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Free Image Format ConversionAfter being used for some time, a computer might become slow, accumulate junk files, or even experience system failures.
Resetting your computer to factory settings will not only restore it to the state it was in when you first bought it and picked it up from the store, it can also help resolve system issues and speed up its performance. However, this means that all of the files you have saved on your computer will be deleted.
**How to Save Files Before Restoring Windows 11 to Factory Settings?** Here are 4 solutions to address this issue.
You can click on the Quick Navigation and choose your preferred method.
Saving Files Before Factory Reset using Backup Software - Windows 11/10
The preferred and recommended way is to use a third-party backup software - Todo Backup Home, to create a backup of your Windows PC in advance.
Todo Backup Home is a well-known automatic backup software for Windows 11/10/8/7, equipped with advanced features to help you create backup plans effortlessly.
You can use it to back up the files and app data you want to keep, or even entire disks, and save all copies to an external hard drive, a third-party platform, or the 250GB of free cloud space Acronis offers its users.
After resetting Windows 11 or 10, Todo Backup will quickly restore all your backed-up data. Apart from the above features, the software also boasts:
- Ability to migrate Windows to SSD.
- Create intelligent backup schedules.
- Automatically clone a hard drive as a backup.
- Support for various types of backups.
- 24/7 customer service available.
- Universal Recovery supported.
- Ability to create an ISO image from a hard drive.
Now, let's see how to use the tools to save your files before resetting Windows 11/10.
Step 1. To begin the backup, click on Select what to backup.
There are four types of data to back up: files, disks, operating systems, and email.
< strong > Step 3. On the left, you will see a list of local and network files. Expand the directories to choose the files you wish to back up.
Step 4. Choose where you want to save your backup as indicated on the screen.
Under Backup Options, click Options to encrypt your backup with a password, set a backup schedule, and choose whether to initiate a backup on specific events in the Backup Policy. There are various customizable features for you to explore, and you can adjust the backup operations according to your specific needs.
Step 5. Backups can be stored on a local disk, in Toolbox's cloud service, or on a network-attached storage (NAS) device.
Step 6. Todo Backup by Tools allows users to back up data to a third-party cloud drive or the company's own cloud storage.
If you want to back up your data to a third-party cloud drive, choose "Local Disk", then scroll down to add a cloud device and enter your account information.
Alternatively, you can use Todo Backup's own cloud storage service. Click Todo Cloud, sign up for an account with a Todo Backup account, and log in to your account.
Step 7. To start the backup, select Backup Now. When the backup process is successfully completed, it will appear as a card in the left panel. You can right-click on it for more detailed management of the backup job.
Save Files Before Factory Reset in Windows 11/10 Using File History
Aside from using third-party tools, you can also take advantage of a built-in Windows feature – File History – to back up important files in Windows 11 and Windows 10.
The tutorial is as follows:
Step 1. In the Windows search box, type Backup settings, and then open the Backup settings app.
Step 2. Connect an external hard drive to your Windows PC.
Step 3: Navigate to Back up using File History, and then click the + icon to add a drive.
Step 4: Choose your hard drive, and Windows will automatically back up the contents of your user folder once an hour.
Step 5. Click the “More options” button. You can add more folders to back up or configure advanced backup settings from here.
But does File History back up everything? The answer is no.
While Windows File History can back up common files like pictures, documents, videos, or music, it doesn't back up other elements of your Windows 11, such as system files, personal settings, app data, and so on. If you want to back up files that aren't supported by File History, we recommend using AOMEI Backupper Home for backup.
Saving Files before Factory Resetting Windows 11/10 with OneDrive
Of course, if you prefer to back up your files to the cloud rather than locally, you can also use OneDrive Backup and tools like Todo Backup Home to save your files.
Follow these steps to achieve your goal.
Step 1. Type Backup settings in the Windows search box, and open the Backup settings app.
< strong > Step 2. Go to < strong > Back up your files to OneDrive and click the < strong > Sign in to OneDrive button.
Step 3: A window will appear where you'll need to sign in to OneDrive with your Microsoft account.
Step 4: Then, you can move the files you want to save to the OneDrive folder. It is located on your local disk C, and you can open Windows File Explorer, and find the OneDrive - Personal option on the left pane.
Like Windows File History, OneDrive backs up only common file types and doesn't support more advanced backup scenarios.
How to Reset Windows 11/10 Without Losing Files
In addition to saving your files before resetting Windows 11, you can actually keep them during the reset process.
Here are the steps for you to follow.
Step 1. Search for “Reset” in the Windows search bar, and open the “Reset this PC” app.
Step 2. In the dialog box that appears, navigate to Recover > Reset this PC > Get started.
Step 3: You'll be given two options; select “Keep my files.” This will remove all apps and settings but keep your personal files.
Step 4. Follow the Windows on-screen instructions and click the Reset button to begin the process.
However, the Reset This PC feature is not stable. Many users have encountered the issue of Reset This PC not working. Before you start the resetting process, I still suggest backing up your data in advance with other methods just in case.
Conclusions
How to save files before factory reset on Windows 11? You can find 4 ways to achieve this goal. Among these methods, I recommend you use the offline backup software - Todo Backup Home to create a more comprehensive and intelligent backup solution for your Windows 11. It's not limited to file types but also supports backing up and restoring all data on your computer.
You can read both articles for more tips about Windows backups.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Will resetting Windows 11 remove files?
Yes, resetting Windows 11 will delete all your files. A factory reset will restore your computer to its original state when you first bought it, improving its performance and speed. In other words, it will erase all data, including files, system data, apps, and personal settings.
2. Where were the files saved before the factory reset?
You can save your files in the Windows Backup settings to use them before performing a factory reset. To access the Windows Backup settings, navigate to the "Backup" option, where you can utilize the "File History" feature to save your files or back them up to OneDrive cloud storage.