Windows 11: Create full backup to external USB drive and restore (2025)

[@Pureinfotech]

🚨 Note: Although I mentioned in the video "USB hard drive," not USB flash drive. It's important you use a "USB hard drive" (the big storage drive) since USB flash drives (those little thumb drives) are not compatible. Among the reasons, they are slow and not reliable for this task.

[@christiannielsen3863]

The "backup and restore" feature in control panel specificly asks for a USB Flash drive. Why not use that feature?

[@jetw9522]

Hi Mauro, Thank you for creating such a wonderful video. I love how clearly you explained everything. May I have some advice from you? I recently got a new computer and have already created many files and installed many software. I've used 270 GB of my 1TB Win-SSD. It's time to back up. I plan to perform System Image backups once in a while and File History backups more frequently. However, I'm unsure whether I should use the same external hard drive for both types of backups-my instinct tells me not to. What would you recommend? I only have one 2T external hard drive at hand at the moment, and I want to do the backup now. If I should perform System Image and File History backups on separate external hard drives, which type of backup should I do first? Thank you in advance!

[@joegrst]

Thank you so much. No unnecessary information, a quick and straight to the point guideline, and showing us how to both install on the same drive and a new one in case of an upgrade. I'm saving this for the next few years to come. Great work.

[@Pureinfotech]

Thank you so much for your feedback. Mauro

[@patricklowe4886]

Like everyone who has commented before me, I say this is an excellent demonstration; "straight to the point, clear and crisp, short and sweet" All true. Thank you.

[@racketyjack]

Wow! Thank you man. No fluff, just straight to the point. Simple too. Awesome!

[@addisonroux4417]

Straight to the point with great, clear instructions. Thank you so much!

[@edgarsi]

after entering control panel you could just click Back Up and Restore without going around through the File History, but great video and clear explanation! thank you!

[@jdarryls1]

Thank you for this video, I was struggling to find an option to back up my laptop. Everything I was finding was telling me how to back up windows 11 to OneDrive. I wanted to back up to an external drive. And thanks to your video I have been able to do so.

[@Pureinfotech]

Glad it worked out for you!

[@MsVanilley]

love myself a short and sweet explanation video. Thanks!

[@talesbyciel]

Straight to the point & highlighted something I would've missed towards the end! Thank you sir!

[@slay3rsaber]

I've used it looong time ago in windows 7. It works, it is simple and free.

[@beeniegti]

Thank you, my guy. This video has been nothing but awesome and extremely helpful. I love you. I appreciate you and GOD BLESS you.

[@Pureinfotech]

God bless you too. I'm glad the tutorial helped you out.

[@nicolelin6117]

The best guide I've come across so far. Thank you!

[@johnella2883]

Thank you for that! I appreciate the latest information for backing up files. (2022-23).

[@JasonSpitzMI50]

Thanks so much, now I have Win 11 backed up on external hard drive 😉

[@JasonSpitzMI50]

@@Nala_1230 Windows 11 created a OS image backup and I backed up the PC by enabling a scheduled backup. Oh once you install Windows 11 Microsoft won't let you reinstall or go back to Windows 10 using that same internal hard drive.

[@CantTreadOnMe]

Im so damm confused man. My gaming laptop is acting all weird and slow amd startup and its getting worse and black screening. Im so cnfused, what should I do? Make a recovery drive or a backup drive? Also what the hell is safe mode? Im so confused Ive wat hed videos all week and all this stuff is too mich for me to grasp. Im too stupid to fix my computer.

[@JasonSpitzMI50]

@@CantTreadOnMe Don't say you're stupid, just think of it as being misinformed. I would reset the computer back to factory settings. There will be a box on your home screen showing most if not all the programs that was removed during the reset. Or you can run your Windows Troubleshooter and location or fix incompatible program issues. I'm leaning toward a incompatibility issue.

[@CantTreadOnMe]

@@JasonSpitzMI50 Thanks man ill look into that. Im probably just gonna do a complete reset which seems like the easiest option. All this other troubleshooting stuff is too confusing for me. Will it wipe my nvidia and intel drivers so I can do clean installations of them?

[@JasonSpitzMI50]

@@CantTreadOnMe It depends on how you got them set up. But if you do a reset you can always add what was removed back to your system one by one. I would recommend if you do a system reset is to see which one that's acting incompatible with your operating system. Are you running Windows 11?

[@junaidsiddiqui6928]

Very straightforward and crisp. Love it!

