"Windows 11 Backup Options Not Found? Your Ultimate Guide is Here"

The latest Windows 11 comes equipped with numerous new and existing backup options, enabling users to effortlessly create backups and restore previous ones. However, many Windows 11 users are currently encountering difficulties accessing the backup features. Affected users report that certain backup options are absent from their systems, preventing them from utilizing these functions. For some, the "File History" option is missing from the "Back up using File History" section, as illustrated in the image below.

Rumors suggest that Microsoft has relocated certain backup functionalities within other sections and tabs. The reasoning behind this could be varied, but the current concern is how to restore the missing backup options on your Windows 11 PC. If you're also experiencing this absence on your Windows 11 device, I have some potential workarounds to retrieve them. I've compiled a detailed guide that encompasses all the tried and tested methods to help you address the issue of missing backup options in Windows 11.

Windows 11 Backup Options Missing, What Could Happen

The new Windows 11 offers several backup choices, enabling you to effortlessly create backups and restore previous ones. Here's an overview of the backup options available in Windows 11: < a href="/backup-recovery/windows-11-backup-and-restore.html">Windows 11 Backup and Restore (Windows 7)  is a useful backup feature in Windows 11 that allows you to generate new Windows backups. With this feature, you can also restore earlier Windows backups.

In addition to this, the "File History" feature allows you to save all versions of your Windows system files and folders, enabling you to restore them at a later time. You can utilize the built-in backup functionalities to create and store all your Windows system backups on an external drive.

Microsoft has introduced new backup options in the latest version of Windows 11. Now, users have the option to store their backups in cloud storage services such as OneDrive or Google Drive. Numerous Windows backup utilities are available that enable you to create regular and automated backups of your system files and folders.

What Will Happen If Windows 11 Backup Options Are Missing

You can encounter diverse consequences due to the absence of backup options. For example, without the File History feature, it would be difficult to maintain a record of all versions of system files and store them for future use.

You can encounter various problems without having some backup options.

• Unable to Create Backup for Windows 11 Essentials
• Cannot Rapidly Restore Windows 11 Backup
• Unable to Recover from Virus Infection, System Crash, or Disk Failure Issues
• System Data Remains Vulnerable
• Inability to Create System Image

Don't worry! Stay relaxed, as I've got the solution for you. I've discovered some proven methods to restore missing backup options on your Windows 11 PC. Simply follow this guide to seamlessly fix the issue of missing backup options in Windows 11.

How to Solve the Missing Windows 11 Backup Options Yourself

Resolving the issue of missing Windows 11 backup options is relatively straightforward, and you can fix it yourself. This section will guide you on how to make the missing Windows 11 backup options reappear. Therefore, follow the steps below to learn more.

• #1. Backup Windows 11 Essentials
• #2. Solve and Repair Missing Windows 11 Backup Options Error

#1. Backup Windows 11 Essentials

If certain backup options are missing on your Windows 11 PC, I often recommend turning to a third-party backup utility. Backup software is a superior choice for creating new backups and retaining them for future needs. It's generally advised to utilize third-party backup tools due to several valid reasons. Backup utilities are professional yet user-friendly, making it effortless to create backups. They are fully automated and equipped with all the necessary features.

Among all third-party backup tools, we highly recommend selecting the Todo Backup Home. Todo Backup is an excellent choice for creating backups of your Windows 11 PC and restoring them effortlessly whenever and wherever needed. There are several valid reasons for preferring this tool over others. For example, it quickly generates a Windows system image without any errors.

I truly appreciated Todo Backup tool's capability to create backups without any data loss. This utility also offers a generous 250GB of free cloud storage to safely keep your backups for decades without worrying about storage limitations. What more could you ask for? You can download the Todo Backup tool and refer to the following guide to learn how to utilize it effectively.

Step 1. On the main page, click "Select backup contents".

Step 2. Click on OS among the four available categories.

Step 3. Todo Backup will automatically select your system partition. You just need to choose a backup destination.

Step 4. You can save the backup file to either your Local Drive or NAS.

Step 5. Once the backup process is complete, you can check the backup status, recover, open, or delete the backup by right-clicking the backup task on the left panel.

