How to Backup Only New or Changed Files in Windows 10 [2 Ways]

In Windows 10, can I just copy new files to an external hard drive? On this page, you will find two effective methods that can help you easily back up all your important files in full:

Yes, in Windows 10, you can back up only the changed files. This feature is called "incremental backup." It allows you to create a backup that includes only the files that have been modified since your last backup. To set this up, you can use the built-in backup tool called "File History." Here's how to enable and configure File History for incremental backups: 1. Press `Win + I` to open Settings. 2. Click on `Update & Security`. 3. On the left panel, select `Backup`. 4. Under "Back up using File History," click on the `More options` link. 5. In the File History settings window, click on `Turn on` if it's not already enabled. 6. Connect an external hard drive or USB drive to your computer, and select it as the backup location. 7. Click on `Select folders` to choose specific folders you want to back up, or simply leave the default selection for all files and folders in your user directory. 8. Once you've configured your settings, click `Save` to start the initial backup. Subsequent backups will be incremental by default. With File History enabled, it will automatically back up only the changes made to your files, saving time and storage space.

"Hey guys, do you know how to back up only changed files in Windows 10? I'm using the File History feature in Windows 10 to back up my files, but every time I run the backup command, File History copies every file."

How can I back up only the changed files in Windows 10? Please help me out.

Can Windows 10 backup only changed files? Some of you might have the same question about why to create backups of new or changed files on a Windows 10 computer. The answer is yes, but the process is quite complicated.

When performing this task on Windows 10, you can do it in one of the following ways: using a powerful Windows 10 backup software, or the Backup and Restore feature of Windows 10.

The next two methods will provide a step-by-step guide on how to follow along, duplicate the file for learning, and create a backup of your modified file.

?READ NEXT: How to Backup Entire Hard Drive – Windows 10

Method 1: Use Software to Back Up Only New Changes on an External Hard Drive Before starting, make sure the external hard drive is connected to your computer. Here are the steps to back up new or modified files using the free software "tools Todo Backup": 1. **Download and Install the Software**: Visit the [tools Todo Backup website](https://www.tools.com/backup-software/free-backup-software.htm) and download the version suitable for your operating system (Windows or Mac). After installation, launch the program. 2. **Choose Backup Type**: Upon opening the software, you'll see several backup options. Select "File Backup." 3. **Select Source Files**: In the "File Backup" interface, click "Add Source" to choose the new or changed files and folders you want to back up. Browse through your computer's files and folders or directly input the path. 4. **Choose Destination**: Click the "Browse" button and then select your external hard drive as the backup destination. 5. **Set Backup Strategy**: Under the "Backup Scheme" section, choose "Incremental Backup" or "Differential Backup." This will only back up files that have been modified since the last backup. 6. **Create a Schedule**: If you need to schedule regular backups, click "Scheduled Task" and set daily, weekly, or monthly backup plans. 7. **Start the Backup**: Finally, click "Backup Now" to initiate the initial backup. The software will automatically track and only back up newly changed files. 8. **Monitor and Update Backups**: Regularly check the backup status and update backups as needed. tools Todo Backup will automatically identify and only back up new or altered files on the external hard drive. Please note that there are other backup software options available, such as Acronis True Image or AOMEI Backupper. Choose the appropriate software based on your needs and preferences.

For most Windows novices, the smart choice is to use Windows Backup to update and create backups of only the unique files that have changed on a Windows 10 or other version of the operating system PC – things like music, pictures, documents, and videos.

A powerful backup software like Todo Backup can come in handy with its incremental backup feature. This function allows you to back up only the files that have been changed or modified since the last backup, regardless of any backups performed before that. As it deals only with the changes made since the last backup, it requires less time and storage space.

Todo Backup Main Features

• Efficiently backs up only the changed files, such as documents, photos, audio, music, and emails.
• Backs up the Windows operating system, disk partitions, and even clones disks.
• Compresses backup images to take up less storage space on your computer or external hard drive.