[@oldcynic6964]

My only criticism is the tiny screen shots, displayed against a huge blue background. See around 3:00 for an example. Very hard to read for an old man, especially as the images are displayed only for one or two seconds at a time. What I find interesting is that the video shows how easy it is to restore an image if you can get into the computer, but actually creating a bootable USB drive - which you would need if the operating system gets corrupted or hit by ransome-ware - seems to be horribly difficult. I tried answering "Yes" to the question "Do you want to create a system repair disk?". Windows then complained because I did not have a DVD burner ! Seriously, how many laptops sold these days have DVD disk drives? Fewer than 1%, if any, I suspect. So, if Mr Pureinfotech can do a follow-up video, showing how easily make a bootable USB for my laptop, I would be very appreciative,

[@chipcobb3779]

Short and sweet. A very clear guide.

[@revit4909]

NICE, you never know when your micro ssd will go out, this is essential

[@jumkenori782]

Thank you very much sir Love from Arunachal Pradesh,India 🇮🇳

[@sannanuzair9482]

Can you make a tutorial on "How we reset Windows 11 without losing data".

[@khushigouda8899]

What is shown in the video if we do that then the movies and pics will also go in the pendrive? Cause I don't wanna do that? Please respond if u know

[@Ballacka69]

@@khushigouda8899 yes

[@griqs]

THANK YOUUUUUUU, this was great. I ran into a weird issue at one point about it couldn't create backup bc of the EPS being in use somehow but tried it again and it went through with no problem.

[@jdevoz]

Excellent, thanks so much. Windows 11 is sorely missing its "timemachine" analogous application, makes me want to switch back just for timemachine.

[@johnestevez2493]

WOW, very clear and helpful instructions. Thank you sir.

[@ungurunelu13]

very valuable info, very well presented! many thanks!

[@janicestevenson7109]

I am in the middle of going back to windows 10. I HATED windows 11! I am lucky I had another computer to watch your video while I was listening to you, One thing though-I didn't get the same prompts or pages you did, so I hope this works. I will let you know, Of course, I was beyond 10 days, Thanks, I hope this works.

[@voldefeu1]

I assume that since this is to restore a backup image, if your new storage device is larger than that of the original image, the drive will have a partition the size of the original image on it and then a separate partition for the rest of the storage space on the disk once this process is complete. Another thing to keep in mind is that you will not be able to restore to a storage device that is smaller than the one used for the original image. Please correct me if things have changed.

[@FlorinSirbu.]

Hi, I am new to this and is a learning curve for me, I have got a new laptop and I want to create a backup image for Windows 11 and, I am not too sure what the USB size should I use? I've got a 128 GB, would that be enough? Regards, Florin

[@qutiephoebe2154]

Great Vid. For me, I created a system image last April 2023 and want to use that to restore my windows 11, during the @2:45, it would ask for a system repair disc. I dont have a CD drive. :/

[@ricardoherrera8662]

Clear and to the point. On my new laptop, performing the first backup, I received a message - drive C encrypted, backup location will not be encrypted, What does this mean? It would seem that now that CD/DVD disk drives have disappeared from most laptops, the first option for a bootable disc should be a USB stick.

[@Peter-James66]

Your wrong! A System Image Backup only backs up your system of whatever Windows OS you have, it does not backup your private files, folders, music, movies. For that you have to go to 'Back up and Restore' and it will back up everything eg; files in libraries and personal folders for all users and system image.

[@Pureinfotech]

Nope, you're confusing the system state with the image backup.

[@jpromano_]

This is by far the best video I’ve seen. However up until the last step windows asks me for a DVD recovery disk or to create one, since I don’t have a DVD/RW DRIVE the system cancels my process. Any ideas as to why this is happening?

[@Redditrealm-k5c]

I am facing the same issue did you find a solution?

[@ianpinkerton2136]

Very helpful and clear instructions. Thank you

[@karimvaliani4969]

Great Very shot tutorial Helpful Thanks 🙏

[@shenaycrawford8701]

Nice - thank you so much -- very helpful.

[@Evertruth28]

This tech gets straight to the point. Step by step. 5 Star 🌟 video & information ✨️

[@maxtheinvincible1925]

thanks this is a very helpful vid it had clear instructions and you did not got too fast .

[@Jakiyyyyy]

File History not opening. What do? My file explorer freezes and not responding as well.

[@williamgillan5358]

fantastic very well presented to the public well done mate

[@UdegbunamChuks]

Thanks a lot. Saved me a lot of headache

[@steveverrill6349]

This is titled "Create full backup to external USB drive and restore." It did not work for me because I had a 128 GB external USB THUMB drive. I had to go to Microsoft support to find out that the drive had to be a hard drive. The title of this video should be changed (unless I am wrong and it can be done with thumb drives).

[@EliteHapkido]

Great info! Thank you

[@robdrury3359]

great tutorial thanks for taking the time to make it

[@conscious7233]

Great Video! Very helpful!

