How to Do Incremental and Differential Backup in Windows 10

The need for Windows 10 incremental/differential backup 

The backup can help us ensure data safe and let Windows go back to normal as soon as possible. Generally, there are three types of backup: full backup, incremental backup and differential backup.

• Full Backup. It means to backup all the data you have selected, like important files, or applications, etc. All data will be backed up no matter it changed or not.

• Incremental Backup. It only backs up the changed and added data since the first full backup or the last backup. All the backups are related together.

• Differential Backup. It will backup changed data based on the last full backup. Each backup is relatively independent.

Obviously, compared to a full backup, the incremental backup and differential backup will spend less backup time and can save disk space in maximum. So if possible, it’s a good choice to perform incremental or differential backup in Windows 10.

Can Windows built-in tool help you do incremental/differential backup?

As we know, Windows 10 backup utility helps us backup system and files: Backup and Restore utility & File History.

Backup and Restore utility helps you create a system image as well as backup other files you need. File History focuses on backing up your personal files. However, none of them will help you do incremental backup or differential backup. To make it, you need to make use of third-party software. Just keep reading to get it.

The best incremental/differential software for Windows 10

If you prefer the easiest way to perform Windows 10 incremental and differential backup, then one comprehensive backup & restore tool named AOMEI Backupper can be your best choice.

• 4 backup solutions: It provides you four types of backup, System Backup, File Backup, Disk Backup, and Partition Backup.

• Easy to perform incremental/differential backup: It lets you set up incremental backup or differential backup for Windows 10 in each backup with a few simple steps.

• Schedule automatic backup: It allows you to schedule automatic backup in Windows 10 and then it will perform the backup daily/weekly/monthly.

Besides, the backup process will not affect your work. And with the user-friendly GUI, you can complete the job in only a few clicks. Check the next part to see how to use this Windows 10 incremental/differential backup software.

Detailed steps to perform incremental/differential backup in Windows 10

Before you do, there are some things you need to know first.

• Both incremental backup and differential backup are based on full backup. You need to do a full backup at the first neither you create incremental backup nor differential backup in Windows 10.

• AOMEI Backupper allows you to set up full backup, incremental/differential backup during backup. But if it is the first backup, it will execute full backup.

• AOMEI Backupper Standard is free to Windows 11/10/8/8.1/7/Vista/XP. If you are Windows Server user, AOMEI Backupper Server is suitable for you.

Step 1. Download the software below or go to Download Center. Then, install and launch AOMEI Backupper Standard.

Step 2. Here we take File Backup as an example. You can also choose other options as per your needs.

Step 3. Click Add Folder or Add File to select the folders/files you want to backup. 

Step 4. Choose the backup destination. You can backup the file to your hard drive, USB flash drive, or network.

Step 5. Click Schedule Backup to set up incremental and differential backup for Windows 10.

• Click Enable Schedule Backup and set up automatic backup files in daily, weekly, monthly, event triggers or USB plug in (the last two options only exist in AOMEI Backupper Professional and superior versions).

• Click Backup Scheme at the lower location and then select incremental or differential backup under the Backup Method.

Note: It’s free to perform incremental backup. If you want to do differential backup in Windows 10. You can upgrade to higher version to enjoy the feature.

Step 6. Finally, confirm the operation and click Start Backup to make it.

Tips: 

• You can also create incremental/differential backup in the Home tab. Like this, you have finished a full backup and will turn to Home table. A period of time later, if you add new data to this full backup, you can do incremental and differential backup for the new data in another way. Click More options > Backup > click Incremental Backup or Differential Backup according to your needs.

• If you have an AOMEI account, you can backup files to AOMEI Cloud. It offers you 1TB free storage for 15 days after you sign up for an AOMEI account.

Conclusion

Backing up your files is an important way to keep your data safe. If you have already backed up important data, but there are new or modified files that need to be backed up, you can use incremental backup or differential backup to help you save backup time and improve backup efficiency. 

As you can see, AOMEI Backupper can help you do Windows 10 incremental and differential backup without effort. When something goes wrong, you can perform File Restore to get the files you need. It can always ensure the security of your data.