Choose a backup solution in Windows

適用先
Windows 11 Windows 10

Note

  • Support for Windows 10 has ended on October 14, 2025
  • After October 14, 2025, Microsoft will no longer provide free software updates from Windows Update, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10. Your PC will still work, but we recommend moving to Windows 11.
  • Learn more

Protect your files and photos by making sure they're safely backed up. Use the following table to decide which backup solution is best for you.

Backup solution Things to consider
Cloud-based backup Want to back up your content so it's safe and easy to access? We recommend using a cloud-based backup solution.

With cloud-based backups:

  • Your data is safely stored in the cloud
  • You can easily access your content across multiple devices
  • You don't need to purchase hardware
  • Recovering files is easy and instant
You'll need:

  • A cloud-based storage location
  • Internet access
Learn more about the built-in cloud-storage solution that comes with your device and how to back up and restore your Windows PC.
External hard drive or network drive backups It may be best to use an external storage device or network drive backup in these cases:

  • When internet access isn't available
  • When you need to store large files or a large number of files. In these situations, the files generally take longer to upload, and it might cost more to store files.
You'll need:
  • An external hard drive or network drive
Legacy backups We recommend you consider modern backup options like the ones listed above, as they're easier to manage and non-destructive.

If you've used Backup and Restore in Windows 7, consider moving your content to a cloud-based backup.