Backups using OneDrive are best for most users since it performs backups automatically, and your data is stored in the cloud. However, it comes with only 5 GB free. So unless you subscribe to a plan, you can’t back up your entire system. For large-scale backups, the long-running Windows Backup and Restore feature is an excellent choice. You can also use the Windows File History feature to store specific files, folders, and settings on an external hard drive. And lastly, you can opt for third-party backups like iDrive, Backupper, and Acronis Cyber Home Protect. Such software provides flexible and scalable options and is best for those with large amounts of data like businesses. Read our full article as we dig deep into each of these backup options, showing you how to set them up properly and secure your data today. In this article, we’ll show you a step-by-step guide to set up many of these options, as well as show you how to make an image of Windows 10. Ready? Let’s dive in.
Creating a Backup on Windows 10: Understanding the Different Methods
Before diving into the backup process, let’s understand the different ways in which you can create a Windows 10 backup. We walk you through each of these different methods in the following sections.
Backing up Windows 10 Files Using OneDrive
OneDrive enables you to back up your desktop and your Documents and Pictures folders. It’s best for backing up personal files that don’t require large storage space. The good news is that as long you’re signed in, OneDrive backs up the selected folders automatically. Here are key steps to get you started with OneDrive on your Windows 10 PC. To access your OneDrive folder and see what’s being saved, you can perform any of the following steps:
Click on the search icon in your taskbar (or hit Win + S on your keyboard). Search for “OneDrive” and select the app once it appears. This should open your OneDrive folder. Click on the cloud icon in your notifications area. Select the “Open folder” tab on the bottom. Doing so will open your OneDrive folder.
Creating a Windows 10 Backup using File History
If you want to back up more files than just your desktop, documents, and pictures, Windows File History is the way to go. It allows you to save selected files, folders, and settings to an external device. This way, if the original files are lost or infected, you can recover them using the backups on your external device. This of course means you need to have an external hard drive where you can store the backup. Let’s discuss the steps involved in setting up File History backup on Windows 10:
Configuring the File History backup
Your File History backup is now all set up! However, it still needs to be configured. This can be done by clicking on “More Options” on the Backup settings screen, pictured below.
Here, you can change how frequently Windows will perform a backup. Options range from every 10 minutes to once a day. You can also choose how long to keep backups. If you have plenty of space, you may choose to keep backups longer.
You can also change which folders are included in the backup. Adding or deleting folders is as simple as clicking on the “Add folder” button and choosing a folder. If you don’t want to include a folder (to save on storage space, for example), simply click the folder and choose “Remove.”
Creating a Windows 10 System Image Backup
Backup and Restore is the legacy Windows backup tool. It’s been around since Windows 7 and remains available in Windows 10 (and Windows 11, too). Unlike a File History backup, Backup and Restore lets you backup your entire system image. This means that it takes a snapshot of everything on your system and creates a .iso file. This file can be used to recover the system in case it ever crashes. Below, we explain the steps involved: Of course, if you save your backup file on your computer, then you run the risk of losing that backup if anything happens to your laptop or PC. As such, we recommend creating a full system image backup on external devices instead.
Third-Party Options for Backup
Third-party solutions are best if you want more flexible backup options. Key features to look for in choosing backup software include:
Real-time backups, which store changes anytime they occur on your computer The ability to backup to an online cloud storage or to automatically transfer your backup via file transfer protocol (FTP) to off-site storage The impact of the backup solution on your computer’s performance The tool’s user data handling and privacy policies, as a lot of personal data will be processed and stored by the backup tool
After extensive research and testing, we’ve narrowed down our recommendations to three tools, which we discuss below.
1. Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office: Easy-to-use backup option
Formerly known as True Image 2021, Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office is an all-in-one computer backup and security solution. The software allows you to backup your entire system, including your operating system, applications, and data. You can also backup specific disks and partitions, as well as files and folders. If you’re keen on an extra layer of security, Acronis allows you to notarize your files using blockchain. However, this feature is only available for premium users. Overall, Acronis is easy to install, and the user interface is simple, clean, and organized. You can schedule and automate your backups based on your preferences. With one subscription, you can back up up to five computers. For a list of features, plans, and pricing, see the table below. The main downside of this feature-rich Windows 10 backup is that it’s quite pricey compared to other options like iDrive and Backblaze. To learn more about Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office, click the orange button below.
