How to Prevent Word from Generating Backup Files | Swift Solutions

If you enable automatic backup, Microsoft Word will create a copy of the most recently saved version in the same folder as your original document. Backing up your essential Word files is vital. This practice safeguards against lost or corrupted files and also protects against other data loss situations, like accidentally deleting Word documents or losing files during transfer to another device.

However, several individuals also inquired about preventing Word from generating backup files on Google. Despite the numerous advantages that automatic backup files offer, some users still prefer to disable this feature. Here are the reasons why.

Why is it Necessary to Exclude Word Documents from Backup?

The reasons why many individuals still inquire about how to prevent Word from generating backup files are as follows:

1. The presence of backups in the original folder complicates locating the specific file you're working on. 2. Continuous collaboration involves inspecting each other's work, often appending filenames to indicate the latest editor, which can result in multiple versions and "Backup" files, making it challenging to locate the desired document. 3. An excessive number of backups in the original folder might cause Microsoft Word to freeze or crash. 4. The accumulation of numerous backup files in the source folder can lead to abnormal termination of your Word application.

Thus, we prevent Word files from creating backup copies to swiftly locate the required document, ensure proper functioning of Microsoft Word, and conserve storage space on our device. Here are detailed solutions:

How to Disable Word's Auto-Backup Feature on Windows and Mac

Your computer might automatically upload files to OneDrive based on certain settings. If you're unsure about how to stop OneDrive backup in Windows 11, we'll guide you through disabling the backup feature for Mac, Microsoft Word 2021, 2019, or 2016 on Windows 11 or 10 to create a backup copy of a document.

Method 1: Disabling Automatic Backup using Word Options

Step 1. Open your word processor, then click on "File." Next, select "Options."

Step 2. Click on Advanced, and then you will see the option Always create backup copy under Save. Uncheck this option, and then click OK.

Whenever you want to back up your Word files automatically again, follow the above steps to check the “Always create a backup copy” option.

Method 2: Stopping Word from Creating Backup Files using Registry Editor

Step 1. Open Registry Editor, go to the location below, and then double-click BackupDuringSave.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Word\Options

Here's a video tutorial to guide you on how to open the Registry Editor.

Step 2. Change the Value data from 1 to 0, and then click OK.

To restore Word's automatic backup feature, set the value data back to 1.

Step 3. Close the Registry Editor. When you restart Microsoft Word, it will no longer create backup copies of your Word files in the .wbk format within the same directory as your original Word documents.

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A Superior Method to Safeguard Your Vital Word Documents

While disabling Microsoft Word's creation of backup files can ensure smooth operation, it poses a risk of losing important documents. Hence, a better approach to safeguard your crucial Word files is by using professional backup and recovery software like tools Todo Backup. This tool effectively caters to your needs for securing essential data.

You can use this backup software to back up files, disks, and partitions, or create a system image if your data is lost due to unforeseen circumstances. You can even utilize its three backup modes to cater to your diverse requirements. Use Full Backup to record every alteration in crucial documents. Differential and Incremental Backup can prevent the overload of your original Microsoft Word folder.

More importantly, based on your backup habit and needs, you can use tools like Todo Backup to schedule backups of your Word files daily, weekly, or monthly. You can even utilize Todo Backup to quickly automatically back up a folder to a network drive.

Below are its functions and advantages:

Highlighted Functions:

• Disk/Partition Backup and Recovery. You can utilize it to back up a partition or all data within the partition/disk for peace of mind in case of data corruption.
• System Backup and Recovery. With Todo Backup, you have a fast, efficient, and secure method to restore your system and back up your operating systems, boot partitions, and software files.
• Files Backup and Recovery. For comprehensive protection, backup individual files across different partitions on local disks or external storage devices.
• Multi-path, Cloud Storage Support. Backup to multiple clouds, USB drives, or network-shared locations. Furthermore, it provides cost-effective cloud backup options for those with limited budgets.

1. Pros:
2. Multiple functions to cater to users' requirements.
3. Compatible with Windows 11/10/8/7.
4. Offsite Copy feature available.
5. 100% Safe Zone Backup ensures security.