What are you waiting for? Download it now and start saving time and energy!

Tutorial: How to Use Todo Backup to Sync Only Changes or New Files to an External Hard Drive

⏰ Important Reminder: Before you begin, make sure to format the external hard drive and connect it to your computer. Follow these steps next:

Step 1: Tap on the Select Backup Content button to start the backup process.

Step 2. There are four types of data you can back up: files, disks, systems, and email. Click on Files.

Step 3: Both your local and network files are listed on the left-hand side, in folders that you can expand to select the files you want to back up.

Step 4. Follow the on-screen instructions to choose where you want to save your backup.

Click on "Options" to set a password for encrypted backups under "Backup Options", schedule your backups with "Backup Schedule", and choose to start a backup upon specific events. You can also explore many other options to customize your backup job as needed.

Step 5: You can save the backup to a local drive, the tool's cloud service, or a NAS.

Step 6. Todo Backup lets you back up your data to third-party cloud storage services as well as its own.

If you want to back up to a third-party cloud, choose “Local Disk,” then scroll down and add and log in to your cloud device account.

You can also choose to use the cloud storage space provided by the tool itself. Click "Tool Cloud" and log in with your tool account.

Step 7. Click on "Backup Now" to start the backup process. When it's done, it will display as a card on the left panel. Right-click on the backup task for further management.

After that, the Todo Backup tool will automatically back up any files that have changed since the first full backup of your Windows 10 system. You won't have to do anything else.

Method 2: Back up only the files that have changed or been added in Windows 10

The other way is to use the built-in Windows tool – Backup and Restore (Windows 7) to create a scheduled backup.

By doing so, you can also manually sync newly added or updated files. Since the process is a bit complicated, follow along carefully and try this method:

Step one: Connect an external hard drive with enough capacity to your computer.

Step 2. Press the Windows key + S, type Control Panel in the search box, and click to open Control Panel.

Step 2: Click on "Backup and Restore (Windows 7)" to open it.

Step 3. In the right pane, click Set up backup.
Step 4. Select the external hard drive where you want to save your backups, and then click Next.

Step 5: Choose which files to back up.

You can stick with the defaults for Windows, or you can choose your own.

Step 6. In the Set Up Backup window, select Back up items automatically (schedule backup), set the schedule, and click OK.

Here, you set up a backup schedule, indicating how often backups should occur and on which days of the week new backups should be made, so that changes to files are incorporated into the next backup.

Step 7: Click on "Save settings and run backup".

Now, according to your schedule, it will add any files that have been modified since the last backup, along with any new files, to the backup.

In short

On this page, we collect two reliable methods to help you back up important Windows 10 files with the latest changes. For your convenience, it is recommended that you try the Todo Backup tool. It's secure and reliable.

Frequently Asked Questions about Backing Up Only New or Changed Files in Windows 10

Does File History only back up files that have been modified?

No, it only provides basic backup features for basic backup needs. It can only perform incremental backups for updated files, while file history does not offer this function. You can use professional backup software like Todo Backup to back up only the changed files.

What's the difference between File History and Backup in Windows 10?

While File History and Backup in Windows 10 serve similar purposes, they go about it differently. File History mainly focuses on storing multiple versions of your personal files, like documents, photos, and videos. Backup and Restore, on the other hand, is a more comprehensive system backup that includes specific files, system files, and system settings.

What's the difference between incremental and differential backups?

Incremental backup and differential backup are two distinct backup methods:

Incremental backup: This approach backs up only the files that have changed or been updated since the last backup, regardless of previous backups. Because it deals only with changes made since the last backup, it takes less time and uses less storage space. However, during recovery, it requires access to multiple backup sets.

A differential backup captures all files that have changed or been modified since the last full backup. It collects these changes in each subsequent differential backup. Although it takes longer and consumes more storage space than incremental backups, the recovery process is simpler, requiring only the most recent full backup and the most recent differential backup.