Control Panel > System and Security, then select File History. Click Add a drive to select your connected USB or external drive as the storage device. Then, you can switch to Onfor Automatically back up my files, and configure more backup settings under More options.
>>How to backup Windows 11 file backup
To restore your file backup, access the File History app in the same way, and tap on Restore personal files from the left side to select your backup files to restore.
As you can see, the backup software that comes with Windows 11 has their own flaws. Is there a free backup software that combines the best of both worlds? Yes, AOMEI Backupper Standard is what you need.
This all-round backup software offers various backup types, like System Backup, Partition Backup, Disk Backup, File Backup, and Cloud Backup. And you can use it to create Windows 11 backup to external drive, USB, local disk, NAS, network drive, cloud storage (OneDrive/Dropbox/Google Drive/), etc.
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Pros |
Cons |
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Support all kinds of data backup Scheduled backup Flexible backup options and backup locations Windows bootable media creation |
Email Backup and Outlook Backup available in paid versions Backup encryption not available for free users |
>>How to create system backup with this best backup and restore software for Windows 11
Select Backup and choose System Backup. Then, specify a backup destination location to start the backup process easily.
>>How to create system backup from AOMEI Backupper Standard
If your Windows 11 operating system is crashed, click Restore, and choose Select Task or Select Image File to locate the backup image and restore OS easily.
#1. Is Windows 11 Backup and Restore Deprecated?
Yes, Backup and Restore is a deprecated feature on Windows 11, and Microsoft may choose to remove it in a future release. But you can still use it to create system backups, folder backup, and more.
#2. Can I restore individual files with Windows 11 Backup and Restore?
Yes, Windows 11 Backup and Restore allows users to selectively restore individual files or folders from backups, providing flexibility in data recovery.
#3. What is the best backup software for Windows 11 to external hard drive?
You can use AOMEI Backupper to create system, disk, or file backup to an external hard drive in Windows 11 with just a few clicks. This utility provides a wizard-like interface that makes the backup process easy to follow.
Choosing the best backup and restore software for Windows 11 depends on your specific needs and preferences. While built-in options like Backup and Restore and File History offer basic functionality, third-party solutions like AOMEI Backupper Standard provide enhanced features and flexibility.
What's more, this reliable third-party software offers you Sync and Clone features, which can help you transfer files from PC to PC and clone hard drive to another disk with ease.
Best free Windows backup software for personal use.