Here are the essential steps for creating a file backup: 1. Select the Files or Folders: Identify the critical files and folders that you want to back up. This could include documents, photos, videos, music, and any other important data. 2. Choose a Backup Method: There are several ways to back up your files - external hard drive, USB drive, cloud storage services (such as Google Drive, Dropbox, or iCloud), or network-attached storage (NAS). Consider factors like convenience, storage capacity, and security when choosing a method. 3. Connect the Backup Device: If using an external hard drive or USB, connect it to your computer. For cloud services, ensure you have a stable internet connection. 4. Create a Backup Strategy: Decide whether you want a full backup (copying all files) or incremental/differential backup (only new/changed files since the last backup). Full backups are more comprehensive but take longer, while incremental/differential backups are faster but may require multiple backups to restore everything. 5. Use Backup Software: Most operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux) have built-in backup tools. You can also use third-party software for more advanced options. Configure the software to select the source (your files), destination (backup device), and backup schedule (daily, weekly, or monthly). 6. Initiate the Backup Process: Start the backup by clicking on the 'Backup Now' or similar option in your chosen software. This process may take some time depending on the amount of data. 7. Verify the Backup: After the backup is complete, verify its integrity by checking if you can access and open the backed-up files. This ensures the backup was successful. 8. Regularly Update Your Backup: Make sure to update your backup regularly, especially after making significant changes to your files. Set up automatic backups if possible. 9. Test Restoring Files: Occasionally, test the restoration process to ensure you can recover your files in case of a disaster. 10. Maintain Multiple Copies: For added safety, consider keeping at least one off-site backup (e.g., in a different location or on a cloud service) in addition to your local backup. By following these steps, you'll have a reliable file backup system in place, protecting your valuable data from potential loss.

Step 1. When you use Todo Backup to back up files for the first time, click Create backup on the home screen and then click the large question mark to select backup contents.

Step 2. Since you're going to back up files and folders on your computer, proceed with the "File" backup mode, where you can choose photos, videos, documents, and all other types of files for backup.

Step 3. Navigate to find the files, folders, or directories you want to back up, select them all, and click "OK".

Step 4. Now, you need to select a backup location to save and store the backup.

Step 5. Todo Backup enables users to save backup files to any device that suits your needs, such as a local hard drive, external USB drive, SD card, network drive, NAS drive, or even the brand's cloud drive. We personally recommend selecting the cloud drive over physical drives for storing important backups, due to its better accessibility, flexibility, and security.

To access the Tools Cloud, all you need is an email registration and login.

Step 6. If you're interested in an automatic and intelligent backup schedule for the next file backup task, proceed with the "Options" setting. Here, you can encrypt a confidential file backup, compress the backup image size, or customize a backup scheme to instruct the software on when to initiate the subsequent backup.

Customize an advanced and automated backup task here:

Step 7. Click "Backup Now" to initiate the file backup process. Your completed backup files will be displayed in the left pane in a card view.

The Bottom Line

Throughout this passage, we must know how to stop Word from creating backup files. If you need to turn on Word's creation of backup files again, this passage also serves as a reference. If you are concerned about losing important files once you disable Word's backup file creation, you can utilize Todo Backup tools to compensate for it, as it offers various functions for backing up or recovering your data.

Frequently Asked Questions

**1. What is a Microsoft Word backup document?**

Microsoft Word, the popular word processing software for Windows and macOS, creates backup files with the extension WBK. These files serve as a safety net to recover a document in case it gets accidentally deleted or becomes corrupted. They contain a backup copy of a Word document, typically in DOCX or DOC format.

2. How do I locate my backup files in Word?

By following these steps, you can uncover them:

Step 1. Launch Word.

Step 2. Click "Open" after selecting "File."

Step 3. Navigate to the directory where you saved the file by clicking on "Browse" and selecting it.

Step 4. Change the file type from All Word documents to All Files.

Step 5. The backup file should be accessible.

Step 6. Save the file after opening it.