Backup Windows 11 to External Hard Drive [3-Minute Guide]

Are you also struggling to find a solution to back up Windows 11 to an external hard drive? Don't worry; this ultimate guide presents three viable options to help you quickly and easily save your Windows 11 data to an external device.

It's important to regularly back up the contents of your computer's main hard drive, including all files and folders, to an external hard drive or the cloud. On a computer running Windows 11, there are several ways you can back up your data to an external hard drive. We recommend following the "3-2-1 backup rule" (also known as the "3-2-1 backup rule"), which means you should keep three copies of your files, with two of those copies stored on different external media (hard drives, cloud), and one copy kept offsite.

Three Ways to Back Up Windows 11 to an External Drive

You can use built-in Windows tools or reliable third-party backup software. Below, we list three methods you can use to back up your files to an external hard drive in Windows 11 and compare their level of difficulty and effectiveness. Check the table below before making your final decision.

Method 1: Backup Windows 11 to External Hard Drive with Backup Software

The backup and restore feature in Windows 11 can cater to your immediate needs for data backup and recovery. However, it lacks differential backup capabilities and cannot back up your system. You can opt for a third-party tool like Todo Backup as an alternative to the built-in Windows utility for better data protection. This is a professional backup software that enables you to perform disk partition and cloning in Windows 11, as well as create system images, disk, file, and partition backups.

In addition, it includes many other features that are not found in “Backup and Restore,” such as:

• Differential Backup vs Incremental Backup: Save time and storage space by backing up only the files that have been updated or added.
• Scheduled Backups: Automatically back up your files according to a schedule you set previously.
• Pause and Resume: You can temporarily pause the backup process and resume it later.
• Backup Options: Allow you to split backup images into smaller files and compress them.
• Cloud Backup: Supports backing up cloud data using Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive.

Download it now and start backing up your Windows 11 installations.

Follow these steps, and you will learn how to use it.

Step 1: Launch Todo Backup, and on the home screen, select “Create Backup” and then click “Select backup content”.

Create System Backup Step 1

Step 2: Tap on System to start the backup process.

Step 3: The system partition will be selected automatically, you just have to choose the location.

Step 4. You can choose to save the backup file on your local disk, in the cloud, or on a NAS. You can also connect an external hard drive to save your system backup.

Step 5: You can customize the settings in the “Options” on the bottom left. Then, click on “Backup Now” to start the backup process.

* After the backup is complete, you can right-click on the backup task on the left to check its status, recover, open, or delete the backup.

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How to Back Up a Laptop to an External Hard Drive on Windows 10/11

In this article, we will provide a complete guide on how to back up your laptop to an external hard drive on Windows 10/11. We recommend using Todo Backup, as it is user-friendly and compatible with Windows 10/11.

Method 2: Back up Windows 11 to an external drive with Backup and Restore

Backup and Restore can back up your desktop, your main Windows folders, and data files stored in libraries. It can also create a system image that backs up your entire system, including the operating system, programs, and settings.

Windows 11 does not offer an option to back up to an external hard drive; it only offers backup to OneDrive.

Follow these steps to back up your PC to an external hard drive on Windows 11: 1. First, ensure that the external hard drive is connected to your Windows 11 computer and that the system recognizes it. 2. Open Settings: Click the Windows icon in the taskbar, then select the Gear icon. 3. In the Settings window, choose "Update & Security." 4. On the left-hand menu, click on "Backup." 5. On the Backup page, you'll see an "Add drive" button. Click on it. 6. The system will scan and display available external hard drives. Select the one you want to use for backup, and then click "Back up now" to initiate the backup process. 7. Depending on the amount of data you're backing up, this may take some time. You can choose to have Windows 11 create a system image, which includes the entire operating system and all settings for recovery when needed. 8. For regular backups, turn on "More options." Here, you can set the frequency and schedule for automatic backups. 9. Once your settings are complete, your PC will automatically back up to the external hard drive according to the chosen plan. Remember to periodically check your backups to ensure your data is up to date. Please note that if you haven't used Windows' backup feature before, you might need to set up some initial options, such as selecting which folders and content to back up. Wish you a smooth backup experience!

Step 1: Under “System and Security” in Control Panel, choose “Backup and Restore.” The Control Panel is still in the old Windows 7 style.

Step 2: Tap Settings Backup under Backup.

If prompted for an administrator password, type it.

Step 4: Click “Let Windows choose (recommended)” and then “Next.” This will back up your user files, including libraries, the desktop, and files in default Windows folders.

Let Windows Choose

Step 5: Click the “Save Settings” button and run the backup.

If you've lost any files, you can try to recover them by following these steps:

Step 1: Go to Settings, then choose Backup and Restore, and then click Update and Security.

Step 3. To select the folders you want to restore from the backup, click on the "Browse Folders" button. After selecting the folders, click "Next" to start the restoration process.

• Browse for files: Click "Add File" to add the file you want to recover. • Browse for folders: Click "Add Folder" to add the folder you want to recover. • Search for added files: Directly search for the file or folder you want to add.

