--- title: "How to set up file backups on Windows" description: "You’ve got masses of important documents, photos, and files and ensuring those files are backed up on your Windows PC is a necessity in case something gets deleted, corrupted, or overwritten. The good..." url: https://cloudtech24.com/2026/01/how-to-set-up-file-backups-on-windows/ date: 2026-01-30 modified: 2026-04-29 author: "Andrew Dale" image: https://cloudtech24.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Windows-File-back-up.jpg categories: ["Security"] type: post lang: en --- # How to set up file backups on Windows You’ve got masses of important documents, photos, and files and ensuring those files are backed up on your Windows PC is a necessity in case something gets deleted, corrupted, or overwritten. The good news is that you have quite a few options for doing this, depending on what you have at your disposal and what you think suits you best. In this blog, we’ll cover three main ways you can [back up your files on Windows](https://cloudtech24.com/service/microsoft-windows-support/), as well as address some questions you may have about the processes themselves.  ## Backup with File History  The simplest way to back up your files is File History, a built-in feature that automatically backs up your personal files.  The feature saves versions of your files over time, which comes in handy if you’ve made changes to a file and need to recover an older version.  They usually cover and back up your common folders – documents, desktop, and pictures- but you can add more folders in the advanced settings when setting up or configuring File History. What’s important to remember is that File History is mainly just for files. This process isn’t designed to back up your entire [Windows](https://cloudtech24.com/microsoft-windows-support/) installation, so if your entire system has failed, it won’t help.  ### How to set up File History - Connect an external drive to your computer, or make sure you have a [network](https://cloudtech24.com/managed-it-services/managed-network-support/) location you can save to (like a shared folder on another PC or a NAS). - Open Control Panel (not the Settings app). - Go to System and Security, then open File History. - Turn on File History, and Windows will start saving copies automatically. - If you want to control how often it runs or how long versions are kept, adjust those options under Advanced settings. - If there are folders you don’t want backed up, exclude them in the File History options. When you need to restore something, you can usually search for “[Restore your files with File History”](https://cloudtech24.com/2024/04/how-to-recover-deleted-files-on-windows/) in the Start menu and browse saved versions of your files and folders. Learn more: [Managed Device Services](https://cloudtech24.com/service/device-management/) ## Backup and Restore (Windows 7) If you’re looking for a way to back up and recover your entire PC in the event of a worst-case scenario, a system image is a more complete approach. A tool in Windows’ Control Panel, Backup and Restore (Windows 7), allows you to create a full system image of your Windows in case of a major drive failure.  What’s worth noting is that Microsoft treats this as a legacy feature (hence the Windows 7 next to the tool name). It works completely fine and still works with the latest versions of Windows, like [Windows 11](/2022/03/is-it-worth-updating-to-windows-11/); it’s just not the primary backup method Windows prompts for nowadays, as they prioritise OneDrive. Another minor snag with the Backup and Restore feature is that it’s primarily designed for restoring to a PC with the same (or very similar) hardware, and restoring to a PC with different components can be inconsistent.  ### How to set up Backup and Restore - To create a system image, you’ll need to connect a large external drive with enough free space  - Open Control Panel  - Go to System and Security  - One Backup and Restore (Windows 7).  - From there, you can create a system image and choose where to save it.  Keep in mind that this process takes longer and uses more storage than File History, but it’s helpful if you want a full option after a major failure. ## Cloud backup with OneDrive  If you want your files backed up and available across multiple devices, OneDrive is usually the most “Windows-native” cloud option. It’s useful for work files because it can sync your Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders. It also helps if something goes missing. If you delete a file by accident, you can often recover it from the OneDrive recycle bin, and depending on the file type, you may be able to roll back to previous versions, too. The huge benefit compared to other options is that the setup is really user-friendly. OneDrive comes built into Windows PCs, so it’s just a case of signing in with your Microsoft account and choosing which folders you want to sync.  After that, anything saved in those synced locations is stored on your PC and in the cloud automatically. That said, cloud sync isn’t something to rely on as your only safety net. For the strongest setup, it’s worth pairing OneDrive with a separate backup to an external drive (or another backup tool), so you’re covered even if you run into sync issues or problems with your account.  Read more: [OneDrive vs SharePoint: A comparison](https://cloudtech24.com/2025/12/onedrive-vs-sharepoint-a-comparison/) ## FAQs for Backup ## What if I don’t want to use OneDrive? If you don’t want to use OneDrive or Cloud-based services, then you’ll need to use a third-party disk imaging tool to get a system image. The usual process is that these tools allow you to create a bootable recovery from a USB, so that you can start your PC into recovery, even if Windows has corrupted.  There are options like Macrium Reflect and Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office that are more actively maintained than Backup and Restore, and include features like verification and scheduling that allow you to have a much easier restoration process should things go wrong. ## Do I need an external hard drive for File History? Yes, File History needs a separate storage location, usually an external drive or a network folder. Using a separate device matters because if your computer’s internal drive fails, a backup on the same drive won’t help. ## How often should I run backups? For File History, frequent automatic backups are typically best, especially if you work on documents regularly. Hourly is a common default and works well for many people.  For system images, monthly or quarterly is often enough unless you make major changes frequently. ## How much space do backups require? It depends on how many files you have and how many versions you keep.  File History can grow over time because it stores older versions, so it’s normal for it to use more space the longer it runs. System images are usually large because they include the full system. It’s worth looking at how much storage you’ve used on your hard drive and buying an external hard drive that is suitable for your system. ## A final thought Losing your files can be a real pain, which is why you need those backup options in place. The safest bet? Have a backup for your backup. Combine multiple File History with a third-party tool. Use OneDrive for your files as well as BackUp and restore for your system.  The key thing to remember is you can never be too safe. A failure in your system and file corruption happen more than you think, so knowing that and being prepared for the worst is so important.