[@vj3565]

Super helpful guide, thank you

[@TakiTarik]

So once you do this backup to for example a nvme drive then if u swap out the old for the new one it should in fact boot up like it always does? correct

[@Arun_Jayanthi]

Hello ,please han you make a video on how to go from developer preview to normal windows 11 version... Please please.

[@Last-Breath]

@@benedictuswinner3995 ever thought maybe he doesn't wanna lose everything? Yeah, exactly.

[@aicomylleville2261]

Unsubscribe from the insider program and update to windows 11 if it's not done already

[@printytrodat]

Good Information, and very help me, Thanks a lot Bro...

[@chill9371]

very good, but right now I'm having the blue screen issue, so how can I back up all folders to the flash drive ? Could you please kindly give me some advice ? I mean If I try to back up, I don't think that I'm gonna make it, because the blue screen would come up first. Please help me, thanks a lot 🙏

[@christiannielsen3863]

Why not use "backup and restore" in control panel? whats the difference

[@lo1048]

So I did a backup on a external hard drive and when i hit next on 2:46 it asks me to create a repair disk...im so lost now and loosing hope on my backup of so many things i need will be lost. Also i did a backup from a computer i sold and bought a new one and tried to recover the backup to restore this new computer.

[@armando5718]

Thanks for the great and quick to the point explanation, I am new to this kind of stuff, I am trying to open the folder that was created in my SSD but it does not open, is there a way I could see all the files on the external drive?

[@Pureinfotech]

Glad it was helpful!

[@joshkroneberger942]

Great video, thanks!

[@nuriosmani8845]

Why in my pc ist not see more recovery options?

[@calligraphysthetic]

thank you, great tutorial

[@Broadlight]

You are a PC God!!!!

[@rajtamang7102]

Can I use this to go to stable version from dev channel without losing app installed and data on my pc?

[@yerprussser4312]

I tooo ended up to this vid fr thisss Plsss answerrr Cuz i hv alot of data nd apps impor..

[@yerprussser4312]

#pureinfotech

[@PaulChristianMedina]

I did this too but everytime i do the restoration it brings me back to the dev version

[@mrbrassballs7704]

Guys I just updated to home version from preview one, the backup is in progress, will update what happens as soon as it finishes

[@issavaldez1735]

@@mrbrassballs7704 any update?

[@BruhGuy6090]

I have a question. So if i have windows 10 home and i create a full backup to an external drive, then i clean install windows 10 pro on my PC and use the system image recovery option to recover everything. Is it gonna bring back windows 10 home or will it still be pro?

[@jdunst69]

Once you get to select the backup image I use the latest available system image and click next. And it’s not the same. It stays to restore this computer windows needs to format the drive ect. I installed a new hard drive I do not have any installation discs…

[@dhairya6851]

Thank You it worked! 👍👍

[@kaachowewolneterytorium5868]

Thx man you really helped me

[@seankeenan4489]

When I tried this, my computer told me that windows needs to “format the drive that the windows recovery environment is currently running on” and that I needed a disc drive to install that windows. Couldn’t get past that step :(

[@fab555trainspottingandmore]

Does this work if you go back to Windows 10 and open the backup with win10?

[@GgrafTubeVid]

On hard drive said: the drive is not a valid backup location (enoght gb for that in the usb)

[@antgeneral3329]

Should I make my usb as recovery drive first? Or ordinary usb can do it?

[@javadahmadi1723]

Very nice and thank you for this nice video. Perfetto

[@ioangeor6094]

very helpful video... would that restore things like chrome bookmarks as well?

[@Pureinfotech]

Full backup restores everything, everything, everything (up to the point you created the backup)

[@ioangeor6094]

@@Pureinfotech amazing thank you so much! this will be my project tomorrow :)

[@fireblast133]

so i keep getting a message the backup location is not big enough despite the fact it's just formatted, has 1.8tb of space, and the amount to be backed up is 340gb

[@Shree328]

Thanks! 👌

[@leonelmessi3010]

Will it also recover all the software and files that i Have installed?

[@p0w3l169]

Hi! Quick question, as I'm seeing recovery being accessed from windows already installed. Would this work after formatting my ssd hard drive? I mean, when turning on my pc would this image trigger windows 11 installation and recover all my drivers and stuff?

[@jp110125]

Thankyou for your video. Appreciate it. How to backup two drives in backup? My windows is on a 128GB C drive M.2 SSD + D drive-1TB HDD (for data). I would like a backup of both , is it possible as a single backup or are two different backups needed in my case? Please let me know, I have also emaile dyou my request for clarificatino.