2. AOMEI Backupper: Best free Windows 10 backup
Backupper is a great choice if you’re on the hunt for a free personal Windows 10 backup. Its free version covers the basics: full system imaging, disk cloning, file and folder backup, file syncing, and different scheduling options. Besides its trove of features, Backupper’s user interface is well laid-out, clean, and attractive. If you’re new to backup software, you’ll love that Backupper’s learning curve is minimal. Even though you get key features with the free version, it comes with a number of bottlenecks. First of all, you’ll have to deal with ads and popups while running the service. Most of those ads are upgrade offers from Backupper. You can upgrade to the Professional version for a one-time fee of $49.95, which doesn’t come with ads and offers 24/7 customer support. Learn more about Backupper by clicking the button below.
3. iDrive: Best Windows 10 backup for businesses
If you’re a business looking to back up large volumes of files, iDrive is an excellent option. Its Team plan offers 1TB storage per user for between 5 to 100 users. Big firms will love the Business plan which offers anywhere from 250 GB to 50 TB per person for an unlimited number of users. For users who want to backup multiple devices, iDrive is also a popular choice, since it allows you to back up an unlimited number of phones, laptops, and servers to a single account. You can manage all these devices, including your Windows 10 computer, on the iDrive web portal. When it comes to features, iDrive is well-stocked. You can clone your entire system or back up your drives or folders into one cloud account with just a few clicks. The backup service also comes with real-time online file syncing to ensure changes to your files are continuously backed up automatically. What’s more, if you suffer a disaster or loss, iDrive can send you your data in a physical storage device in less than a week. This feature is great since it ensures that your business operations don’t stall for long because of a disaster. iDrive’s pricing depends on the plan you pick and the storage you choose. Below are the prices for the iDrive Mini and iDrive Personal plans. Note that these are promotional prices, applicable only for the first subscription year.
iDrive Mini: $3.71 per year (100 GB), $7.46 per year (500 GB), $14.62 per year (1 TB), $29.62 per year (2 TB) iDrive Personal: $59.62 per year (5 TB), $74.62 per year (10 TB)
To view iDrive’s full pricing list and learn more about its features, click on the button below.
Why You Need to Back Up Windows 10
Windows remains the most used computer operating system today. Sadly, however, data breaches, data losses, and hardware failure are increasingly common these days. Your hard drive could crash, or a hacker could infect your computer with ransomware, denying access to your files. Here are a few statistics to help contextualize the problem: data loss is up 400% since 2012, and up to 140 hard drives fail every week in the U.S. alone. While data losses can’t always be prevented, their impact can be mitigated by regularly backing up your files and system image. If the files are lost or infected, you can simply use a backup to restore files or restore your system. In order to keep your system backed up, make sure to have at least one of the following:
System image backup: A system image is an exact copy of a drive, usually including the drives needed for Windows to run. Typically, this is kept on a system image recovery disk, such as a flash drive, hard drive, or disc. This file is essential in case you’re performing a system restore. File backups: These are backups of your personal files, such as your documents and pictures, so you can
Protect Your Files by Creating a Secure Windows 10 Backup
When it comes to backing up your Windows 10 system of files, you’re spoiled for choice. OneDrive is great if you’re only looking to backup selected personal files, including videos, documents, and pictures. Windows Backup and Restore is best if you want to backup your entire system, while Windows File History works best with backing up specific files and folders. You can also use third-party software like iDrive, AOMEI Backupper, and Acronis if you want more features and larger backup storage. To learn more about backing up different devices, check out our articles below:
How to Backup Your Android Data How to Back Up Your iPhone How to Back Up Your iPad How to Back up Your Mac
For more storage space for your Windows 10, consider picking from our selection of the best cloud storage providers. Check out this article to learn how to backup your entire Windows 10 system image. If you just want to keep a copy of important files and data, using Windows File History is the way to go. If you want to back up your entire system image, Windows Backup and Restore is what you want to use. Other options include using OneDrive and third-party software. We detail all these methods in our article.
