Top Tips for Backing Up Your Windows 10 Computer That Actually Work
Let’s face it, backing up your data is one of those tasks most of us put off until disaster strikes. Whether it’s a crash, a virus, or an accidental delete, it’s vital to have a backup plan in place. Luckily, Windows 10 offers some easy-to-use built-in options that don’t require a tech degree — so why not set one up today?
How to Use Windows 10’s Backup Features
The star of the show is the Backup and Restore (Windows 7) tool, tucked away in the Control Panel. Weird that it’s still around, but if it works, who cares? This tool is your best mate for keeping a secure copy of your important files. Here’s how to get started.
Prepare Your Backup Drive
First things first, grab an external hard drive or USB stick. It’s essential because backups can take up quite a bit of space—especially if you have lots of photos or documents. Also, keeping backups on a separate drive is just common sense: if your main drive fails, you’re still covered.
If your external drive isn’t formatted correctly, you might need to sort that out:
Right-click the drive in File Explorer > Format > NTFS > Start
Where to Find Backup Settings
To get into the backup options, click the Start button, type “backup,” and choose Change backup settings. Easy as! Or you can go the classic route with:
- Control Panel
- System and Security > Backup and Restore (Windows 7)
That older interface might feel more familiar if you’re used to it.
Select Your Backup Location
Once you open the Backup and Restore (Windows 7) window, click Set up backup. Pick your external drive here. If you’re comfortable with networking, you can choose a network location — but that can be a tad more complex.
To double-check your chosen drive, head to Settings > Update & Security > Backup > Add a drive and select your external device.
Choose How Often to Back Up
After selecting your backup location, Windows will ask what to back up and how often. You can let it decide automatically, or choose specific folders if you prefer.
Click on Change schedule to pick how frequently backups happen — daily, weekly, or monthly. Many folks go with daily, especially if they’re always working on new stuff.
If you’re after a more custom setup, you can use Task Scheduler to automate backups exactly how you like. Just keep in mind, fiddling with scripts isn’t everyone’s cup of tea:
schtasks /create /sc daily /tn "WindowsBackup" /tr "cmd /c \"vssadmin create shadow /for=C:\""*(That’s a fancy way of creating a shadow copy of your files.)*
Once everything’s ready, click Save settings and run backup. The first run might take a while, especially if there’s a lot of data to copy. But after that, backups will usually be quicker since it just does the incremental updates.
You can also start a backup anytime manually by opening the Backup and Restore window and clicking Back up now.
Staying on Top of Your Backup Routine
After setting it up, make sure to check your external drive’s free space regularly—that’s not the most fun task, but it’s necessary. To do this:
Right-click the drive > Properties.
It’s also smart to set reminders to review your backup schedule — maybe put a note on your calendar. And for extra peace of mind, consider backing up to multiple locations, like cloud services, so you’ve always got a copy offsite.
Windows 10 can also create a System Image Backup, which captures your entire setup — pretty handy if you want a full restore point. Here’s how:
- Open Control Panel > System and Security > Backup and Restore (Windows 7)
- Click Create a system image.
- Choose where to save it (external drive, DVDs, or network).
- Follow the prompts, and you’re set.
Frequently Asked Backup Questions
Which files should I back up first?
Focus on your personal stuff — documents, photos, music — and don’t forget about your system settings too.
How often should backups happen?
Weekly is usually fine for most, but if you’re constantly working on new files, consider doing it daily.
What about cloud backups?
Good call. Services like OneDrive or Google Drive are easy to set up and help keep copies safely stored off your device.
How long do backups take?
The initial backup might take a while, but subsequent ones are quick — often just a few minutes.
What if I don’t back up?
You risk losing everything if your computer crashes, gets malware, or if you accidentally delete important files. It’s just not worth the headache.
Final Tips for a Solid Backup Routine
- Connect your external drive. Win + X > Control Panel > System and Security > Backup and Restore (Windows 7).
- Open backup settings or the classic tool.
- Choose where to save your backups.
- Set your backup schedule — consider using Task Scheduler for more flexibility.
- Hit Back up now and get it underway.
Having a consistent backup routine for your Windows 10 PC is just good sense. It might seem like a hassle at first, but being able to recover your files when things go south is worth the effort. Follow these steps, set it up, and then just check in occasionally to make sure everything’s running smoothly. Nobody wants a panic when their data’s gone missing — so better to be safe than sorry! Give it a go today, and your future self will thank you.