This article explains how to back up your Windows PC, partially or completely, and is applicable to both Windows 11 and 10.

How to Make a Partial Backup of Your Computer

If you’re focused on backing up specific files and folders, you can automatically save them to an external hard drive at regular intervals you select.

1. Connect the external drive to your computer, then select the Start menu. In Windows 11, type file history and select File History. In Windows 10, type backup and select Backup settings.

2. Select Add a drive to choose the external hard drive you want to use for your file history backups.

3. Doing this opens a Select a drive popup listing all external drives connected to your computer. Select the external drive where you want to back up your important files and folders.

4. You’ll see Automatically back up my files enabled. This uses a default list of files and folders that most users prefer to back up. To add more files and folders, select More options below the toggle.

5. Review the folders under Back up these folders. If any are missing from the list, select Add a folder and then browse and choose the additional folders you want to include.

   If there are any folders listed that you don’t want to include, select it and then select Remove to remove that folder from the list.

How to Make a System Backup of Your Computer

A complete backup of your Windows 10 system is known as a “system image.” You can save this to an external hard drive for safekeeping away from your computer’s internal drive. If recovery is needed, use this system image to restore your operating system and settings.

1. In the search bar, type control panel and select the Control Panel app.

2. Select Backup and Restore (Windows 7).

3. From the left pane, select Create a system image.

4. In the Create a system image pop-up window, select your attached external hard drive in the On a hard disk drop-down list.

5. In the next window, you’ll see a list of system partitions that will be backed up as part of the system backup on the external hard drive. Select Start backup to begin the backup process.

6. Depending on the size of your system, the entire backup process may take a while. Give it time and check back later. Once the backup is complete, you can disconnect the external drive and store it in a safe location.

Types of Computer Backups

Depending on your needs, there are two types of backups you can perform.

• Partial Backup: This is where you only back up important files and folders and nothing else.
• Full Backup: Take a complete “clone” of your entire system, including the OS settings, essential files, and everything else on your hard drive.