#2. Address and Resolve the Missing Windows 11 Backup Options Error

Before attempting the solutions below, it's crucial to identify which backup option is missing from your Windows 11 PC. Once you've determined that, proceed with the guide below to fix the issue and restore the backup functionality.

1. Resolve Missing Windows 11 Backup and Restore Feature

If the Backup and Restore feature (from Windows 7) is missing from your Windows 11 system, follow the steps outlined below carefully to restore it.

Solution #1. Enable Volume Shadow Copy

One solution to resolve the missing Backup and Restore issue is to ensure that the Volume Shadow Copy service is enabled. Follow the steps below to activate it: 1. Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box. 2. Type "services.msc" in the dialog box and press Enter. This will open the Services Manager. 3. In the Services Manager window, scroll down and locate the "Volume Shadow Copy" service. 4. Right-click on "Volume Shadow Copy" and select "Properties" from the context menu. 5. In the "Volume Shadow Copy Properties" window, under the "General" tab, ensure that the "Startup type" is set to "Automatic" or "Manual." 6. If it's not running, click on the "Start" button to start the service. 7. Finally, click on "Apply" and then "OK" to save the changes. After completing these steps, the Volume Shadow Copy service should be enabled, which might help restore the Backup and Restore feature.

Step 1. Press "Win + R" to open the "Run" program. Then type Services.msc in the search bar.

Step 2. Search for "Volume Shadow Copy" in the Services tab.

Step 3. Right-click on "Volume Shadow Copy" and select "Properties."

Step 4. If the service is running, the Start button will be disabled. If not, click "Start" to activate the "Volume Shadow Copy" service.

Step 5. Finally, click on "Apply" and close the window.

Solution #2: Use the chkdsk Command

It's possible that your hard disk contains some errors which caused this issue. You can resolve all disk errors by running a command in the Command Prompt.

Step 1. Open the Command Prompt with administrator privileges.

Step 2. Copy and then paste the mentioned command into the console:

Step 3. Press the "Enter" key, then type Y to initiate the scanning process.

Step 4. After the scanning process is complete, restart your system and check if the "Backup and Restore" option has returned.

Solution #3: Disable System Protection

System Protection could also be the root cause of this issue. Therefore, you can attempt to disable this feature to check if the missing options reappear. Follow the steps below to disable System Protection: 1. Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box. 2. Type "sysdm.cpl" in the Run dialog box and press Enter to open the System Properties. 3. In the System Properties window, click on the "System Protection" tab. 4. Under the System Protection section, select the drive for which you want to disable System Protection (usually the C: drive). 5. Click on the "Configure" button. 6. In the System Protection window, select "Turn off system protection" or "Disable system protection" (depending on the version of Windows you have). 7. Click "Apply" and then "OK" to save the changes. 8. Restart your computer and check if the missing options are now accessible. If the issue persists after disabling System Protection, it might be due to another factor, and further troubleshooting may be required.

Step 1. Open the Control Panel and navigate to the "System and Security" section.

Step 2. Next, navigate to the "System" tab. From there, choose "System Protection."

Step 3. Click on the "Configure" option. Lastly, select "Restore Settings" to "Disable system protection."

Step 4. Click on "Apply," and then "OK."

2. Resolve the Missing File History Issue in Windows 11

Numerous users have reported that the File History feature is absent on their Windows 11 computers. If you're encountering the same problem, you can implement the solutions below to resolve it.

Solution #1. Enable the File History Service

The Windows File History service plays a vital role in the proper operation of the File History backup feature. It's crucial to make sure this service is enabled. Follow these steps to verify and activate the File History service: 1. Press the "Windows key + R" on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box. 2. Type "services.msc" in the dialog box and press Enter. This will open the Services Manager. 3. In the Services Manager window, scroll down the list until you find "File History Service" or "Windows Search" (as it's also referred to). 4. Double-click on "File History Service" to open its Properties. 5. In the Properties window, under the "General" tab, check the "Startup type." If it's set to "Disabled," change it to "Automatic" or "Manual." 6. If the service is not running, click on the "Start" button to start the File History Service. 7. Click "Apply" and then "OK" to save the changes. After following these steps, the File History service should be enabled, allowing you to use the File History backup feature effectively.

