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Before a major Windows update, make a separate copy of your important personal files and verify that you can open files from that copy. A Windows restore point, recovery USB, or option to return to an earlier Windows version can help with system recovery, but none replaces an independent copy of your files.
Use the checklist below whether you are installing a Windows version upgrade or another major update. The exact recovery features available can vary by Windows version, device, and how it is managed.
Pre-update backup checklist
- Check your Windows version and who manages the PC. Open Settings > System > About to review Windows specifications. If your employer or school manages the device, check its update and backup guidance; some settings may be controlled by the organization.
- List the files you cannot afford to lose. Check Documents, Pictures, Desktop, and other folders you use, including files saved outside those locations. If you rely on cloud-synced folders, confirm syncing has finished and that you can access the account.
- Choose a backup method that covers those files. Windows Backup can save selected content and settings to a Microsoft account. For a separate copy, copy important files to an external drive or network location, or use a suitable cloud backup. Storage capacity depends on the amount of data you need to copy.
- Verify the copy. Open a sample of files from the destination, not just the originals. Check different file types and folders, and make sure the destination contains the latest versions you need.
- Prepare system recovery separately, if appropriate. You can enable System Protection and create a named restore point if System Restore is available. A Windows Recovery Drive can also help with recovery from a PC that will not start. Neither contains a separate copy of your personal files.
- Find your BitLocker recovery key if device encryption is enabled. Keep access to it before relying on recovery tools or Windows Recovery Environment; a recovery key may be required.
- Start the update only when the file copy is complete and checked. Where practical, disconnect the external backup drive during the update so it remains separate from the PC.
Choose the right kind of protection
These options address different problems. Windows Backup and a separate file copy protect selected personal content; System Restore and a Recovery Drive are for system recovery; Go back is a time-limited route to the previous Windows version after an upgrade.
| Option | What it helps preserve or do | Where it is stored or what it needs | Key limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows Backup | Selected files, themes, settings, and many installed apps | Associated with a Microsoft account; review the selections and confirm account access | Coverage depends on what is selected and the account; it is not described as a complete disk image |
| External or network drive copy | Chosen personal files | A separate drive or network location with enough space for the files | You must complete the copy and check it; physical separation helps keep the copy apart from the PC |
| System Restore | System files, registry, settings, and installed programs as represented by a restore point | System Protection must be available and may need to be enabled | It is not a personal-file backup; restoring can undo system changes and affect installed programs |
| Recovery Drive | Windows recovery media, including recovery after drive replacement in supported cases | A USB drive created while Windows is working | It does not include personal files, and creating it erases the USB drive’s existing contents |
| Go back after a version upgrade | A route back to the previous Windows version | The feature must still be available on that device | Microsoft’s current recovery guidance says the option is available for 10 days after a version upgrade; the window is version- and device-dependent |
Use Windows Backup for selected files and settings
Windows Backup can help carry selected files, settings, themes, and many installed apps along with a Microsoft account. Review what is selected and make sure you can sign in to the account associated with the backup. Its documented scope is not a full copy of the entire disk, so use a separate file copy if you need an independent backup of important data.
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- Easily store and access 2TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Microsoft’s [Windows Backup guide] explains how to use the feature. Microsoft also provides a [backup solution chooser] to compare built-in options.
Make and check a separate copy of personal files
An external drive or network location gives you a distinct place to keep chosen files. Copy the folders you identified in the checklist, then open several files directly from the destination. Do not assume a copy succeeded just because a progress window disappeared. There is no universal capacity requirement: the storage must be large enough for the files you intend to preserve.
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- Easily store and access 5TB of content on the go with the Seagate portable drive, a USB external hard Drive
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Cloud-synced folders can be useful, but verify that synchronization has completed and that you can sign in. A synchronized folder is not automatically proof that every file has a recoverable independent copy; confirm that the files you care about are present and accessible.
System Restore is not a file backup
System Restore uses restore points to return system files, registry settings, and installed programs to an earlier state. System Protection may need to be turned on before restore points are available, and Windows also lets you create one manually. A restore point is not a second copy of personal files; use a file backup for that purpose. Microsoft describes the feature and its setup in the [System Restore guide].
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- Easily store and access 1TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive.Specific uses: Personal
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop. Reformatting may be required for Mac
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Do not confuse System Restore with the separate Point-in-time restore feature. Microsoft says Point-in-time restore rolls back the whole system, including files, apps, and settings, so changes made after the selected point can be lost. Its availability depends on the Windows version. Restore-point retention guidance for that feature is not the same as the behavior of System Restore.
Create recovery media if it fits your recovery plan
A Windows Recovery Drive is USB recovery media, not a personal-file archive. Create it while the PC is working if you may need recovery tools for a PC that cannot start. The creation process erases the USB drive, so use one whose contents you do not need and copy anything important off it first. See Microsoft’s [Recovery Drive guide] for the current instructions and compatibility notes, including guidance related to Secure Boot revocation changes and the April 9, 2024 security update.
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- Easily store and access 4TB of content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive.Specific uses: Personal
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Know the limits of rolling back an upgrade
After a Windows version upgrade, Microsoft’s current [Go back guidance] says the option is available for 10 days. This is a temporary recovery feature, not an ongoing backup, and its availability can depend on the Windows version and device. Do not rely on it as your only protection for files.
Recovery choices can keep or remove different data. Microsoft Support cautions: “Before you start: Some recovery options can result in data loss. Back up your important files and enable Windows Backup (Settings > Accounts > Windows Backup) to save your apps and settings.” Read the instructions for the specific recovery path before using it; the overview is in [Recovery options in Windows].
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When it is safe to start the update
- Your important files and less-obvious folders have been included in a backup method that suits them.
- The separate copy, if you made one, is complete, and you have opened sample files from its destination.
- You can access the Microsoft account used for Windows Backup or the account for any cloud-synced files you rely on.
- You have the BitLocker recovery key available if device encryption is enabled.
- Any recovery media you intend to use has been created on a USB drive whose existing contents you were willing to erase.
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