?You may also like: Create a System Image of Windows 11 on USB | Backup Windows 11 to USB

Method 3: Back Up Windows 11 to an External Drive with File History

The third method is to use the “File History” feature in Windows 11 to back up your files. It periodically backs up files in your Desktop, Documents, Music, Pictures, and Videos folders, so you'll have multiple copies. If the original files go missing, get corrupted, or are deleted, you can restore them. Here's how:

Step one: Connect an external drive, then open the Backup Options window under Settings > System and click on “More options.” From there, click “Advanced settings,” then under “Use File History,” choose “Add a drive.”

Step 2: Click “Turn on” to enable the “Automatically back up my files” option.

Step 3: From there, you can choose “More options” to set how often, how long, and what types of files you want File History to back up.

• Backup my files: By default, File History backs up your files every hour, but you can adjust this setting. You have several options to choose from, ranging from every 10 minutes to once every 24 hours.
• Keep my backups: By default, this option is set to keep backups indefinitely, but you can adjust it to retain backups for one to two months before deletion.
• Backup these folders: Click on "Add a folder" to include more folders in the backup by browsing through the full list of folders in this window. Additionally, you can select a folder here and click on "Delete" to prevent Windows from backing up that particular folder.

Step 4: Once you've set it up, save and exit. Then choose “Back up now.” Windows 11 will automatically back up your files whenever you connect the hard drive to your computer.

Bonus Tip: How to Use File History to Restore a Backup

You can restore files from an external disk by using File History with these steps:

Step 1: Return to the File History window, and click the option at the bottom labeled Restore files from a current backup.

Step 2. Use the left or right arrows below to find the version of the file you want to restore. You can also use the search bar to browse your files.

Step 3: Choose Restore from the menu, or click the Gear icon and select Restore To.

❤️Hint:

Please press the Restore option below to return to your previous position. Tap the Gear icon, select "Restore To," and choose the new location to which you wish to restore.

A Comprehensive Comparison of Three Backup Solutions

1️⃣Windows 11 Backup Software

As mentioned above, the built-in backup scheme of Windows 11 doesn't offer users much option to control what directories are backed up. What if you want to back up directories other than those listed above? In this case, it is recommended to use a third-party tool like Todo Backup.

One standout feature of Todo Backup is the ability to include any folder in your backup plans. Additionally, you can back up files to a network drive, cloud storage, external drive, or local drive. In short, it's more powerful and flexible than the built-in backup apps, allowing users to fully customize their file backup plans.

2️⃣Windows 11 Backup and Recovery

The second method is to use the built-in Windows 11 Backup and Restore settings to back up and restore files. Scheduled backups of data files saved in Libraries, the desktop, and the main Windows folders are offered. You can also create a full system backup image, including the operating system, programs, and settings.

3️⃣Windows 11 File History

The third way is to use Windows 11's File History feature to back up your files. It will frequently back up files in your desktop, documents, music, pictures, and videos folders. Eventually, you'll have multiple copies of your files, which you can restore if the originals go missing, become damaged, or are deleted.

wrapping up

In this article, we discussed the methods to back up Windows 11 to an external hard drive. We mentioned three simple solutions and recommended the best one: the Todo Backup tool. It is a software that fulfills all backup needs with ease and offers scheduled automatic backups. So, download it now and start backing up and restoring your important data without any delay.

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

If you're still unsure, read more questions and answers to get a deeper understanding.

Does Windows 11 have a backup feature? Yes, Windows 11 includes a built-in backup utility. This feature is called "File History," which can regularly back up your personal files and folders to an external hard drive or other storage device. In addition, Windows 11 offers a System Image Backup option, allowing you to create a backup of your entire system. To access these backup settings, follow these steps: 1. Open "Settings" (by clicking the gear icon on the taskbar or pressing the `Win + I` keyboard shortcut). 2. In the Settings window, click on "Update & Security" (Update & Security). 3. On the left menu, select "Backup" (Backup). 4. On the "Backup" page, you'll see the "File History" option. If an external storage device is connected, you can enable and configure it to back up your files. 5. To create a System Image Backup, you'll need to use the "Control Panel." Search for "Control Panel" in the search bar and open it. Within Control Panel, search for "Create a system image" and follow the wizard's instructions. Keep in mind that in addition to the built-in backup tools, you can also use third-party backup software for more advanced needs.

In Windows 11, you can use the built-in "Backup and Restore" and "File History" features for backing up your data. Additionally, you can utilize OneDrive or third-party software for backup purposes.

What's changing with Windows Backup in Windows 11?

While Windows 11 still includes backup and restore tools that can save a system image of your entire setup to external storage, you can also use any number of third-party local and cloud solutions at any time.

3. How can I back up everything on my computer to an external hard drive?

To back up your PC to an external hard drive, use File History. To access your backups, go to Start, click Settings, then click Update & Security, and then Backup. After you add a drive, choose the external drive or network location you want to back up to.