Step 1. Open the Services app. Search for "File History Service" in the Services tab.

Step 2. Double-click on "File History Service" to open its properties.

Step 3. Click the "Start" button to initiate the "File History" service.

Step 4. Finally, set the "Start Type" option to "Automatic (Delayed Start)."

Step 5. Finally, click on "Apply" to save all the settings.

Solution #2: Enable the File History Option

If the File History backup feature is absent, it could be that the File History setting is disabled on your Windows 11 system. You need to enable the File History option by following these steps:

Step 1. Firstly, press the "Windows" key and type File History in the Windows Search Bar.

Step 2. Next, open the File History settings from the Search Results.

Step 3. Next, click on "Turn on" to activate the "File History" feature on your computer.

Step 4. Finally, restart your PC and verify if the File History backup option is now available in its designated location.

Solution #3. Format the Drive

If there are any issues with the hard drive, that could also lead to this problem. In such a scenario, we recommend formatting the hard drive to address all issues simultaneously. Follow me to do the same.

Step 1. Firstly, open the "This PC" application. From the left navigation pane, select the external hard drive and right-click on it.

Step 2. Next, click on the "Format" option and then choose "Quick Format" from the available options.

Step 3. Finally, click the "Start" button to initiate the formatting process.

Step 4. After the process is finished, restart your PC and check the status of the issue.

Solution #4. Execute the SFC Scan Command

The System File Checker (SFC) Scan command is designed to detect and promptly fix any system errors. To repair or replace corrupted files within seconds, follow these steps:

Step 1. Run the Command Prompt with administrator privileges.

Step 2. Copy and then paste the mentioned command in CMD:

Step 3. Press the "Enter" key and wait for a while to initiate the scanning process. After it's completed, restart your system and examine the status of the issue.

How to Automatically Backup Files to an External Hard Drive on Windows 11

Creating backups manually in Windows 11 can be a tedious and time-consuming task. That's why it's always advisable to set up automatic system backup plans. In this section, I'll describe two different methods to create automatic system backups. Let's delve into the details to learn more about them.

1. Automatically Back Up Files to External Hard Drive with Todo Backup Tool

One way to automatically create backups and store them directly on an external hard drive is by using a third-party backup tool. You can utilize the Todo Backup tool to perform Windows 11 automatic backup.

It includes a Basic Backup Scheduling function that allows you to create a backup plan tailored to your requirements. You can decide whether the new update should be produced daily, weekly, or monthly. Creating backups with Todo Backup is quite straightforward. Initially, you need to choose the Windows 11 content to back up and specify the save location. Lastly, you must decide whether the backup should be incremental or differential. After confirming all the settings, it will automatically generate backups.

Step 1. To begin the backup process, click on Select backup contents.

Step 2. There are four data backup categories: File, Disk, OS, and Mail.

Step 3. On the left-hand side, you'll see a list of local and network files. Expand the directory to select the files to be backed up.

Step 4. Follow the on-screen instructions and select the location where you want to save the backup.

In the Backup Options section, click Options to enable password encryption for the backup, set the backup schedule, and decide whether to initiate the backup at a particular event under Backup Scheme. A range of customizable features are available for you to explore, allowing you to tailor the backup process according to your specific needs.

Step 5. Backups can be stored on a local disk, in the tool's cloud service, or on a network-attached storage (NAS) device.

Step 6. Todo Backup enables users to back up their 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 Drive, scroll down to add Cloud Device, and enter your account information.

You can also use the tool's built-in cloud storage service. Click on Tool Cloud, create an account using your Tool Account, and then log in to your account.

Step 7. To initiate a backup, select Backup Now. Once the backup process is successfully completed, it will be displayed as a card on the left-hand panel. For more detailed management of the backup job, right-click on it.

2. Configure Automatic Backup Plan for Windows 11 Data to External Hard Drive/USB

Windows 11 offers numerous backup options, including File History and Backup and Restore. You can utilize any of these options to establish an automatic backup plan on your Windows 11 PC. In this section, I will illustrate how to set up an automatic backup plan using the Backup & Restore feature.

Step 1. First, open the "Control Panel" on your PC.

Step 2. Click on "Backup and Restore (Windows 7)" under "System and Security."

