How to backup Windows 10, and restore it

Windows 10 has a pretty great backup system built right in. You can backup the OS and settings and restore them at your convenience. Called System Image Recovery, this tool is easy to use, provided you know what you’re doing. Here’s how to backup Windows 10 and restore it.

Read more: The best external hard drives you can buy

How to create a backup in Windows 10

Windows 10 has a backup system built right into the operating system. Called System Image, it works rather well. The restore process can be tricky, but the backup is relatively easy. Before you begin, make sure you have an external drive with sufficient space to store the backup.

Open Control Panel via Windows search. Click System and Security.

Click Backup and Restore (Windows 7).

In the left pane, click the Create a system image button.

The System image creator will start. Pick the disk you want to use to save the backup. Your external drive should be connected by now and will be auto-detected. If it hasn’t, click the radio button next to On a hard disk. Click the drop-down menu and select your drive. Click Next.

Next up, you’ll see a list of the remaining disks and partitions you can back up. If you wish to, select the required ones by clicking the checkbox next to each. Click Next.

The final screen will show you your disk selections. Check that everything looks correct, and click Start backup.

The backup will begin. It will take some time to finish, depending upon the size of the backup. Wait until the progress bar completes.

Once the progress is complete, you will get a prompt asking if you want to create a System repair disc. You can click No here.

Click Close to close the system image creator. Your backup is complete.

Read more: How to install Windows 11

How to restore a backup on Windows 10

To restore a Windows 10 backup, you’ll need a Windows 10 installation disk or a bootable USB installer. Boot into the DVD or USB. If you need help getting into the boot menu, you can check the manufacturer’s site according to the brand of your motherboard/laptop. The Windows 10 installer will start.

Configure the language, time, currency, and keyboard layout settings, and click Next.

Click Repair your computer.

Click the Troubleshoot option.

We need the System Image Recovery tool moving forward. Click that option.

The system image restore tool will ask you which operating system you want as the target. Click Windows 10.

The backup folder will be automatically detected. Click Next to proceed.

The next screen will show all available backups. Pick the right one by the date and time stamp. Click Next.

The restore will ask you to pick any additional restore options. Tick the boxes next to the ones you want to select, and click Next.

Check to ensure you have the right settings on the final confirmation screen, and click Finish.

A final warning will pop up. Click Yes to start the restore.