[@Pureinfotech]

The wizard will allow you to choose the different drives to include in the backup if the computer has more than one drive connected. Thanks,

[@AexoeroV]

If i have multiple partitions on the same drive this will backup just the system and all i have on my C: partition? And if i will restore will the other partitions and what i have on them will remain, right?

[@antoniodespenteado]

Thank you very much, back up in process! I was stuck as windows 11 kept suggesting me to back up to one drive and wanted to resume the back-ups I had automatically on windows 10, from my PC that has an SDD disk and a HDD disk to an external drive. This was simple and really helpful!

[@ayanikabera7060]

Do i need to format my pen drive to NTFS format?

[@sandywilson8169]

Simple BUT, Have Windows 11 22H2 installed, new install.. haveing trouble creating a System Image on USB. When I get to the select destination I have no option to select a USB The "On a Hard Disk" ny USB Flash Drive E: is displayed, but Warning message This device cannt be used... The USB shows up in Windows Explorer, as drive E:, it is formatted as NTSF type, and I can read/write to the drive.

[@photonboy999]

*Acronis True Image...* No longer works in Windows 11. Just FYI. I don't know if the 2021 version works, but I heard you may need the SUBSCRIPTION version either way. I was in for a shock trying to restore my W11 backup image. It just got to the end and failed. Sigh.

[@angelcervantes2903]

I have a USB with other files, when I continued to the step of "Where do you want to save the backup?" I receive a message that says "this device is not a valid backup location." How do I fix this? do I need an empty USB?

[@tharindiattanayaka1985]

Thank you 😍❤️

[@Jen_the_Star]

Should I use new hard drive ? As it ask me to formate the hard drive, but after formate it , it will delete all files

[@HULCHUL1]

My backup operators group members are unable to perform back ups. It always asks for admin password,

[@harshtyagi2793]

I did this but now while restoring after clicking on the system age recovery option and then clicking next, it says that you don't have a repair disc and when I click on create disc, it doesn't create one and I'm unable to restore my backup.

[@elitedeez]

Is this specifically for usb sticks?

[@Hobbies-and-Experiments]

I've used 158gb on my SSD drive so put in a 500gb to back up to and i get "failed not enough space on disc" please Mr Musk make a OS for us.

[@kelvinmoses7777777]

Thank you. Good one.

[@BadraVeeraBadra]

Can we restore in on different drive?

[@Pureinfotech]

Yes, as long the drive is equal or larger.

[@traianboitan943]

Nice video! thank you very much! it is any option where you can tell to the system how often to do the backup by himself?

[@thejlpgamer]

Can you use this for transferring everything to another computer?

[@BALDO3]

Very well done video! I have one question: if I create the image only for the C drive, once I have to restore the backup will it erase my secondary disk D ?

[@MarketEdgeAI]

Yes

[@jornmulder]

@@MarketEdgeAI offcource not !!

[@jornmulder]

it will leave your other drives alone !

[@sharlaleeanne5910]

thanks for the help

[@ohmpatel9973]

does this back up my personal files as well or does this only back up Windows 11 installation?

[@Pureinfotech]

As the video explains, it basks up the entire computer. Thanks,

[@HighlightHeroesTV]

thank you!!

[@gpgc4406]

It says something like "backed up data cannot be securely protected for a network target"

[@garrydelgado6260]

that was great. thank you

[@PaulChristianMedina]

I am on windows 11 insider preview and did this. I then installed the windows 11 stable version which made me lose all my files, so I did the restoration, however when it’s done restoring I am brought back to the insider preview instead of the stable version. Could you help me with this please?

[@samgray49]

You need to change your preview version and opt out of Windows insider, when a new update is pushed out for stable you install that and you will then be on stable.

[@BadraVeeraBadra]

Does it restore apps also?

[@Pureinfotech]

Restore everything since it's an image.

[@nomihoch]

Thank you

[@ravinduranasinghe984]

how much free space should have the backup hard drive or pen drive to do the system backup image? My C drive has 90GB files with os and apps.

[@emmanuelschmulewitz1215]

And does it imply that one can see by looking at a the folder or directory, that it is included in the backup, like in sync and share with the green "tick" at the folder?

[@alchymista2]

I'm trying to perform this backup to USB flash drive but keep getting an error that "this drive is not a valid backup location". It is formatted with NTFS but still keeps showing the error.

[@Pureinfotech]

Are you using a USB flash drive or external USB hard drive? You cannot use a flash drive. Thanks,

[@alchymista2]

@@Pureinfotech yep, flash drive, I didn't have a spare harddrive

[@Pureinfotech]

@@alchymista2 Yeah, does the problem

[@aakashchudasama8149]

Well explain 👍

[@stacyhackney6100]

Thank you