Step 3. Next, click on the "Change settings" option and select the external hard disk connected to your system to save the backup content.

Step 4. Now, click on the "Next" button.

Step 5. After that, click on the "Let me choose" option and then click "Next."

Step 6. On the next screen, choose the files and folders that you want the system to automatically back up at a specified interval.

Step 7. Click on "Next."

Step 8. Click on the "Change schedule" option and select the desired time frame from the provided options.

Step 9. Finally, click "OK"  and then "Set settings and run backup."

Step 10. That's it. Your system will now automatically back up your Windows 11 content based on your saved settings.

To conclude

Backup options are an essential component of the new Windows 11. They significantly simplify and streamline the backup process. However, many users encounter an unfortunate situation where these backup features are not available on their Windows 11 PCs, resulting in the inability to backup their data and files periodically. We understand that you are facing a similar issue, and hence, in this article, we have provided some effective solutions to resolve it. Make sure to try the methods mentioned above to overcome the frustrating problem of missing Windows 11 backup options. Additionally, we recommend using third-party tools like Todo Backup to ensure extra care for your data.

Frequently Asked Questions About Backing Up Windows 11 to an External Hard Drive

Got some doubts about today's topic? Don't worry! I've addressed some frequently asked questions concerning how to create Windows 11 backups on an external hard drive. Use this section to clarify any lingering queries swirling in your mind.

1. Does Windows 11 Have a Built-in Backup Program?

Windows 11 does not have a standalone application for backing up its content. However, it includes built-in backup features such as Backup and Restore (Windows 7) which can be utilized to easily create backups of your Windows 11 data.

2. Where Can I Find the Backup Option in Windows 11?

Follow these steps to access all the backup options on your Windows 11 PC:

1. Step 1. Firstly, open the "Settings" app and navigate to the "Storage" section.
2. Step 2. In the "Storage" section, tap on the "Advanced Backup" options.
3. Step 3. In the next window, you will see all the available backup options. You can customize these backup settings as per your needs.

3. How to Restore Backup Files from External Hard Drive to Windows 10?

Restoring backup files from an external hard drive is a relatively simple process. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do it: 1. **Connect the External Hard Drive**: Plug the external hard drive into your computer using the appropriate USB cable or adapter. Ensure that it is powered on and recognized by your system. 2. **Access Backup Software**: Depending on the backup method you used, open the corresponding backup software. If you've been using a built-in backup utility like Windows Backup (on Windows) or Time Machine (on macOS), launch the respective application. 3. **Select Backup Source**: In the backup software, locate the option to choose the source of the backup. This might be labeled as "Select Backup," "Choose Disk," or something similar. Browse and select the external hard drive where your backups are stored. 4. **Initiate Restore Process**: Once the backup source is selected, look for an option to initiate the restore process. It could be called "Restore Backup," "Recover Files," or "Restore from Backup." Click on it. 5. **Choose Backup Version**: You may be prompted to choose the specific backup version you want to restore. Select the one that corresponds to the point in time when you need to recover your data. 6. **Select Files/Folders**: Now, browse through the backup content and choose the files or folders you wish to restore. You can usually tick checkboxes next to each item or use search functionality to find specific files. 7. **Confirm & Restore**: Before proceeding, review your selection to ensure you're restoring the correct data. Then, click on the "Restore" or "Confirm" button to start the process. The time it takes to complete the restore will depend on the size of the files and your computer's speed. 8. **Wait for Completion**: Do not disconnect the external hard drive or turn off your computer during the restore process. Wait until the software indicates that the restoration is complete. 9. **Verify Data**: After the restore, check the restored files and folders to make sure everything has been successfully retrieved. If needed, move them to their original locations on your computer. Remember, always have a recent backup of your important data to avoid potential data loss.

1. Step 1. Firstly, connect the external drive containing the backup files to your Windows 11 system.
2. Step 2. Then, open the Control Panel and select the "Backup and Restore (Windows 7)" option.
3. Step 3. After that, choose the "Select another backup to restore files from" option and select the external hard drive connected to your system.
4. Step 4. Lastly, follow the on-screen instructions to complete the remaining process and restore the previous Windows backup.